On the morning of June 15th, 2025, at Hall 602, Vo Van Tan Campus, Ho Chi Minh City Open University solemnly held the 35th Anniversary Ceremony (June 15th, 1990 – June 15th, 2025). This was a special historic event marking an important milestone in the university’s development journey, while honouring the contributions of generations of staff, lecturers, employees, and students who have together built a strong institution as it is today.
The ceremony was also an occasion to express gratitude for the valuable support of the Ministry of Education and Training (MOET), government agencies, local authorities, partners at home and abroad, and generations of alumni who have remained closely connected to the university over the past 35 years. The event provided an opportunity to reflect on past achievements, set new directions and goals, and reaffirm the university’s pioneering role in innovation, quality education, research, and community service.
Distinguished guests included:
From the Ministry of Education and Training: Assoc. Prof. Dr Nguyen Van Phuc – Deputy Party Secretary, Deputy Minister of MOET, and former Party Secretary and President of HCMCOU; Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Thu Thuy – Director General of the Department of International Cooperation; Dr. Mai Thi Anh – Director of the Department of Legal Affairs; Dr. Hoang Hoa Cuong – Deputy Director General, Department of Science, Technology and Information; Dr. Nguyen Thi Thu Thuy – Deputy Director General of the Department of Higher Education and Member of HCMCOU’s University Council; Dr. Canh Chi Dung – Deputy Director General of the Department of Personnel Organization.
The ceremony also welcomed Mr. Lonphanh Phaodavanh – Consul of the Lao People’s Democratic Republic in Ho Chi Minh City; Ms. Tran Thi Dieu Thuy – Vice Chairwoman of Ho Chi Minh City People’s Committee; leaders of military units, provinces, and cities, universities, and corporate partners who have long accompanied the university.
From Ho Chi Minh City Open University: Dr. Do Sa Ky – Party Secretary; Prof. Dr. Nguyen Minh Ha – President; Dr. Senior Lecturer Le Xuan Truong – Vice President; Dr. Le Nguyen Quoc Khang – Vice President; former university leaders, retired staff, members of the Academic and Training Council, all current staff and faculty, alumni representatives, and current students.
A solemn and memorable atmosphere at the anniversary celebration
During the event, Assoc. Prof. Dr Nguyen Van Phuc – Deputy Party Secretary, Deputy Minister of MOET, and former Party Secretary and President of the Ho Chi Minh City Open University extended his warmest congratulations to the university, recognising its outstanding contributions over the past 35 years. He also offered strategic directions, encouraging the university to continue innovating, leveraging its strengths, and taking a pioneering role in enhancing educational quality to support the country’s sustainable development.
Speaking in celebration of the 35-year milestone, Prof. Dr. Nguyen Minh Ha – Vice President shared: “In our early days, we had just two academic departments and 13 administrative staff. Today, HCMCOU has 13 faculties, 3 training centres, and over 850 staff and faculty, more than 40% of whom hold doctoral degrees or higher. This has realised our mission of expanding access to higher education for all, making HCMCOU one of Vietnam’s leading multi-disciplinary, multi-level, and multi-field universities. Our distance education and part-time learning network now spans over 40 provinces from Binh Dinh to Ca Mau, meeting the learning needs and human resource training demands of the new era”.
“The brilliant achievements we celebrate today are proof of the university’s wise, creative leadership over generations; the dedication of faculty, staff, and students; and the strong support from the Ministry of Education and Training, other ministries and agencies, local authorities, partners, and the business community. This journey is a source of pride, significantly contributing to the development of high-quality human resources for the nation. Building on these achievements, we will continue to uphold our core values, innovate, and create relentlessly to live up to our role as a pioneering university within Vietnam’s higher education system”, Prof. Dr. Nguyen Minh Ha emphasised.
At the ceremony, Ho Chi Minh City Open University was honoured to receive a Certificate of Merit from the Prime Minister, as well as Certificates of Merit from the Chairperson of the Binh Thuan Provincial People’s Committee for various groups and individuals who have made significant contributions to education and training.
Human Resources.
and community volunteer work in the province.
Representing the Faculty, Dr. Senior Lecturer Nguyen Thuy Nga – Head of the Faculty of Foreign Languages shared: “For me, being part of Ho Chi Minh City Open University is a profound source of pride. As one of the university’s first full-time lecturers, I have had the privilege of witnessing the university’s formation, transformation, and growth day by day. It is not only a dynamic and creative academic environment but also a humanistic space where both teachers and learners can nurture knowledge and spirit. I especially value the collegial bonds, the genuine teacher–student relationships, and the professional environment that allows everyone to contribute with confidence. Above all, I am grateful for the dedicated leadership that has inspired and spread the values of sustainable education throughout these 35 years. As a member of a university that always strives to lead and deliver positive impact to society, I am more convinced than ever of the mission we are all building together.”
Representing current students, Phan Ngoc Mong Nhu, a student of the Faculty of Sociology – Social Work – Southeast Asian Studies, shared: “I still remember the feeling of both nervousness and hope when I first walked through the university gates. Here, I have learned, trained, and grown in a humanistic environment where every idea is heard and every contribution valued. It’s thanks to the university’s student organizations, volunteer activities, and support for newcomers that I truly experienced its core spirit – sharing, the desire to serve the community, and the belief that knowledge is not only for personal growth but to make the world around us better. As a student and an active member of the university’s youth organizations, I always remind myself that I am not only a recipient but also someone who will pass on and amplify these values. We are committed to continuing to learn, train, and contribute with passionate hearts, a sense of responsibility, and the awareness of our role as young people in a new era.”
Within the program, the university also officially launched its Virtual Tradition Room, built on digital technology and integrated with 360-degree virtual reality, offering an immersive experience of the university’s history and the contributions of its generations of faculty and students.
Milestones in 35 years of Ho Chi Minh City Open University: “Growth – Transformation – Affirmation”
2025 marks the first time HCMCOU appears in the QS Asia Rankings, placed 701–750 in Asia and 119 in Southeast Asia. Building on this success, the university was ranked in the TOP 801+ globally for Business & Economics by Times Higher Education (THE) and maintained its TOP 501–600 position in the THE Asia Rankings 2025, further affirming its standing in the region. According to Webometrics 2022, the university was ranked in the Top 16 nationally, consistently maintaining its place among Vietnam’s top 20 higher education institutions and recognised by the SCImago Institutions Rankings for its increasingly prominent research and innovation.
To achieve these results, the university has continuously improved training quality. To date, 39 programs have been accredited, including:
- 16 programs with FIBAA (Europe) accreditation;
- 4 programs with AUN-QA (Southeast Asia) accreditation;
- 19 programs with MOET (Vietnam) accreditation.
The university continues to expand accreditation at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels, affirming its commitment to quality education that meets social needs. Notably, graduate employment rates within 12 months of graduation have consistently been high, from 89.22% to 94.78%, demonstrating training effectiveness and employer trust.
In addition, the university’s scientific research has consistently achieved top results. Especially in the past five years, HCMCOU has been among the top 10 universities for scientific research achievements recognized by the Ministry of Education and Training. On average, there are 750 publications annually, over 260 of which are indexed in WoS/Scopus. Student research has flourished, with over 350 student research projects implemented each year.
The university’s academic journals have received official ISSN registration for serial publications, with seven specialized journals recognized for academic credit in various fields by the National Council for Professor Title of Vietnam, including two journals indexed in the ASEAN Citation Index (ACI).
At the same time, the university actively promotes community service and environmental protection, demonstrating its humanistic educational philosophy. Students are comprehensively trained in expertise, skills, and character, actively participating in extracurricular activities and volunteer work to become responsible and compassionate citizens.
Media units reporting on the program:
Đài truyền hình HTV (HTV Television Station): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VENh875DIhc
Reporting units:
– Tạp Chí Giáo Dục TPHCM (Ho Chi Minh City Education Magazine): https://giaoduc.edu.vn/thu-truong-nguyen-van-phuc-truong-dh-mo-tp-hcm-da-phat-trien-he-thong-dao-tao-truc-tuyen-hang-dau-ca-nuoc/
– Cổng thông tin điện tử Thành phố Hồ Chí Minh (Ho Chi Minh City E-Portal): https://hochiminhcity.gov.vn/vi/web/hcm/w/truong-ai-hoc-mo-tpho-chi-minh-ky-niem-35-nam-thanh-lap
– Báo Dân trí (Dan tri Newspaper): https://dantri.com.vn/giao-duc/bon-triet-ly-giup-mot-vien-dao-tao-thanh-truong-lot-top-chau-a-20250613221232880.htm
– Báo Thanh niên (Thanh nien Newspaper): https://thanhnien.vn/thu-truong-bo-gd-dt-nguyen-van-phuc-du-ky-niem-35-nam-thanh-lap-truong-cu-185250615160942523.htm
– Báo Giáo dục và Thời đại (Education and Times Newspaper): https://giaoducthoidai.vn/truong-dai-hoc-mo-tphcm-ky-niem-35-nam-thanh-lap-post735761.html
– Giáo dục 247 (Education 247): https://giaoduc247.vn/giao-duc-24h/truong-dh-mo-tp-hcm-ky-niem-35-nam-thanh-lap-hanh-trinh-phat-trien-day-tu-hao
– Báo Người lao động (Nguoi lao dong Newspaper): https://nld.com.vn/thu-truong-bo-gd-dt-danh-nhieu-loi-khen-truong-dh-mo-tp-hcm-196250615145935711.htm
– Doanh nghiệp và tiêu dùng (Business and Consumers): https://doanhnghieptieudung.net/thoi-su/su-kien/truong-dai-hoc-mo-thanh-pho-ho-chi-minh-don-nhan-bang-khen-cua-thu-tuong-tai-le-ky-niem-35-nam-thanh-lap.html
– Báo Sài Gòn Giải Phóng (Sai Gon Giai Phong Newspaper): https://www.sggp.org.vn/truong-dh-mo-tphcm-dinh-huong-phat-trien-thanh-dai-hoc-da-nganh-post799575.html