At the 2026 Opening Ceremony of the Vietnam National University Ho Chi Minh City, attended by Prime Minister Le Minh Hung, the aspiration for strategic technological self-reliance through Vietnamese talent was set forth as an important task in the new development phase of the country.
In line with this goal, Saigon – Hanoi Commercial Joint Stock Bank (SHB) continues to allocate 10 billion VND over 5 years to support talent development, scientific research, innovation, and social welfare at the Vietnam National University Ho Chi Minh City.
SHB Chief Executive Officer Ngo Thu Ha presents sponsorship to the Talent Development and Social Welfare Program at Ho Chi Minh City National University for the period 2026-2030.
On October 13, 2026, the Vietnam National University Ho Chi Minh City (VNU-HCM) held its 2026 Opening Ceremony with the theme “Vietnam National University Ho Chi Minh City with the aspiration for strategic technological autonomy through Vietnamese talent.” The event was attended by Prime Minister Le Minh Hung, leaders of central and local ministries and agencies, as well as numerous experts, scientists, lecturers, and students.
More than just an annual event to welcome the new school year, the Opening Ceremony is also a forum for connecting knowledge, sharing development directions, and inspiring the aspirations of the younger generation to contribute. This year, the event focuses on one of the country’s strategic tasks: developing high-quality human resources, mastering core technologies, and enhancing self-reliance in science and technology in the context of global competition.
Speaking at the Opening Ceremony, Prime Minister Le Minh Hung affirmed that education and training are a top national priority, determining the future of the country. In particular, higher education plays a crucial role in developing highly skilled human resources, nurturing talent, promoting science, technology, and innovation, and contributing to enhancing national competitiveness and strength.
Highly appreciating the contributions of VNU-HCM over more than three decades of construction and development, the Prime Minister requested the University to continue to play a leading role, becoming a leading center for discovering, training, and gathering talents nationwide, especially in the fields of basic science and strategic technology.
At the event, Professor Nguyen Thi Thanh Mai – Director of VNU-HCM – shared that the stature of a university is not only determined by its organizational scale or the number of students, but more importantly by the quality of its trained human resources, the value of its knowledge contributions, and its ability to solve practical problems of society.
Leveraging its multidisciplinary and multi-field advantages, the Director of VNU-HCM emphasized the need to maximize the strength of the entire system, strengthen the connection between training, research, and application; and create an environment for students to research, experience, experiment, and grow through real-world problems. Professor Nguyen Thi Thanh Mai affirmed: “The dream of VNU-HCM is bigger than just a ranking position.”
The aspiration of VNU-HCM is to build an academic environment strong enough to attract and connect Vietnamese talents worldwide, creating conditions for young scientists to return or collaborate long-term, contributing knowledge and technology to serve the country.
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BOX: Established in 1995, Vietnam National University Ho Chi Minh City (VNU-HCM) is currently one of the largest multidisciplinary university systems in Vietnam, with over 110,000 students, 180 internationally accredited programs, and 13 academic disciplines ranked among the top 500 in the world. According to the development program approved by the Prime Minister, VNU-HCM aims to be among the top 100 higher education institutions in Asia by 2030, becoming a leading center for training, scientific research, and innovation in the country. |
Within the framework of the 2026 Opening Ceremony, SHB reaffirmed its commitment to accompanying VNU-HCM through the Talent Development and Social Welfare Program for the period 2026–2030, with a total sponsorship of 10 billion VND over 5 years, equivalent to 2 billion VND per year.
The program focuses on supporting students from disadvantaged backgrounds who overcome difficulties to excel in their studies; encouraging talented individuals with outstanding academic and research achievements; supporting scientific research, innovation, and entrepreneurship; and expanding opportunities for skills training, career experience, and job placement.
SHB’s partnership not only contributes to supplementing resources for education but also aims to create more opportunities for young people to develop their abilities, pursue creative ideas, and put knowledge into practice. This is also a continuation of the strategic cooperation between SHB and VNU-HCM, following the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding for cooperation in the period 2026–2030 on August 27, 2026.
SHB and VNU-HCM sign a Memorandum of Understanding for cooperation in the period 2026-2030.
Ms. Ngo Thu Ha – Chief Executive Officer of SHB shared: “Investing in people and knowledge is investing in the future of the country. SHB wishes to accompany the Vietnam National University Ho Chi Minh City in developing high-quality human resources, creating more opportunities for Vietnamese talents to develop their abilities, put knowledge into practice, and contribute to the development of the country. This is also SHB’s responsibility and commitment on the journey to building a new generation national-level bank . ”
Over the years, SHB has actively supported education through scholarship programs, talent promotion initiatives, and human resource development partnerships.
At VNU-HCM, SHB has sponsored 1 billion VND for the “Overcoming Difficulties to Excel in Studies” scholarship program for the 2024-2025 academic year and will continue to award 1 billion VND in the 2025-2026 academic year, supporting students from disadvantaged backgrounds who strive to excel in their studies.
In particular, the Bank awarded a full scholarship worth VND 772 million over 5 years to Phan Bao Chan, a medical student at the University of Health Sciences, VNU-HCM. This scholarship will provide him with the means to continue his studies and pursue his dream of becoming a doctor to help the community.
SHB scholarship helps student Phan Bao Chan continue pursuing his dream of becoming a doctor.
From supporting specific dreams to long-term talent development programs, SHB is gradually expanding its partnership with education, combining social responsibility with investment in future human resources.
After more than three decades of development, SHB has affirmed its position among the leading private joint-stock commercial banks in Vietnam. Positioned as a “New Generation National-Level Bank ,” the Bank recognizes its responsibility not only in providing financial solutions and connecting resources for the economy, but also in making practical contributions to people and the community, including nurturing talent, promoting knowledge and innovation, and working together to build a self-reliant, confident, and forward-thinking Vietnam in the new era.