On the morning of October 31, 2021, Ho Chi Minh City Open University kicked-off an online Opening Ceremony for the 2021-2022 academic year - which was heavily affected by the complicated developments of the COVID-19 epidemic. The academic year comes with great solidarity between the school, students as well as the community; the willingness to share and competently fulfill commissions and responsibilities of every division and individual in the University. The 2021-2022 academic year will be filled with full of hope that the young OU generation will always be strong and perform well throughout their learning process. Attending the ceremony were the participation of the University Board, honored guests from economic, social and educational departments within Viet Nam and abroad and more than 18,000 learners including about 4,500 freshmen, learners at all levels, officials as well as staff currently studying and working at the University.

Attending the Opening Ceremony were in the e-presence of Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Van Phuc – Deputy Secretary of the Party Committee, Deputy Minister of Education and Training; Dr. Nguyen Thi Minh Hong - Secretary of the Party Committee of Ho Chi Minh City University and College - Chairman of the Council of HCMC University of Education; Ms. Nguyen Thi La - Deputy Secretary of the Party Committee of HCMC University and College; Ms. Nguyen Thi Thu Thuy - Deputy Director of Higher Education Department, Ministry of Education and Training. The representative from Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union and Vietnamese Student Association - Ho Chi Minh City; Mr. Ngo Minh Hai - Deputy Secretary, Chairman of The Vietnam Youth Federation of Ho Chi Minh City.

From Ho Chi Minh City Open University, in attendance of Mr. Do Sa Ky - Party Committee Secretary, Chairman of the University Council; Assoc. Prof. Dr. Le Bao Lam – Permanent member of the School Council, former President of HCMC OU; Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Thuan – Permanent member of the School Council, former Vice President of HCMC OU; Prof. Dr. Nguyen Minh Ha – President of HCMCOU, Lecturer Dr. Le Xuan Truong – HCMCOU Vice President, Dr. Le Nguyen Quoc Khang – HCMCOU Vice President. Attending the ceremony were lecturers, members of the University Council, Scientific Council, leaders of the University in different periods, leaders of units, departments, business units, representatives of the Alumni Association Executive Committee, and specially there were freshmen and learners of HCMCOU attended in the ceremony.

The academic year 2020 - 2021 is a very special year in which the University has achieved various significant accomplishments such as: Honored to be ranked 4th in top universities and institutes with the most productive economic research in Vietnam in the period 2008-2019; Ranked 13th out of 179 universities in Vietnam and 121th out of 3,828 universities in Southeast Asia on the Webometrics rankings in July 2021. The university is also ranked 13th among all universities in Vietnam in 2021 in SCImago rankings. In 2020, the University was greatly honored TOP 8 Asia Awards in teaching and learning strategies of the year by THE (Times Higher Education) Awards. Along with training and research activities, in 2020-2021 academic year, HCMCOU strongly implements community engagement and service. In addition to volunteering activities, protecting the environment towards sustainable development, HCMCOU has joined efforts with the whole country to be on the frontline against the wave of COVID-19.

In the previous school year, HCMCOU has provided 300 scholarships to underprivileged students, supported students stranded in Ho Chi Minh City with food and necessities with a total budget up to nearly 2 billion dongs. The spirit of great national solidarity, mutual support, and together spreading the good values ​​created by students, lecturers and staff of HCMC OU in the midst of the pandemic is stronger and more beautiful than ever.

At the ceremony, Dr. Le Nguyen Quoc Khang - Vice President of the University launched the Student Support Program for the academic year 2021 – 2022. “Currently, HCMCOU is considering and offering scholarships to support students with difficult circumstances due to Covid-19 with a total value up to one billion dongs.”- Dr. Khang shared.

At the ceremony, Prof. Dr. Nguyen Minh Ha - President of the University also sent his message to learners, lecturers and officials who are studying and working at the University to promote spiritual unity within the University to complete mutual goals and the strategic development orientations of HCMCOU with the mission of " Promoting a society with active learning by offering the most flexible and obtainable methods of education " along with the core values ​​of " Knowledge enrichment -  Applicability -  Lifelong learning -  Public engagement -  Professionalism, effectiveness, creativeness and hospitality”.

The president believes that with the joint efforts of the whole University can ensure the bright future of all OU generations as well as the University’s development. In addition, Prof. Dr. Nguyen Minh Ha wishes the incoming freshmen to have fond memories of being OUers and be ready to turn their ambitions into reality.

On this occasion, HCMC Open University honored 22 valedictorians in the 2021 enrollment in two forms of admission, including: Based on the score of high school graduation examination and based on high school record; and also honored 04 excellent learners in academic year 2020-2021.