APAG must take the lead in promoting digital transformation in higher education, building a digital university model and smart governance

Distinguished guests,

Dear lecturers, staff, and employees of APAG,

Dear students,

Today, in the joyful and vibrant atmosphere of autumn days, when Viet Nam has just successfully celebrated the 80th Anniversary of the August Revolution and National Day on September 2, I am delighted to attend the Opening Ceremony for the 25th Cohort of Full-time undergraduate programs (academic years 2025–2029) at APAG. This is a highly significant event, marking a new stage of development for APAG after becoming a constituent unit of HCMA - the Party School bearing the beloved name of President Ho Chi Minh.

On behalf of the Party Committee and the Board of Directors of HCMA, I would like to extend my warmest greetings and congratulations to all delegates, generations of lecturers, staff, and employees, and especially to more than 4,000 freshmen of the 25th Cohort of APAG. I wish you all good health, happiness, and success.

Dear distinguished guests and students,

The academic year 2024-2025 marks a turning point for APAG. In the context of the Party’s reorganization revolution and the implementation of Decision No. 214-QĐ/TW dated December 28, 2024, by the Politburo, APAG has undergone a profound and comprehensive transformation. Overcoming the initial difficulties and challenges, and by promoting the tradition of solidarity, unity, and strong political will, the Party Committee, the Board of Directors, and the entire faculty and staff of APAG have made tireless efforts to build APAG under its new functions and responsibilities. APAG has transitioned from the National Academy of Public Administration into the Academy of Public Administration and Governance, shifting the focus not only on management but more importantly on governance, service, and development facilitation. Accordingly, there is a pressing need for fundamental innovation in curricula, teaching materials, and training methods, ensuring outcome standards and linking education with the needs of the country. Building on its traditions while pursuing continuous development, APAG has emerged prominently in a short period as a leading national center for training high-quality human resources in public administration, management, and governance, particularly in adapting to the two-tier local government model. These initial achievements are the crystallization of the wisdom, dedication, and tireless contributions of generations of leaders, faculty, and staff throughout the institution’s 66-year history of development. It is especially gratifying that in 2025, student recruitment has achieved outstanding success, with high entrance scores and a large number of admitted students. These results strongly affirm APAG’s brand, prestige, and status.

It should also be emphasized that, in the past academic year, accreditation and quality assurance were vigorously promoted, with 8 programs evaluated and accredited, bringing the total to 11 out of 14 undergraduate programs. This has laid the foundation for institutional accreditation at the national standard and towards meeting international benchmarks. This demonstrates APAG’s commitment to both quantity and quality, as well as its accountability to the Party, the State, and learners. To improve the quality of teaching and policy consultation, research and international cooperation have also been renewed with more substance and effectiveness, following the principle that good teaching requires good research, and aligning with HCMA’s motto of “leveraging the external to serve the internal.” Many workshops and forums have been organized in various formats and scales, focusing on new and emerging issues.

Facilities have been further invested in; the faculty and staff are united, actively pursuing professional development and competency enhancement. Digital transformation has been strongly implemented, with APAG taking the lead among all units of HCMA.

On behalf of the HCMA leadership, I acknowledge, commend, and warmly congratulate APAG for the comprehensive achievements recorded in the past academic year.

Dear freshmen of the 25th Cohort,

Becoming a university student is an important milestone in your life. At this very moment, I understand and share in your joy, pride, as well as the dreams and aspirations of you and your families. Being admitted to APAG - a key higher education institution under the Central Party School named after our beloved President Ho Chi Minh - is both an honor and a great source of pride.

You are fortunate to enter university at a historic moment for Viet Nam, when the country is moving forward with resilience, confidence, and strategic autonomy in a new era of development - an era in which Viet Nam is determined to realize the aspiration of becoming a developed, high-income nation by 2045. You, today’s generation of students, are the future owners of the digital age and of global integration, the vanguard force to turn this great aspiration into reality, fulfilling President Ho Chi Minh’s cherished vision of bringing our nation to glory, standing shoulder to shoulder with the great powers of the world.

Therefore, I hope you will have a profound sense of this noble mission. Study not only to obtain a degree after four years as a foundation for your career, but more importantly, to acquire knowledge, methods, skills, resilience, and a spirit of dedication to serve the Fatherland and the People of Viet Nam. The next four years are a time for you to hone your expertise and cultivate your moral character, deeply embodying Uncle Ho’s words. Nurture in your hearts a great aspiration, foster a strong political will, sharpen your intellect, and keep a passionate heart always concerned with the destiny of our nation. Turn the process of study into a process of self-discovery and self-development, building a well-rounded personality, a broad vision, creativity, and a readiness to dedicate yourselves to the common cause of our people. The Party, the State, and the People place their full trust in your generation.

Once again, welcome and congratulations to all of you!

Ladies and gentlemen,

As we begin the new academic year, in order to continue upholding traditions, building on past achievements, addressing limitations, and overcoming difficulties and challenges - with new requirements, new spirit, and new momentum toward new successes - I propose that APAG focus on the following key tasks:

First, building on and strongly promoting the 66-year tradition of development, APAG must deeply recognize its new position and role within HCMA. APAG must take the initiative, be creative, and implement breakthrough solutions in a comprehensive and effective manner, creating high unity in awareness and action across all areas of work.

APAG should adhere to and successfully implement the theme of the 2025-2026 academic year of the HCMA system: “Solidarity - Discipline - Exemplarity - Breakthrough - Development.”

Solidarity to create collective strength; Discipline to both promote democracy and ensure order, standards, and professionalism; Exemplarity to demonstrate pioneering leadership and spread the fine values of Party members and lecturers of the Party school; Breakthrough to achieve new, creative, and high-quality progress; and all of this directed toward the goal of elevating APAG to a truly higher level.

Second, thoroughly grasping and effectively implementing the instructions of General Secretary To Lam at the Ceremony celebrating the 80th anniversary of the Education sector and the Opening of the new academic year 2025-2026 on September 5. APAG must build specific action programs with strategic, breakthrough solutions, demonstrating the highest political determination to establish itself as the nation’s leading center for training in public administration, state management, and governance, with regional and international prestige. Every student and trainee graduating from APAG must not only be professionally competent and skillful but also possess vision, strong will, and great aspirations to foster development, and be capable of working effectively in international environments.

Third, in order to concretize and creatively apply the viewpoints, guidelines, and resolutions of the Party, as well as the policies and laws of the State on education and training in the new context, APAG needs to thoroughly study Politburo Resolution No. 57-NQ/TW dated December 22, 2024, on breakthroughs in developing science, technology, innovation, and national digital transformation; and Resolution No. 71-NQ/TW dated August 22, 2025, on breakthroughs in developing education and training. These must be regarded as the institutional framework, the key, and the opportunity to remove bottlenecks in training and capacity-building, in a synchronized manner across awareness, thinking, and action. APAG must be a pioneer in accelerating digital transformation in higher education, building a digital university model and smart governance. It should update, integrate, and embed the Party’s guidelines on digital economy, digital government, and digital society into curricula, syllabi, and lectures so that graduates will have the competence to adapt to and lead governance and development on digital platforms in state agencies, local governments, organizations, and enterprises.

Fourth, focusing on Party building and developing a clean, strong, and comprehensive political system. APAG must be a united and cohesive collective. APAG Party Committee must truly serve as the political nucleus, providing comprehensive leadership in all aspects of its activities. In particular, it is essential to nurture and develop a faculty and research team who not only possess deep professional expertise but also strong political integrity, firmly committed to the Party’s goals and ideals; who demonstrate innovative and creative thinking as well as a professional working style. Every lecturer and staff member of APAG must genuinely embody a role model in ethics, lifestyle, responsibility, and the standards of conduct of a teacher at a Central Party school, and especially serve as an inspiration and a symbol of dedication for generations of students and trainees.

Fifth, enhancing the quality and effectiveness of academic research, making it a regular task and a key driving force for improving the quality of training. Ensure close linkage between theoretical training and policy practice, between research and policy consultancy. Priority should be given to implementing key programs, projects, and studies that address urgent issues in state management and national governance in the new context, thereby contributing to providing scientific evidence for the formulation of the Party’s guidelines as well as the State’s policies and laws, in line with the principle of a decisive shift from an administrative management mindset to a mindset of governance, service, and enabling development.

Sixth, paying close attention to and effectively implement the overarching mission of “Strengthening the protection of the Party’s ideological foundation and resolutely combating wrongful and hostile views in the new situation.” Every lecture, research work, and activity of APAG must contribute to clarifying and spreading the vitality of Marxism-Leninism, Ho Chi Minh’s thought, and the Party’s guidelines and positions, while also equipping students and trainees with a scientific worldview, methodology, and a strong “resistance” against all schemes and tactics of hostile forces.

Seventh, accelerating the completion of facilities at the 77 Nguyen Chi Thanh campus to put them into operation as soon as possible.

Dear distinguished guests,

Dear students and trainees,

With the proud tradition of 66 years of building and development, with the profound attention of the Party and State leadership, the direct guidance of HCMA, and especially with the unity, determination, and spirit of innovation and creativity of APAG’s leadership, staff, lecturers, officials, and students, I am fully confident that APAG will continue to achieve many new successes, living up to its role as a leading center for training and research in administration, management, and public governance, reaching regional and international levels.

On this joyful opening ceremony, once again, I would like to extend my warmest wishes to our distinguished guests, all teachers, and the entire staff of APAG, wishing them good health, happiness, and continued success.

To the new students of Cohort 25, I wish you a school year filled with energy and many outstanding achievements in your studies and training.

I wish APAG a successful academic year 2025-2026!

Thank you very much!