Imprint from a challenging period
An important milestone in the career of Assoc. Prof. Dr. Phan Hong Hai was when he was assigned to lead the school in the right period of university autonomy and the COVID-19 pandemic. Faced with urgent management requirements, the school has promoted digital transformation in teaching, testing, administration and supporting learners.
From that experience, the principal believes that leaders not only solve immediate difficulties but also must know how to turn challenges into motivation for innovation. Each decision needs to aim for the long-term benefits of learners, the development of the team and the competitiveness of educational institutions in the context of rapidly changing higher education.
Steadfast in the goal of sustainable development
If we have to choose the most meaningful decision in the leadership process, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Phan Hong Hai said, it is to drastically promote comprehensive digital transformation in the pandemic period and continue to maintain this orientation in the following years.
According to him, digital transformation is not only a temporary solution to maintain teaching and learning but also an opportunity to restructure the governance model towards modernity, flexibility and efficiency.
From that foundation, the school continues to innovate governance, improve training quality, expand international cooperation and develop a research and innovation ecosystem. In particular, many training and research programs are implemented in strategic technology fields such as artificial intelligence, semiconductors, data, automation and digital transformation.
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Phan Hong Hai said that a university not only meets today's human resource needs but also must prepare human resources for the future. The important thing is not how quickly it changes, but to have enough vision to turn challenges into innovation motivation and build a sustainable development foundation for many years to come.
Currently, the school has 46 quality accredited training programs, including 6 programs that meet ABET standards of the United States and 24 programs that meet AUN-QA standards. In 2026, the school continues to record many positive results in international university rankings, reflecting efforts in improving training quality, scientific research and international integration.
However, achievements or rankings are not the ultimate destination. More importantly, it is to build a sustainable development culture, a united team, an effective management system and a long-term vision for future generations to continue to inherit and develop.
In all circumstances, leaders need to maintain calmness, bravery and long-term vision. Difficulties always exist, but if you know how to gather collective strength, listen, create consensus and dare to innovate, challenges can completely become opportunities to break through.
Entering a new phase, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Phan Hong Hai and the school collective continue to pursue the goal of improving the quality of training, scientific research and innovation, while promoting the development of human resources for the country's strategic technology fields.
For him, education must create people with knowledge, capacity, responsibility and aspiration to contribute. Educators must first set an example, do honestly, speak truthfully and take the effectiveness of serving learners as a measure.
The greatest value of a university is not only in facilities or technology, but also in people, solidarity, adaptability and the constant desire to rise up of the whole collective.
What keeps me with education is the belief that investing in people is always the most valuable investment. Each generation of students who grow up, succeed in their careers and contribute to society is a motivation for educators to continue to strive" - Assoc. Prof. Dr. Phan Hong Hai shared.
