Ton Duc Thang University in 2025: Memorable Milestones

The year 2025 has drawn to a close with many changes and important achievements, marking the Era of Rise of the Vietnamese Nation. Let us look back at the outstanding activities and achievements of lecturers and students of Ton Duc Thang University over the past year.

1. Four additional undergraduate study programs were accredited by the AUN-QA organization

With the goal of providing the best quality for students and with the orientation toward becoming a research university that meets international standards, Ton Duc Thang University is one of the outstanding higher education institutions in Vietnam that carry out educational accreditation according to international standards.

In 2025, Ton Duc Thang University obtained four AUN-QA accreditations for undergraduate study programs, including Accounting, Biotechnology, English Language, and Applied Mathematics. This result serves as an important driving force for the University to continue standardizing its activities in training, research, and community service, thereby moving closer to its goal of becoming a reputable research university in the region.

To date, Ton Duc Thang University has had 44 undergraduate and graduate study programs accredited and recognized according to international standards including FIBAA, AUN-QA, and ASIIN. All of the University’s remaining study programs have been reviewed, updated, and scheduled for accreditation according to international accreditation standards.

2. Ton Duc Thang University strongly promoted and invested in scientific research through the establishment of strong research groups

Implementing Resolution No. 57-NQ/TW of the Politburo on breakthroughs in the development of science, technology, innovation, and national digital transformation, Ton Duc Thang University has implemented strategies to strongly promote the development of scientific research and innovation. The University has established 9 strong research groups based on its existing 24 laboratories/research groups, gathering reputable scientists and focusing on key research directions that serve the country’s strategic technology sectors, in line with the spirit of Resolution No. 57.

These strong research groups are established with the goal of promoting innovation, research, and technology transfer, developing advanced technological solutions, and building a solid foundation for the development of science and technology.

3. Ton Duc Thang University strongly promoted cooperation with major universities around the world

On the journey of internationalizing higher education, Ton Duc Thang University has grown sustainably and risen to become one of Vietnam’s reputable centers for international cooperation. The University has now established an extensive cooperation network with 250 universities and international educational institutions. In the past year, the University’s leadership made two overseas working trips, opening up many opportunities for strategic cooperation with major and reputable universities around the world:

• On the working trip to Australia and New Zealand in May 2025, the delegation visited and worked with Macquarie University, Australian Catholic University, the University of Wollongong, the University of Melbourne, La Trobe University, Massey University, and the University of Waikato.
• On the working trip to China in October 2025, the delegation visited and worked with major universities including the University of Macau; Shanghai Normal University and Shanghai Jiao Tong University; and Guangxi Normal University and Guangxi University of Foreign Languages.

Notably, during the working trip with the Ministry of Education and Training to the Czech Republic in June 2025 to promote cooperation in education and training, science and technology, and innovation, Ton Duc Thang University was entrusted by the Ministry of Education and Training to serve as the focal point for connecting the university network between Vietnam and the Czech Republic, and as the focal point for developing Vietnam–Czech educational cooperation programs.

4. Ton Duc Thang University successfully organized six international scientific conferences

Efforts in the internationalization of higher education have turned Ton Duc Thang University into a reputable academic destination.

In 2025, Ton Duc Thang University cooperated with partner universities to successfully organize six international scientific conferences, bringing the total number of international conferences organized by the University to more than 70. Among them, many conferences initiated by Ton Duc Thang University such as AETA, CUTE, ICFE, AsiaPharm, and ICAS have become annual international academic forums, organized in rotation in many countries, thereby affirming the University’s growing position and attractiveness in the global higher education space.

The conferences organized include:

• The 3rd International Conference on Sport Science (ICSS 2025), held on 12-13 June 2025;
• The 2nd International Conference on Language Development (The 2nd ICLD 2025), held on 4-5 July 2025;
• The 1st International Conference on Computational Intelligence in Engineering Science (ICCIES 2025), held on 23-25 July 2025;
• The 9th International Conference on Finance and Economics (ICFE 2025), held on 23-25 September 2025;
• The International Conference on Environmental Technology and Innovations (ICETI 2025), held on 27-28 November 2025;
• The 10th International Conference on Advanced Engineering - Theory and Applications (AETA 2025), held on 11-13 December 2025.

5. The development of high-quality human resources achieved remarkable progress

Developing high-quality human resources is one of the major programs that help implement the strategy for developing science and technology and ensuring education quality according to international standards.

The quality of the workforce has also made a breakthrough in the period 2020-2025. The number of full-time staff, including those holding a doctoral degree or higher, has increased by 34.5%, and the number of full-time Professors/Associate Professors has increased 5.75 times. Particularly in the three years from 2023 to 2025, 21 staff members of the University were recognized by the State Council for Professorship as meeting the standards and were appointed to the academic titles of Professor and Associate Professor.

In December 2025, the University solemnly organized the Ceremony for Announcement and Decision Conferment on Appointment and Re-appointment of the academic titles of Professor and Associate Professor in 2025 - thirteen lecturers were appointed, including eleven lecturers appointed to the academic title of Associate Professor for the first time. This was also the year with the highest number of re-appointed and newly appointed Professors and Associate Professors to date.

6. Scientists and lecturers of Ton Duc Thang University were honored with many scientific research awards

In 2025, four lecturers/scientists of the University were honored to be listed in the Top 1% of the world’s most influential researchers in 2025, announced by Elsevier and Stanford University (USA) based on citation data from the Scopus database.

Dr. Le Quoc Viet – Vice Dean of the Faculty of Pharmacy – was also excellently awarded the 2025 Golden Globe Science and Technology Award.

These achievements not only reflect the persistent efforts of the individuals but also demonstrate the right direction in the scientific research development strategy of Ton Duc Thang University, contributing to enhancing the academic reputation of the country.

7. Ton Duc Thang University was honored as one of the 50 outstanding construction works of Ho Chi Minh City

On the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the Liberation of the South and National Reunification (April 30, 1975 – April 30, 2025), the main campus of Ton Duc Thang University was honored as one of the 50 outstanding construction works of Ho Chi Minh City.

This is a well-deserved recognition of the University’s persistent efforts and systematic investment in modern facilities as well as learning and research spaces, while also demonstrating the University’s practical contribution to the development of education, science, and technology of the city and the country.

8. Ton Duc Thang University coordinated with many Ministries, sectors, and central agencies to organize major events

With modern facilities and professional event operation and organization that meet the requirements of large-scale activities, Ton Duc Thang University has closely coordinated with many Ministries, sectors, and central agencies to successfully organize many major events:

• Coordinating with the Ministry of Education and Training to successfully organize the National Science and Technology Competition for secondary and high school students in the academic year 2024-2025 in March 2025;
• Coordinating with Vietnam Education Quality Management Agency under the Ministry of Education and Training to successfully organize the Conference on Diploma and Certificate Management in May 2025;
• Coordinating with the Ministry of Education and Training to successfully organize the Workshop gathering opinions on the draft Project “Supporting students’ start-up in the period 2026-2035” in August 2025;
• Coordinating with the Ministry of Education and Training to successfully organize the Conference on Reviewing the Organization of the 2025 National High School Graduation Examination in September 2025;
• Coordinating with the Ministry of Education and Training and the Ministry of Public Security to successfully organize the Conference on Crime Prevention Awareness for students in December 2025.

9. Official visit of the President of the Senate of the Parliament of the Czech Republic to Ton Duc Thang University

With many outstanding achievements in education and training, scientific research, technology transfer, innovation, sustainable development, and community contribution, Ton Duc Thang University has become a reputable international academic destination and partner. The University has received great attention from leaders of the State, the National Assembly, and the Government of Vietnam and other countries, and has welcomed many high-level delegations, accreditation organizations, diplomatic agencies, and prestigious universities from around the world.

On November 19, 2025, a high-level delegation of the Senate of the Parliament of the Czech Republic, led by its President, Mr. Miloš Vystrčil, selected Ton Duc Thang University (TDTU) for an official visit and working session during their state visit to Vietnam on the occasion of the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Vietnam and the Czech Republic, demonstrating the growing role and reputation of the University in higher education and international cooperation.

10. Ton Duc Thang University promoted community engagement and building a sustainable bridge between the University and the society

In the past academic year, Ton Duc Thang University organized and participated in many career orientation and admissions counseling activities at different scales and in diverse forms. These activities helped high school students learn about majors and careers associated with their intended study majors and make appropriate choices based on their abilities and aspirations. Typical events include:

- Successfully organizing the Ton Duc Thang University Admission Counseling Day 2025 (TDTU OPEN DAY 2025) in April 2025, attracting more than 3,000 students and parents in Ho Chi Minh City and other southern provinces;

- Participating in the Ho Chi Minh City Admission and Career Counseling Day 2025 in March 2025 and the 2025 University and College Application Preference Selection Fair in July 2025, jointly organized by Tuoi Tre Newspaper and the Department of Higher Education under the Ministry of Education and Training.

In 2025, Ton Duc Thang University also successfully organized two Career Fairs in May and December 2025; and signed cooperation agreements with many major enterprises and organizations such as TTC Group, Binh Son Refining and Petrochemical Joint Stock Company, and Tuoi Tre Newspaper. These activities have created an effective bridge connecting enterprises and employers with TDTU’s high-quality human resources. They also provide valuable opportunities for the University’s students to engage with employers, showcase their competencies, and seek employment at enterprises. At the same time, they facilitate the implementation of cooperation programs between the University, its faculties, and enterprises, with the aim of ensuring training quality and learning outcomes, and aligning graduates’ competencies with the actual recruitment needs of enterprises.

11. Ton Duc Thang University students achieved high results in national and regional competitions

The year 2025 continued to mark a successful year for Ton Duc Thang University students with many outstanding achievements in various fields, from scientific research and academic competitions to arts and sports:

- Students of Ton Duc Thang University received many prestigious awards such as the 2025 Vietnam Female Students in Science and Technology Award; 1 Second Prize, 2 Third Prizes, and 1 Consolation Prize at the 27th Euréka Student Scientific Research Award;

- At the UAV Innovation Contest - PV GAS Cup 2025, the student team of Ton Duc Thang University excellently surpassed more than 100 teams nationwide to win the championship in UAV design and operation.

Earlier, in May 2025, a group of students of Ton Duc Thang University also won the Gold Medal at the 16th Ho Chi Minh City Youth Innovation Festival 2025 with the product “UAV System for Marine Surveillance”. These achievements demonstrate the University’s investment in creating favorable conditions for students to participate in scientific research in the city’s and the country’s key sectors.

- In national and regional sports competitions, Ton Duc Thang University students shone and contributed many medals to the achievements of the Vietnamese Sports Delegation at SEA Games, Asian Championships, and World Championships, such as the championship title at the National University Basketball Championship (NUC) 2025 and medals in Taekwondo at the 33rd SEA Games;

- The field of culture and arts has also made a strong impression, with students from the Faculty of Industrial Fine Arts earning prestigious awards, including the First Prize at the Final Round of the Leather Design Competition organized by the American Leather Association in Vietnam in 2025, and the First Prize in the Ethnic Cultural Costume Design Competition – The Grand National Costume at Miss Grand Vietnam 2025.

… along with many other outstanding achievements.

12. Ton Duc Thang University was commended as an exemplary advanced unit in the period 2020-2025

At the 11th National Patriotic Emulation Congress for Workers, Civil Servants, and Employees for the period 2025-2030 held in Hanoi on October 26, 2025, Ton Duc Thang University was commended by the Vietnam General Confederation of Labour as an “Exemplary Advanced Unit in the Patriotic Emulation Movement for the period 2020-2025.” This recognition is a well-deserved acknowledgment of the relentless efforts of all TDTU staff, lecturers, civil servants, and employees in building a dynamic, creative, disciplined, and internationally integrated higher education environment.

Along with the University, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Tran Trong Dao – President of the University – was also commended and awarded the title “Outstanding National Exemplary Advanced Individual for the period 2020-2025.”

On November 17, 2025, at the Ceremony to celebrate Vietnamese Teachers’ Day (November 20) and the 8th Patriotic Emulation Congress of the Education Sector organized by the Ministry of Education and Training, Ton Duc Thang University was once again awarded a Certificate of Merit for outstanding achievements in the emulation movement “Innovation and Creativity in Management, Teaching, and Learning” for the period 2020-2025.

These prestigious titles acknowledge TDTU’s sustained efforts, significant contributions, and outstanding achievements in education and training over the past nearly three decades.