Resolution No. 169/NQ-CP of the Vietnamese Government promulgating the action programme to implement Conclusion No. 79-KL/TW of the Politburo on continuing to implement Resolution No. 43-NQ/TW of the Politburo (term XII) on building and developing Da Nang until 2030, with a vision towards 2045 clearly states: focusing on prioritising the allocation of resources to complete the Da Nang University urban area, building the University of Da Nang (UD) into a national university. This is an important political foundation, of strategic significance for the UD to continue its efforts to realise its aspiration to become a national university by 2030.

Da Nang leaders UD leaders visit VKU Fintech Hub at Viet Nam - Korea University of Information and Communications Technology. Photo: NGOC HA

Affirming its position and potential

After 30 years of establishment, the UD currently has 7 member universities and affiliated units located in the city and Kon Tum Province, with a total area of over 80 hectares. The lecture hall system has been completed, research centres and laboratories have been gradually modernised.

In addition, innovation spaces have been established in recent years with modern technical equipment, meeting the needs of learning, research, innovation and promoting startup projects developed by students and lecturers.

The Da Nang University Village project was approved by the Prime Minister in 1997 with a total area of 300 hectares, located in the border area between Quang Nam Province and Da Nang. Of which, about 110 hectares belong to Hoa Quy Ward, Ngu Hanh Son District and nearly 190 hectares belong to Dien Ngoc ward, Dien Ban Town, Quang Nam Province.

In November 2024, the UD held a groundbreaking ceremony for the construction of technical infrastructure works under sub-project 1 ‘Construction of technical infrastructure and urgent works for the UD in Hoa Quy - Dien Ngoc.

The project is implemented on an area of 49 hectares in the planning area of the UD in Hoa Quy Ward, Ngu Hanh Son District, with a construction and equipment value of VND more than 300 billion, starting the first out of the 7 items of sub-project 1.

After completion, as expected by the end of 2025, the project will ensure infrastructure for the implementation of the remaining 6 items of the project, creating conditions for the UD to implement the next steps of the project in the coming time.

In the Da Nang University Village project, there are currently a number of universities in operation, including School of Medicine and Pharmacy, Viet Nam - Korea University of Information Technology and Communications, University of Technology and Education, the UD Faculty of National Defense and Security Education, all of them are the member units of the UD.

According to Associate Professor, Dr. Nguyen Ngoc Vu, Director of the UD, the inclusion in the planning target by 2030 of developing the UD into a national university, one of the three leading training and scientific research centres in Viet Nam, with international prestige and position in the region and the world as a whole, is completely grounded and consistent with the Party and State's guidelines and policies on education and training with the new requirements and missions of focusing on developing high-quality human resources - one of the three strategic breakthroughs that the Resolution of the 13th National Party Congress has clearly pointed out for Viet Nam’s development in the new period.

In addition to the scale of facilities, the UD affirms its position in terms of training quality meeting national and international standards. Currently, the UD has about 55,000 full-time, 600 - 800 international students; implementing many active teaching and learning methods. Its member universities now meet national education quality standards.

The UD has trained and provided high-quality human resources for many key economic sectors, contributing greatly to economic growth and attracting investment. The UD has the potential and policies to promote science - technology and innovation. Thanks to that, the rate of international publications has increased rapidly, and it is one of the top 7 universities in Viet Nam in terms of innovation; 1 of the top 3 universities in Viet Nam funded by USAID (United States Agency for International Development) and US partners for the Higher Education Innovation Cooperation Project for the 2022 - 2026 period.

Efforts to develop into a national university

According to Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Ngoc Vu, in order to develop itself into a national university, the UD focuses on completing the system planning and developing a highly qualified team.

Accordingly, reviewing and re-planning the network of member universities and affiliated units in accordance with the strategy of developing the UD into a national university, with a special heed to arranging and establishing a number of new schools, faculties and institutes in the fields of basic sciences (natural sciences, social sciences and humanities), from which to establish more member universities.

Along with that, focus will be on improving capacity and central role in training high-quality human resources for the North Central and Central Coast regions, first of all for Da Nang.

Upon developing into a national university, the UD will pilot training in a number of new majors and professions in a flexible manner based on understanding social needs, focus on majors in 5 key areas according to Resolution No. 43-NQ/TW, namely tourism, high-quality services associated with resort real estate; seaports, aviation associated with logistics services; high-tech industry associated with creative urban areas, startups; information technology, electronics, telecommunications industry associated with the economy.

In addition, priority is given to developing advanced, high-quality programmes, training programmes in English, aiming for degrees from the UD to ensure the national human resource qualification framework, approaching advanced countries; increasing connectivity and flexibility between undergraduate and postgraduate training to attract postgraduate input.

Also developing international training will be given a heed, with a focus on increasing the source of international students, prioritizing those from the ASEAN region with similar geographical and cultural advantages.

In the field of scientific research and innovation, the UD focuses on perfecting the system of policies for science and technology development; improving the capacity and efficiency of the network of institutes, research centres, applications and transfers; forming strong research groups led by prestigious experts and scientists, with interdisciplinary research capacity to carry out regional and national science and technology tasks.

In addition, the UD will invest in synchronous and modern laboratories; transform the model and mechanism towards increasing autonomy to increase remuneration and payment level, and attract more leading scientists and experts.

“Developing the UD into a national university is an opportunity to enjoy the highest university autonomy mechanism, focusing on key investments to make the UD truly become one of the top 3 training and scientific research centres in Viet Nam, with prestige and position regionally and internationally”, Associate Professor, Dr. Nguyen Ngoc Vu said.

Reporting by NGOC HA - Translating by A.THU, T.TUNG