Dear Teachers and Students,
The Charter season seems to come and go quickly, preceded by tremendous efforts from our faculty, students, and all staff members. Allow me to briefly recount some highlights.
On Science and International Cooperation
In October, we organized two international conferences. The first was titled “Vietnam’s Challenges: Towards a High-Income Nation by 2045,” co-organized by the Economic Research Institute for ASEAN and East Asia (ERIA) and Dong A University on October 24 and 25. Nearly 200 experts and scientists from research institutes in Japan, Vietnam, and other countries in the region, as well as university leaders and government officials from Da Nang, participated, with the event chaired by Professor Tran Van Tho.
I hope that the reports from the conference will serve as valuable resources for policymakers.
The second series of international workshops on October 22 and 23 focused on Smart Living EAI 2024: The Era of Artificial Intelligence. It was co-chaired by the International Research Institute for Artificial Intelligence and Data Science at Dong A University (IAD) in collaboration with the European Alliance for Innovation (EAI) and Gemtex-Ensait, University of Lille, France. This is the 10th international conference on Responsible AI & Data Science (RAIDS) and Mobility, IoT, and Smart Cities, providing numerous solutions for our faculty, students, and society.
New Academic Year - September Launch
September marks the beginning of the fall season and the opening ceremony for the new academic year. Each year, the administration chooses the Tien Son Sports Center to welcome new members to the Dong A family. The spacious and modern facility is carefully prepared by the administration, setting up tables and chairs for a solemn ceremony to greet students transitioning from high school to university, allowing them to feel the joy expressed in Xuân Diệu's poem: “The river at your age glistens like a spring girl, flowing with the abundant spirit of creation; the mountains at your age are majestic to the horizon, as lofty as the ambitious dreams of youth…” This is where students will see the vastness of life, where spring and youth begin, realizing their importance and fervently building their dreams.
In the 2024-2025 academic year, Dong A University welcomed over 3,000 new members, with 1,504 students scoring above 20 in the national high school exam, accounting for 51%. If considering the 18-point threshold, there are 2,251 students, over 75%. The highest entrance score this year is 27.75. This indicates that our university has a high entrance score.
The majority of students studying at Dong A University come from Da Nang, followed by Quang Nam province, which brings joy as the university is located in a place with a strong tradition of learning.
The university has awarded full and partial scholarships to 231 students and organized honor programs to support future “seeds of talent.”
Culture of Responsibility
However, at this time, Typhoon YAGI has struck the northern provinces. Many children in Nu Village and residents in the northern provinces must endure a long sleep. Our faculty and students are restless. An artistic exchange night featuring new students, with the participation of singer No Phuoc Thinh, was meticulously prepared and promised to be spectacular right after the opening ceremony, but it had to be canceled. Instead, all faculty and students of Dong A University united to contribute to a fund for children in Nu Village through the Vietnam Fatherland Front in Da Nang, totaling 500 million VND.
While this amount may not be large, it represents heartfelt action, nurturing compassion and responsibility in our students as they grow.
The university will also provide scholarships for the children of Nu Village should they have future needs. We will invest in their professional and language training and secure jobs for them in Japan after graduation, allowing the children of Nu Village to continue their dreams of higher education and career development, integrating into the world. Many years later, they can return to contribute to and develop their hometown.
Volunteer Blood Donation Movement
As an essential part of being a Dong A University student, our university has been recognized by the city and the youth union for many years. The Dong A University Youth Union is among the highest contributors of blood donations to the community.
More notably, Dong A University students have established a rare blood bank to assist residents in critical situations across the Central provinces.
Commemoration of Gac Ma Martyrs
For over ten years, faculty and students of Dong A University have consistently visited the families of and commemorated the 64 Gac Ma martyrs, honoring their significant sacrifices.
Student Nguyen Minh Chau
One talented student, majoring in Information Technology with a specialization in Graphic Design, has many dreams and aspirations. Despite health challenges affecting her speech, she achieved a 6.0 IELTS score. Yet, upon realizing her declining health, she volunteered to donate her body to medical science. She leaves behind an extraordinary example of resilience and a noble heart. The university cherishes her memory by naming the “Nguyen Minh Chau Scholarship” in her honor, ensuring her youthful spirit remains with us.
Celebrating Student Achievements
In 2024, our students have achieved 34 national, international, and regional awards. Students are excited, and faculty share in their joy. With research results, students are motivated, and faculty are even happier. Across various departments, students enthusiastically compete. A team of three Korean language students from Dong A University won first place in the 28th K-Speech World Competition held in Laos on August 16 after securing first place in the university category at the 12th K-Speech competition in Ho Chi Minh City on June 1, representing Vietnam in the global competition.
In national competitions, two students from the Japanese Language and Culture Department recently excelled, winning first and second place at the national Japanese speech contest (JLAN-Test Cup) in Da Nang, delivering inspiring stories and showcasing their Japanese language skills and confident stage presence.
Additionally, there were numerous awards, including gold and bronze in the Korean speech competition Vietnam - Gyeongsangbuk-do 2024 by Korean language students and third place in the national student math olympiad by Information Technology students. Students from the Tourism, Law, Psychology departments also achieved national and regional awards, demonstrating the intellect and resilience of Dong A University students.
Not only in academics, but in cultural and sports activities, Dong A University students also received excellence awards at the 10th National Festival of Arts for Armed Forces, Youth, and Students in 2024, and became champions of the 2023 National Student Volleyball Championship in the Central region.
Employment and Graduation Ceremony
Notably, at the graduation ceremony in July this year, over half of the students had secured jobs before graduation, which brings great joy to our faculty!
Dong A University is the only institution in the higher education sector to be nominated twice by the Da Nang People's Committee as a unit honored for ten years of achievement.
Dong A University was nominated by the People's Committee as the only university in the city to receive commendations for “Fundamentally and comprehensively renewing education and training, meeting the requirements of industrialization and modernization” for the period 2013-2023, according to Resolution No. 29-NQ/TW dated November 4, 2013, of the Central Committee of the Party.
The university was also nominated by the People's Committee as the only university in the city to receive commendations for “Continuing to innovate the work of emulation and commendation, for the period 2014-2024, according to Directive No. 38-CT/TU dated September 5, 2014, of the Party Committee, etc.”
Perhaps this reflects our social responsibility, culture, and the way of life of the people of Dong A, so it feels quite normal, dear faculty, staff, and students!
The next Charter season will arrive, preceded by our relentless efforts, in sincerity, with joy amidst our struggles, and a week without Sundays, continued by us... to contribute to life!
However, I apologize for not mentioning all the talented and dedicated faculty, staff, and the brave and aspiring students in this letter! They are truly admirable and dear, yet not included in this writing!
Please allow me to owe you this for a few months; I will invite you for coffee and take photos with our esteemed faculty and students.
Dear teachers and students,
Now, on behalf of Dong A University, we would like to extend our best wishes to the former teachers of Hue University, now the University of Science; the former teachers of our faculty, staff, and students; esteemed leaders, and all the management staff of the Ministry of Education and Training and the Education sector in Da Nang; and all our family and friends who have always accompanied, shared, and supported the faculty and students of Dong A University during this time. May you have good health, happiness, and abundant joy in life!
Sincerely,
Dr. Nguyen Thi Anh Dao - Rector of Dong A University