Launched in 2017, Fulbright University Vietnam (FUV) is a turning point in Vietnam’s drive to reform its higher education system – it is the country’s first fully independent non-profit university. FUV aims to bring world-class university standards to Vietnam and help unlock tremendous potential in Vietnam’s education sector. Earlier this month, FUV welcomed its first cohort of undergraduate students at a convocation ceremony in Ho Chi Minh City. In his keynote address, Politburo Member and Ho Chi Minh City Party Secretary Nguyen Thien Nhan hailed FUV’s blend of international education concepts, and respect for Vietnam’s culture and traditions. In front of an audience of 250, all 54 incoming students committed to an Honor Code – a concept new to Vietnam’s universities. FUV is continuing student recruitment, campus development, and fundraising efforts to ensure that it becomes a major player in the Vietnamese education landscape and will bring systemic change to Vietnam’s education system.

So What? Apart from the FUV convocation ceremony marking a significant milestone, Secretary Nhan’s remarks demonstrated the Vietnamese Government’s increasing confidence in this innovative new university.