Conference on “Enhancing the Leadership Role of the University of Transport and Communications in Science and Technology, Innovation, and Digital Transformation in Accordance with Resolution No. 57-NQ/TW”

On July 10, 2025, in Ha Long, Quang Ninh, the University of Transport and Communications organized a conference themed “Enhancing the Leadership Role of the University of Transport and Communications in Science and Technology, Innovation, and Digital Transformation in Accordance with Resolution No. 57-NQ/TW”.

Overview of the conference

Attending the conference were Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Thanh Chuong – Secretary of the Party Committee and Chairman of the University Council; Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Van Hung – Deputy Secretary of the Party Committee and President; Assoc. Prof. Dr. Le Hoai Duc – Deputy Secretary of the Party Committee and Vice President; leaders of functional units; former university leaders; and other delegates. Among the guests were Dr. Vo Xuan Hoai – Deputy Director of the National Innovation Center, Ministry of Finance; and Mr. Bui Hong Minh – Deputy Director of the Quang Ninh Department of Construction.

Delegates attending the conference

In his opening speech, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Van Hung – President of the university – reviewed the main highlights of the university’s activities in the 2024–2025 academic year and outlined the key topics of the summer conference.

The 2024–2025 academic year continued the steady progress of the University of Transport and Communications’ Party Congress term 2020–2025, marking a year full of significant and proud achievements. UTC was honored once again to be ranked among the top 500 universities in Asia according to the QS rankings. It remains the only national key university in Vietnam specializing in transport and logistics, as recognized by Prime Minister’s Decision No. 452/QD-TTg dated February 27, 2025. The university is also one of 18 public higher education institutions prioritized for investment in semiconductor laboratories under Prime Minister’s Decision No. 1017/QD-TTg dated September 21, 2024. Recently, on June 14, 2025, at the conference on implementing projects for human resource development and the “three-party cooperation” model involving the State, universities, and enterprises, the Ministry of Education and Training announced a list of 13 higher education institutions selected to lead centers of excellence and talent development in technology. UTC was once again chosen to lead a center of excellence and talent training in the field of advanced and smart transport technology and infrastructure. These achievements are a source of great pride, clearly demonstrating UTC’s role, capacity, and position in the nation’s overall development. They also reaffirm the university’s sound strategic vision and the persistent efforts and dedication of generations of leaders, staff, and faculty in fulfilling UTC’s mission to lead scientific research, innovation, and human resource training in the transport sector specifically, and the country’s socio-economic sectors more broadly.

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Van Hung – President of the university – delivered a speech

The Conference is an annual academic and administrative tradition at the University of Transport and Communications — a gathering place for the intellect, sense of responsibility, and spirit of innovation of the university’s leadership, key staff, and scientists.

This year’s conference holds special significance in the context of the Politburo’s Resolution No. 57-NQ/TW dated December 22, 2024, on the development of science, technology, innovation, and national digital transformation by 2030 with a vision toward 2045, which is being vigorously implemented nationwide. It is also the first conference to implement the Resolution of the 31st Party Congress of the University of Transport and Communications.  

Our country is undergoing significant, rapid, and especially important transformations. It can be said that never before have the Party’s will, the Government’s determination, and the society’s desire for innovation, creativity, and advancement been realized so swiftly and effectively as they are in the current period.

Science, technology, and innovation have been identified by the Party and State as one of the strategic breakthroughs and the main driving forces to enhance national productivity, quality, and competitiveness. Resolution No. 57-NQ/TW dated December 22, 2024, often likened to the "Contract 10" in science and technology, clearly establishes the direction that universities and research institutes must become innovation centers and the core forces within the national science and technology ecosystem.

General Secretary To Lam has repeatedly emphasized the crucial role of high-quality human resources, scientists, intellectuals, engineers, and university staff in fulfilling the mission of national rejuvenation through science and education. He affirmed: “Developing education and training, science and technology, and innovation is the key driving force to advance the country through Vietnam’s internal strength and intellect.” The General Secretary also stressed the need to build a team of scientific personnel who are “dedicated, devoted, and committed,” ready to shoulder great responsibilities in the new era.

The Resolution of the 13th National Party Congress also identified building a synchronous and modern infrastructure system—both economically and socially—and developing human resources, especially high-quality human resources, as two of the three strategic breakthroughs for the country’s socio-economic development.

The historical role and mission placed on the University of Transport and Communications as a whole, and on its faculty and key staff in particular, are immense. This is both a great challenge and an opportunity for UTC to continue developing faster and more solidly; to assert its leadership role not only in transportation but also across all key sectors of the national economy, with the goal of ranking among the top 200 universities in Asia by 2030.   

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Van Hung – President of the university – expressed confidence that with a spirit of openness, proactiveness, responsibility, and creativity, the 2025 Conference will contribute important directional insights for the University of Transport and Communications to continue making breakthroughs and increasingly contribute to solving major challenges in science and technology, innovation, and national digital transformation; worthy of its role as the country’s leading key technical university.

Chairperson of the conference

The conference “Enhancing the Leadership Role of the University of Transport and Communications in Science and Technology, Innovation, and Digital Transformation in Accordance with Resolution No. 57-NQ/TW” featured 18 carefully prepared reports. It included participation from Dr. Vo Xuan Hoai – Deputy Director of the National Innovation Center (NIC), Ministry of Finance – who expressed hopes that the event would raise awareness and determination throughout the university, collectively identify and resolve bottlenecks related to mechanisms, policies, governance, and methods for implementing science and technology, innovation, and digital transformation tasks at UTC. The focus was particularly on key issue groups:

- Comprehensive digital transformation and promotion of innovation in all university activities to become a smart, multidisciplinary, and multi-sector university; 

- Strengthening the role of applied research, establishing strong research groups linked to technology transfer;

- Promoting the expanded three-party cooperation model and solutions to enhance the effectiveness of scientific research activities and commercialization of scientific products in a practical and efficient manner.

Dr. Vo Xuan Hoai – Deputy Director of the National Innovation Center (NIC), Ministry of Finance – delivered the keynote presentation on breakthroughs in the development of national science, technology, innovation, and digital transformation

Dr. Nguyen Van Hai – Director of Personnel and Organization Department – presented a report on solutions for developing the UTC into a strong research institution, closely integrating research, application, and training

Dr. Nguyen Dinh Tu – Director of Administration Department – presented a report on solutions to enhance governance capacity at the UTC  with a smart-oriented approach

Dr. Nguyen Thac Quang – Executive Deputy Director General of Ho Chi Minh City Campus – presented a report on solutions to promote innovation activities at Ho Chi Minh City Campus in the digital transformation era, aiming to implement Resolution No. 57-NQ/TW

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Ngo Van Minh – Director of Innovation and Technology Transfer Department – presented a report on the experience of building, developing, and applying the expanded collaboration model among scientists, businesses, and managers (TRIPLE HELIX) at the UTC

Prof. Dr. Do Duc Tuan spoke during the discussion session

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Thi Mai – Dean of the Faculty of Basic Sciences – spoke during the discussion session

After a day of focused, serious, and dedicated work, the 2025 Conference of the University of Transport and Communications on the theme “Enhancing the University’s Leadership Role in Science – Technology, Innovation, and Digital Transformation in the Spirit of Resolution 57-NQ/TW” concluded successfully.

In the conference’s concluding remarks, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Van Hung – President of the university – sincerely thanked Dr. Vo Xuan Hoai – Deputy Director of the National Innovation Center (NIC) – for delivering a crucial keynote presentation that provided a strategic and updated perspective on the national innovation ecosystem, as well as the vital role of higher education institutions in realizing national digital transformation goals. He also acknowledged the practical and visionary solutions and initiatives presented at the conference. However, alongside these advantages, there are still many difficulties and challenges. Yet, precisely because of these challenges, as a key national university in engineering and technology with a proud tradition of “Pioneering – Quality – Responsibility – Adaptability,” we increasingly recognize the university’s leadership role not only in education but also in shaping the national science and technology ecosystem. Accordingly, the university’s scientific research and training outcomes must not merely remain statistics on the number of publications or theoretical products but must be continuously promoted to create tangible, valuable products for both the university and society.

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Van Hung urged the units to promptly concretize the groups of solutions into action programs, integrate them into the 2025–2026 academic year plan and upcoming development projects, and affirm the continued pioneering role of key staff in innovation efforts, spreading the spirit and determination of renewal and development to all faculty members, employees, and students across the university.

ICDS