From the journey of knowledge to the aspiration to create

The Academy's Web Portal respectfully introduces the full text of the speech delivered by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Ba Chien, Secretary of the Party Committee and President of the Academy, at the ceremony.

Respected leaders and distinguished guests,

Respected teachers, faculty members, and scientists,

Dear new Doctors, new Masters, doctoral candidates, and graduate students,

Today, in the solemn and proud atmosphere at the Academy of Public Administration and Governance, we gather to witness an event of deep significance, the convergence of the fruits of one journey and the starting point of new aspirations. The 2026 Postgraduate Opening and Graduation Ceremony is not merely an annual academic ritual, but a testament to the continuation of the intellectual stream, playing a pivotal role in the mission of educating and developing high-quality human resources for public service and society. On behalf of the Party Committee and the Board of Directors of the Academy, I extend to all distinguished guests, scientists, new Doctors, new Masters, doctoral candidates, and graduate students my most respectful greetings and warmest congratulations.

Dear new Doctors and new Masters,

Today, the Academy joyfully congratulates 18 new Doctors and 355 new Masters who have successfully completed their training programs. Behind the prestigious degrees you receive today are countless long nights of contemplative research, crossed-out manuscript pages, the quiet sacrifices of your families, and the steadfast support of your agencies and colleagues. I warmly commend your "where there's a will, there's a way" spirit, as well as your fortitude in overcoming daily life pressures to affirm your self-worth and your determination to advance in research and learning.

However, I wish to emphasize that this degree is not merely a symbol of status, but a commitment of responsibility to science and society. As the country makes a strong shift from administrative management to governance that fosters development, knowledge must become an effective tool to address the rich and complex realities of practice. I expect that as you leave today's ceremony, you will step forward with the mindset of creators and agents of change—working deeper, seeing farther, connecting more broadly, and operating more effectively. Be the sowers of knowledge within your own organizations, proactively advising on policy through the voice of science, and making practical contributions to the sustainable development of the sectors and fields under your charge.

Dear new doctoral candidates and graduate students,

Alongside the joy of graduation, we warmly welcome 63 doctoral candidates and 362 master's students who have trusted and chosen the Academy as the starting point for their journey to conquer new heights of knowledge. You begin this path at a time when the demands for high-quality human resources for the nation are growing ever more profound.

For our new master's students, the two years ahead represent a precious time to elevate your knowledge and expand your professional networks. Do not study merely to obtain a degree; study as true researchers—always eager to understand the core of issues, turning every lecture and discussion into an opportunity to innovate your thinking and diversify your practical approaches.

Specifically for our doctoral candidates, the upcoming journey will be a deeply meaningful path that demands courage, perseverance, and a passion for intellectual discovery. There will be moments when you feel lonely when solutions to your ideas remain elusive, or when your research proposals must be reworked entirely following rigorous, constructive peer feedback from your professors and scientists. To succeed, I encourage you to focus on five core orientations:

First, choose research topics that possess novelty and genuine value for both theory and practice;

Second, build a systematic and scientific research roadmap;

Third, proactively expand academic exchanges nationally and internationally;

Fourth, link research closely with real-world practice, sharing and exchanging knowledge with diverse individuals and organizations to enrich your research insights;

Fifth, cultivate perseverance and the aspiration to conquer knowledge, dedicating yourselves to service.

Completing a dissertation is an important milestone in an academic career. Yet the deeper significance of this process lies in your personal growth as researchers—in your thinking, methodology, and capability to generate new knowledge, thereby contributing to explaining governance and development challenges while bridging scientific knowledge with public management practices in Vietnam within a global context.

Respected distinguished guests, teachers, and scientists,

To achieve today's proud results, we are deeply grateful for the dedication, wisdom, and noble responsibility of our faculty, scientists, and management staff. Through your professional expertise and role as guides, you have not only imparted knowledge but also served as a source of inspiration and sharp critics, enabling learners to shape their own research identities. On behalf of the Academy's leadership, I express my profound gratitude for the invaluable contributions of our professors, scientists, and management staff. I sincerely hope that in the coming time, you will continue to accompany the Academy in innovating training content, raising educational quality, and together building a strong intellectual community in service of the nation's rapid and sustainable development.

We respectfully extend our gratitude to the agencies, organizations, and units that have consistently cared for, created favorable conditions for, and accompanied our doctoral candidates and graduate students throughout their studies and research. At the same time, we send our thanks to the families of our students—those who have quietly shared, encouraged, and served as vital pillars of support so that our learners could focus with peace of mind on their studies and research to complete their journeys.

Finally, I wish all leaders, distinguished guests, and teachers health, happiness, and success. May our new Doctors and Masters achieve many new milestones in their careers; and may our new graduate students and doctoral candidates be filled with energy and fortitude to conquer new heights of knowledge.

Thank you very much!