On 16 Jan, 2021, at Pullman Sai Gon Centre Hotel, Ho Chi Minh City Open University held a press conference for the First Free Online Learning System to provide online learning solution as well as to meet the desire of enhancing knowledge anytime, anywhere based on the principles of “Serving the community, enhancing people’s cultural standard, exchanging knowledge, social development and sharing resources”.

With 30 years of establishment and development, Ho Chi Minh City Open University has constantly innovated and created the diverse and flexible training methods in everywhere, at any time which appropriate for learners with different knowledge background and learning conditions. HCMOU has been researching and building a Viet Nam Massive Open Online Courses Model called VMOOCs (Vietnam Massive Open Online Courses with flexible training Methods - Sustainable Development).

At the ceremony, HCMCOU respectfully welcomed representatives:

From The Ministry of Education and Training authorities, in the presence of:

• Assoc. Prof. PhD. Nguyen Van Phuc, Deputy Minister
• Assoc. Prof. PhD. Vu Thi Tu Anh, Deputy Director of Continuing Education Department.

From the International Organizations representatives:

• Mrs. Le Thi Hau, Business development senior manager and Member of ACCA Viet Nam.
• Mrs. Ngo Thu Huong, Business development senior manager of Australian Trade and Investment Commission (Austrade).

From other Universities and Affiliates, in the presence of:

• PhD. Truong Tien Tung, President of Ha Noi Open University.
• PhD. Nguyen Thi Nhung, Vice President of Ha Noi Open University.
• PhD. Tran Dinh Ly, Vice President of Ho Chi Minh City University of Agriculture and Forestry.
• PhD. Phung Van De, Deputy Director of Training and Development Institute,  Tra Vinh University.
• Mr. Nguyen Minh Phuong, Vice President of Dong Thap Community College.
• Ms. Ha Ngoc Minh Thu, Deputy Director of Ho Chi Minh City Gia Dinh Continuing Education Center.

From the enterprises’ leaders recently supporting HCMCOU, in the presence of:

• Mr. Nguyen Van Thai, Deputy Director of Viettel Company Limited (CHT)
• Mr. Nguyen Chi Kien, Head of Training Center and Ms. Vo Hong Phuc, Customer manager of Vietnam Airport Ground Services Company Limited (VIAGS)
• Ms. Doan Thi My Linh, Business Division Vice Director of Nam A Commercial Joint Stock Bank.
• Ms. Do Thanh Binh, CEO of C-Talents.
• Mr. Le Nhat Truong Chinh, Director of Success Partner Company Ltd.
• Ms. Le Thi My Tam, Director of MITA Natural Cosmetics Co., Ltd.
• Ms. Nguyen Hoang Truc Linh, Marketing manager at VTV Corp.
• Ms. Luong Nguyen Khanh Van, Director of LNKV Company Ltd.
• Mr. Dao Tien Phong, Director of Investpush Law Company Ltd.
• Mr. Do Quang Trong, Sales Manager of HCMC VNPT Business Center.

The press Conference has received widespread concerns from press media agencies, HCMCOU were privileged to welcome PhD. To Dinh Tuan - Editor-in-chief of the Vietnam’s Labor Newspaper, along with journalist of agencies, Ho Chi Minh City Television, VTV, FBNC Channel, People’s Voice of Ho Chi Minh City, Ho Chi Minh City Education Newspaper, Saigon Liberation Newspaper, The Youth newspaper, Tuoi Tre Newspaper, Vietnam News Agency, The Education and Times Newspaper, Tien Phong Newspaper, Law Newspaper, Women newspaper, Labor Newspaper, VietnamNews, Vietnamnet, Dan Tri Newspaper, Zing.vn.

For the delegation of Ho Chi Minh City Open University, in the presence of:

Mr. Do Sa Ky, Party Committee Secretary, President of the University Council.

Prof. PhD. Nguyen Minh Ha, President.

PhD. Le Xuan Truong, Vice President.

PhD. Le Nguyen Quoc Khang, Vice President.

And leaders of departments, lecturers, representatives of alumni and students of the University.

Especially, we also honored to welcome actress Diem My 9x to attend and share ideas at the VMOOCs press conference. She was grateful for the opportunity to access to this new learning platform.

Before the advent of this new learning platform, Deputy Minister of Ministry of Education and Training - Nguyen Van Phuc stated that: Ministry of Education and Training welcomes the massive open online training forms as VMOOCs. He appreciated HCMCOU as a pioneer public university in constructing and implementing MOOCs Courses. In the digital age, with the mission of providing people with an open learning programs, promoting the learning society and lifelong learning, HCMCOU has bravely applied information technology to education and training to provide learners with the most convenient and flexible learning opportunities.

At the press conference, Assoc. Prof. PhD. Vu Thi Tu Anh, Assoc. Prof. PhD. Nguyen Minh Ha, PhD. Phan Thi Ngoc Thanh, PhD. Truong Tien Tung and Mr. Nguyen Van Thai along with journalists, representatives discussed lively.

Responding to the humanistic and pioneering meaning of the free online learning system for the community of HCMCOU, Dr. To Dinh Tuan – Editor- in- chief of Labor Newspapers has announced that The Labor Newspapers has decided to be a media sponsor for this program from now on. He told that this is the encouragement for the spirit of learning, lifelong learning, providing the opportunity to fulfill the dream of learning for everyone. Studying is not only for yourself but also for the prosperous development of the country.

The program is even more meaningful when there is a connection between Hanoi Open University and Ho Chi Minh City Open University. Prof. PhD. Nguyen Minh Ha - President of HCMCOU responded with deep thanks to the Labor Newspapers and PhD. To Dinh Tuan.

Also at the conference, HCMCOU has signed MOU with Hanoi Open University and Viettel Co., Ltd. (CHT) in building and developing this system, contributing to spread knowledge and humanities values to the community.

VMOOCs (in abbreviation of Vietnam’s MOOCs) is known as a massive open online courses form, established to provide free online courses, contributing to improve people's knowledge and promote lifelong learning. Learners can attend 4-6 weeks courses for free

in many fields with internet connection. Currently, this system starts with 40 different courses, learners can enroll themselves in the course, perform learning activities, apply for a certificate if they have completed at least 70% of the course, the learning process is automatically recognized by the system. The courses of Inheritance Law, Health Improvement Skills, etc is available for studying now.

MOOCs were first formed and developed in the US in 2010 with the participation of top universities.