On August 15, 2025, the Conference of Officials, Employees, and the Closing Ceremony of the Academic Year 2024–2025 of the University of Languages and International Studies – Vietnam National University, Hanoi (ULIS–VNU) took place. Organized in a hybrid format, this year’s conference once again highlighted the spirit of innovation, creativity, and digital transformation in its organization.

Attending the Conference were Assoc. Prof. Dr. Dao Thanh Truong – Vice President of VNU, along with leaders of Departments, the Trade Union, and other units within VNU. On the ULIS side, the event welcomed the University’s Board of Management, distinguished guests, and the entire staff and employees of the University.

At the Conference, delegates reviewed a year of active implementation of the University’s activities through a video report on the outcomes of the Resolution of the Conference of Officials and Employees in the academic year 2024–2025. The report highlighted the University’s outstanding achievements while also candidly pointing out existing shortcomings that need to be addressed.

After that, President Nguyen Xuan Long presented the action plan for the academic year 2025–2026, focusing on six key task groups, with particular emphasis on:

1. Training & Learners

• Finalize the blended training model; increase the proportion of blended courses to 20% at the undergraduate level and 30% at the graduate level;
• Deliver the online English B1 course across VNU;
• Continue implementing the project on innovation in graduate-level teaching;
• Comprehensively renovate support, services, and management for learners at both undergraduate and graduate levels, ensuring a student retention rate of 95% or higher.

2. Science, Technology & Development Cooperation

• Innovate the organization of national and international scientific events towards granting greater autonomy to units and professional communities;
• Develop a teaching–learning model and the use of English as a second language in schools (piloted at ULIS Secondary School);
• Continue implementing (i) the project on connecting scholars and employers (ULIS Hub); and (ii) the support channel for foreign language education in general education (ULIS Connect).

3. University Governance

• Implement the Project on streamlining the organizational structure of ULIS–VNU with the principles of Streamlined – Compact – Strong;
• Continue implementing the Project “Developing a system of solutions to retain, attract, and support highly qualified faculty”;
• Establish a coordination mechanism between training units and service units to ensure Performance – Effectiveness – Efficiency;
• Successfully organized the Celebration of the 70th Anniversary of ULIS (1955–2025) on November 8, 2025.

4. Resource Management

• Finalize the Project on financial autonomy for regular expenditures at ULIS–VNU to be applied from 2026; develop a salary mechanism linked to job positions and work performance;
• Renovate and repair Building B3; install an elevator in Building A2.

5. Quality Assurance

• Monitor and propose improvements to ensure compliance with all standards and criteria of the National Standards for Higher Education Institutions;
• Complete the quality accreditation of one undergraduate program: English Language; and three graduate programs: MA in English Language, MA in Chinese Language, and MA in Theory and Methodology of Teaching Chinese;
• Ensure the quality of VSTEP, VNU-TEST, and the English component of VNU’s High School Graduation and Admission Test (HSA).

6. Party and Union Affairs

• Further promote the coordination mechanism among the Party Committee – University Council – Board of Management in providing comprehensive leadership and direction for the University;
• Innovate the activities of unions and associations to strengthen cohesion and enhance the effectiveness of the Trade Union, Youth Union, Student Association, Association of Retired Staff, and Alumni Network.

At the Conference, Mr. Nguyen Van Doan – President of the Trade Union – delivered the Trade Union’s report covering two main points: (1) the implementation of the Resolution of the Conference of Officials and Employees in the academic year 2024–2025, and (2) the draft emulation agreement for the academic year 2025–2026. The report emphasized that the Conference of Officials and Employees of ULIS had been organized on August 6, 2025, in Cua Lo Ward, Nghe An Province; earlier, on August 12, 2024, the University had issued Resolution No. 1695/NQ-ĐHNN to implement six key tasks in the context of significant changes. In the time ahead, the Trade Union proposed continuing to streamline academic departments, finalize the Project on financial autonomy for regular expenditures, establish a salary mechanism based on job positions, attract high-quality faculty, and further implement tasks in training, science and technology, development cooperation, and innovation.

The financial report on budget implementation and revenue–expenditure, delivered by Mr. Le Van Tuyen – Deputy Head of the Office for Human Resources and Administration, provided clear information on the University’s financial planning in the academic year 2024–2025 and the plan for 2025–2026. The report was presented transparently, offering specific figures and proposing effective financial management solutions for the coming period.

At the Conference, four important presentations were delivered, including: (1) The project on comprehensive renovation of student services, focusing on enhancing the learning experience, improving facilities and student support services (presented by Mr. Vu Van Hai – Deputy Head of the Academic Affairs and Student Services Office); (2) The “Fast-Track” plan to shorten the duration of undergraduate training (BRT), aiming to increase training efficiency and optimize learning pathways (presented by Ms. Nguyen Thuy Lan – Deputy Head of the Academic Affairs and Student Services Office); (3) The project on restructuring the University, implementing financial autonomy, and developing job positions associated with a performance-based salary mechanism (presented by Ms. Le Thi Khanh Trang – Deputy Head of the Office for Human Resources and Administration); (4) The new working regulations, ensuring effective coordination among units (presented by Ms. Duong Quynh Hoa – Head of the Office for University Administration).

At the Conference, the Decision on the re-appointment of Assoc. Prof. Dr. Ha Le Kim Anh as Vice President was announced. Assoc. Prof. Dr. Dao Thanh Truong – Vice President of VNU – presented the Decision to Assoc. Prof. Dr. Ha Le Kim Anh.

In his directive speech at the Conference, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Dao Thanh Truong – Vice President of VNU – affirmed that with the strong determination of ULIS and the efforts of all staff, employees, and learners, the University had excellently fulfilled its key tasks in the academic year 2024–2025. He highly appreciated the University’s outstanding achievements, especially the spirit of innovation and creativity in training and student support. This spirit was also clearly demonstrated at the Conference through many innovations in organization. At the same time, he requested the University to continue effectively implementing strategic projects such as ULIS Hub, ULIS Connect, the teaching–learning model of English as a second language at the general education level, and to pay special attention to attracting and retaining high-quality faculty.

In his concluding remarks, Mr. Do Tuan Minh – Chairman of the University Council – emphasized key tasks such as: shortening the duration of undergraduate training and ensuring a student retention rate of 95% or higher; promoting blended training, expanding online courses, and comprehensively renovating student support activities; innovating the organization of scientific events, gradually making English a second language, and launching the program “Teaching Vietnamese as a Foreign Language” in the upcoming academic year. In terms of governance, the University will streamline its organizational structure, enhance coordination efficiency, and organize the 70th Anniversary Celebration; finalize the project on financial autonomy and improve facilities; ensure and improve the quality of program accreditation and standardized examinations; while also strengthening the coordination among the Party Committee, University Council, and Board of Management, innovating the activities of unions and associations, and fostering connections with staff and the alumni community.

Also at the Conference, a ceremony was held to honor and present certificates to collectives and individuals who sponsored the 70th Anniversary Celebration of the University.

After a period of urgent and serious working, the Conference of Officials, Employees, and the Closing Ceremony of the Academic Year 2024–2025 concluded in a spirit of solidarity, consensus, and strong determination.

Lê Na / ĐSTT