🎯 VNU-HCM sets a goal to rank Mathematics in the Top 150 of the QS World University Rankings

On the morning of August 29, 2025, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Vũ Hải Quân, President of Vietnam National University – Ho Chi Minh City (VNU-HCM), chaired a meeting and working session with a delegation of French professors in Mathematics. During the meeting, both sides exchanged views and discussed orientations for cooperation in education, training, and research development in Mathematics. In this context, VNU-HCM set the goal of placing the Mathematics discipline among the Top 150 in the QS World University Rankings by 2030.

Also attending the meeting were representatives of the leadership of the University of Science, the Office of External Relations and Project Development, the Office of Academic Affairs, and the Office of Science and Technology of VNU-HCM.

The French delegation of Mathematics professors included Prof. Frédéric Hérau, Deputy Scientific Director for Europe and International Relations of the Institute of Mathematics, French National Centre for Scientific Research (CNRS); Prof. Marc Peigné, Professor at the University of Tours, Coordinator of the Franco–Vietnamese Master’s Program in Applied Mathematics, former President of the French Mathematical Society, along with other members of the delegation.

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Vũ Hải Quân speaks at the working session

VNU-HCM promotes the development of Mathematics

In his opening remarks, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Vũ Hải Quân emphasized that Vietnam National University – Ho Chi Minh City (VNU-HCM) has always attached great importance to international cooperation in the development of Mathematics, particularly with reputable partners such as France. He highly appreciated the long-standing support and collaboration of French professors in training and research, and noted that VNU-HCM is making strong efforts to expand postgraduate programs, establish interdisciplinary research groups, and work toward the goal of placing Mathematics among the Top 150 disciplines in the QS World University Rankings by 2030.

Providing an overview of the applied mathematics development programs at VNU-HCM, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Trần Lê Quan, President of the University of Science, stated that during the 2020–2024 period, VNU-HCM recorded more than 750 WoS/Scopus-indexed publications in Mathematics, with over 75% published in Q1/Q2 journals, averaging 150 papers per year. The current Mathematics faculty consists of 128 academic staff members (including 4 Professors, 16 Associate Professors, and 62 PhDs), serving a training scale of more than 1,500 undergraduate students, 370 master’s students, and 60 doctoral candidates in mathematics-related disciplines.

In addition, the joint Master’s program in Applied Mathematics between the University of Science and four French higher education institutions has trained approximately 300 master’s graduates over 17 years of cooperation. Notably, more than 150 alumni have completed doctoral programs abroad, many of whom have attained the academic titles of Associate Professor and Professor at prestigious universities in Vietnam and internationally.

An overview of the working session between VNU-HCM and the French delegation of Mathematics professors.

During the 2025–2030 period, Vietnam National University – Ho Chi Minh City (VNU-HCM) plans to further develop joint Master’s programs in Data Science and Artificial Intelligence (taught in English), implement co-supervision and progress toward joint doctoral degrees, establish international research groups, strengthen cooperation with the French National Centre for Scientific Research (CNRS) and the French–Vietnamese International Research Laboratory (IRL), and expand academic exchanges with leading universities in France. VNU-HCM has set the goal of placing Mathematics among the Top 150 disciplines in the QS World University Rankings by 2030.

Promoting cooperation between VNU-HCM and French Mathematics professors

In this context, Prof. Frédéric Hérau, Deputy Scientific Director for Europe and International Relations of the Institute of Mathematics, French National Centre for Scientific Research (CNRS), introduced the French–Vietnamese International Research Laboratory in Mathematics (IRL FVMA). He noted that in Vietnam, IRL FVMA was established in 2023 and is based in Hanoi, serving as a key hub for France–Vietnam scientific cooperation.

The main activities of IRL FVMA include the organization of summer schools, scientific conferences, joint master’s and doctoral training programs, as well as bilateral research exchange projects. The presence of IRL FVMA affirms the long-term collaborative relationship between France and Vietnam in the field of Mathematics, while also opening up new opportunities for young researchers and the mathematical communities of both countries.

The French delegation of Mathematics professors reaffirmed their commitment to continuing collaboration with VNU-HCM in the training of high-quality human resources and the development of interdisciplinary research projects

In an open and cordial atmosphere, both sides discussed new opportunities for cooperation, including co-supervision of doctoral candidates, the establishment of joint research groups, the organization of international conferences, and regular academic exchanges for lecturers and doctoral students. Particular emphasis was placed on the development of joint postgraduate training programs between Vietnam and France, with the aim of promoting sustainable scientific cooperation between VNU-HCM and leading French universities and research institutes.

The professors also expressed their desire to continue accompanying VNU-HCM in the training of high-quality human resources and the development of interdisciplinary research projects.

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Vũ Hải Quân poses for a commemorative photo with the delegation of French Mathematics professors.

The meeting further reinforced the long-standing cooperation between VNU-HCM and French Mathematics professors, and opened new prospects for international integration and for elevating the standing of Vietnamese Mathematics within the global scientific community.