Vietnam French University, USTH organize opening ceremony for 2019-2020 school year
The event was meant not only to mark a new school year, but also an opportunity for teachers and students to review the achievements of the past school year, and set goals for the new school year. At the same time, representatives of the university presented certificates and awards to new students with outstanding achievements in the recent entrance exam and students with excellent academic achievements in the 2018-2019 school year.
The ceremony drew the participation of Prof. Dr. Phan Ngoc Minh, vice president of Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology (VAST) and President of University Council; Representatives of the French Embassy in Vietnam, representatives of VAST-affiliated research institutes, representatives of domestic and foreign teaching and research partners, and all officials, lecturers, researchers, students from the University.
Prof. Etienne Saur, Principal of Vietnam French University (USTH), at the opening ceremony on September 26th
2019 marks the first 10 years of USTH’s construction and development. From the first six majors established, USTH has grown into 13 undergraduate majors, 8 master's degree majors and 6 doctoral majors, with high quality curricula in English, recognized and appreciated by the international academic community.
Not only providing a multicultural learning environment, over the past 10 years, USTH has become a bridge to help Vietnamese students open the door to access to the world's science and technology through exchange programs and internships in France, European Union countries, Japan, Korea, Taiwan and the Philippines. Every year, more than 60% of students and masters students are allowed to intern in 20 countries, of which 55% are paid internships. In particular, USTH also cooperates closely with large enterprises of France and Vietnam such as Airbus, Dassault System and Vietnam Airlines to open training courses in line with the needs of domestic and international labor markets such as Aviation Engineering and International Air Transport Administration.
In December, USTH solemnly organized its 10th founding anniversary. After the meaningful event, the 10-year journey of formation and construction of the school closed to officially enter a new and promising stage: the university development phase.
In terms of research, the University has worked closely with French universities and research institutes to deploy six internationally-affiliated laboratories and strong research groups, attracting the participation of experienced scientists from Vietnam, France and many Asian countries. For three consecutive years, USTH has been ranked by Nature Index as one of the Top 10 universities and institutes leading in the number of high quality international research works in Vietnam.
In order to create an important premise for USTH’s new transformations in the next period, on September 17th, 2019, on behalf of the Vietnamese and the French Governments, VAST as the governing agency of USTH appointed three experienced leaders from France and Vietnam to key positions of the university. Accordingly, Prof. Dr. Phan Ngoc Minh, VAST Vice President was appointed as President of the University Council; Prof. Etienne Saur (born in 1960), former Head of International Cooperation, French Institute of Agriculture, Veterinary and Forestry was appointed as main Principal and Assoc. Prof. Dr. Dinh Thi Mai Thanh (born in 1974) was appointed as Principal of University from September 2019.
This demonstrates the determination of the Government of Vietnam and France to build USTH into an excellent and world-class university in the field of science and technology as committed in the Intergovernmental Agreement on Development of the University in the 2019-2023 period signed on November 2nd, 2018. In particular, French universities and institutes will actively support USTH to continue to maintain and improve the quality of current international training programs, start negotiations to award French-Vietnamese degrees for undergraduate programs and strengthen exchange programs and internships in France for USTH students.
Following are several photos at the USTH opening ceremony:
Prof. Etienne Saur beat the drum to open the school year
Prof. Phan Ngoc Minh, VAST Vice President, Chairman of USTH Council, awarded scholarships worth 140 million VND to new students Hoang Huy Tu - the first prize in Chemistry at the national competion
Presenting awards to outstanding students
Translated by Tuyet Nhung
Link to Vietnamese version
