In 2020, VNU overcame challenges, asserted itself, and opened up a vision for a new period.

On January 15, 2021, VNU held a conference to review the work of 2020 and deploy the plan and tasks of 2021 to review all aspects of activities in the past year. 2021 is the opening year of a new 5-year period, the plans set out this year have been placed by VNU in a broader vision for a new period, as a premise for the following years.

2020: The year of comprehensive development of VNU

Last year, one of the key tasks of training was to pioneer in innovating undergraduate and graduate admission methods, and innovating the measurement and evaluation system in training. In 2020, VNU achieved many successes in admission activities, developing training programs, increasing training scale to meet social needs, and achieving the set targets for university level. VNU's PhD and PhD students have many publications in international journals such as ISI/SCOPUS. VNU continues to play a leading role in innovating personalized teaching activities, which has penetrated and spread among the teaching staff of all units. The results of this activity are most clearly demonstrated through the training of specialized and gifted high schools. Students of VNU's specialized high schools last year achieved great results in national competitions and international Olympics. Following those successes, VNU welcomes the establishment of the High School for Social Sciences and Humanities to diversify the training of talents for the country.

Permanent Deputy Director of VNU Nguyen Hoang Hai presented a report summarizing the work in 2020 and deploying the plan and tasks for 2021.

Despite the fact that all professions were strongly affected by the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020, VNU has made efforts to conduct online accreditation of 4/9 training programs, quickly switching from in-person to online training to adapt to the new context. These successes are largely due to the digital system that VNU is gradually building. Not only serving training, this system has helped improve the infrastructure serving the administrative and operational work of VNU.

Regarding science and technology, major indicators related to international publications and patents have all met targets. In particular, the number of ISI/SCOPUS international articles by VNU staff in 2020 reached 1,098, exceeding the target of 1,000 articles/year, contributing greatly to VNU's position on domestic and international rankings. This year also witnessed a sudden increase in patent and utility solution registration, reaching 107% of the target. It can be said that despite the tense epidemic situation, activities in VNU continue to be persistent and strong, seriously demonstrating VNU's commitments: "Innovation - National responsibility - Sustainable development".

2020 is an important year for the organization of VNU's staff when it successfully organized the Party Congresses at all levels, the 6th Congress of VNU Party Committee, towards the 13th National Party Congress. VNU recruited 65 more highly qualified scientific staff, including 6 associate professors - senior lecturers, 59 PhDs, while improving the capacity of the existing staff by opening more training courses for staff at the management level. The ratio of scientific staff to the total number of staff in training and scientific research units reached 66%.

In the atmosphere of the whole country heading towards the National Party Congress, VNU has actively participated in giving comments on political reports and socio-economic advice to provinces and cities in the period of 2020 - 2025 such as Quang Ninh, Thai Binh, etc. The cooperation model between University - State - Locality - Enterprise has been promoted to the maximum, contributing to affirming the real effectiveness of development cooperation activities. Continuing the successes of domestic cooperation, VNU's foreign affairs have had outstanding highlights despite the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic. Last year, VNU was honored to welcome Japanese Prime Minister Suga Yoshihide to visit and work on his first overseas trip since taking office.

The conference listened to a number of presentations from functional departments and member units of VNU on innovation in teaching activities towards individualization, staff organization and university administration.

With the active support of the Party, the State and international organizations, the VNU campus in Hoa Lac has many positive changes, largely thanks to the effective working process of related units. New, spacious facilities are increasingly present on the new campus of VNU, the future of a university city is becoming clearer.

In 2021, VNU creates a foundation for activities in the period 2020 - 2025

Entering 2021, VNU has set many goals to carry out key tasks, which are to continue to improve the organization and adjust and update management documents according to the Law amending and supplementing a number of articles of the Law on Higher Education, Decree and new operating regulations on National Universities; Building an integrated database of work areas serving university governance, administrative reform, scientific research and training. Modernizing information technology infrastructure in VNU; Continuing to innovate training work towards individualization; implementing a new enrollment project for 2021 and roadmap for the following years; Continuing to effectively implement major science and technology programs; innovating management mechanisms and methods of organizing and implementing science and technology activities; transferring science and technology products;

Speaking at the Conference, VNU President Nguyen Kim Son affirmed that the past year was a year of many challenges and difficulties, but all cadres, employees, lecturers and students have strived to make great efforts and exceeded the basic targets set for a year of comprehensive development of VNU in all aspects. 2021 is the first year of implementing the Resolution of the Party Congress of VNU Party Committee, and is also the first year of the new 5-year plan, so this is also a pivotal year for the following years. The President also reiterated the key tasks of innovating enrollment, innovating and developing the talent training system and through talent development to contribute to the country and society. This is also the year to continue to innovate teaching activities in depth, and to carry out new science and technology tasks well.

The President of VNU expressed his sincere thanks for the support and facilitation of the Party, Government, Ministries, Central Departments and the contributions of scientists, lecturers and students of VNU.

The Director of VNU hopes that in the new year, VNU will continue to firmly fulfill its national responsibility for sustainable development and contribute to the country's education and science and technology.
Also within the framework of the Conference, many individuals and groups with outstanding achievements in the past year were honored and awarded.

Awarding the Labor Medal to individuals of VNU with outstanding achievements in the period 2014-2019, contributing to the cause of building and defending the Fatherland.