Within the framework of the Times Higher Education (THE) Asia Universities Summit 2026 taking place from April 21–24. 2026 in Hong Kong (China), Phenikaa University was honored with the "Leadership and Management Team of the Year" award - one of the leading prestigious awards in the region in the field of higher education.
According to THE, this is the first time a higher education institution in Vietnam has won in this category.
THE Awards Asia 2026 recorded more than 500 nominations from higher education institutions across Asia, with more than 80 nominations reaching the final list in various categories.
According to the assessment of the jury, the highlight of Phenikaa University lies in the systematic transformation journey in school governance and development.
In less than a decade, the leadership team has consistently led the restructuring and innovation process, gradually expanding the development potential of a private university in the new context.
From the period in 2017 when the school faced the risk of closing, Phenikaa University has gradually developed into an innovative university with a scale of nearly 35,000 students, rapid research development and a connection model between universities, hospitals and businesses.
Dr. Nguyen Ngoc Ninh - Deputy General Director of Phenikaa University emphasized: "The award is a recognition of the transformation journey and the leading role of the leadership team in building a modern university governance system, towards innovation and sustainable development. This is also a motivation for Phenikaa University to continue to improve the quality of training, research and contribute more to society.
Instead of just recovering to maintain operations, Phenikaa University's leadership team has chosen a long-term approach: Restructuring to redefine the role of a private university in the innovation ecosystem.
In addition to the task of training human resources, the school aims to create new knowledge, promote research and participate in solving practical problems of society. The application of data-based governance, operation standardization and focus on implementation efficiency has helped strategic orientations gradually be transformed into substantive changes in training, research and development of the innovation ecosystem.
According to Mr. Chris Havergal, Editor-in-Chief of Times Higher Education, the winning units at THE Awards Asia this year have shown diverse and breakthrough initiatives, reflecting the strong vitality of higher education in Asia.
For Phenikaa University, the results at THE Awards Asia 2026 not only reflect the achievements of a development process, but also show the important role of governance and leadership in promoting systematic transformations in higher education.
These movements at the strategic and international integration level will gradually be transformed into specific learning, research and development opportunities for students. Learners can access an academic environment according to international standards, participate in research and innovation activities associated with practice, and expand career connections in the school's ecosystem.
