Fostering Students' Research and Innovation Capabilities through the Academy-Level Student Scientific Research Conference for the 2025-2026 Academic Year

The conference welcomed Assoc. Prof. Dr. Hoang Anh, Director General of the Department of Science Management at the Ho Chi Minh National Academy of Politics; Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Ba Chien, President of the Academy of Public Administration and Governance; members of the Academy’s Board of Management; leaders of affiliated departments and units; lecturers, scientists, and a large number of students with outstanding achievements in scientific research.

At the conference, the Department of Science Management and International Cooperation presented a video report reviewing student scientific research activities for the 2025–2026 academic year and outlining directions and tasks for the 2026–2027 academic year.

According to the report, in the 2025–2026 academic year, student scientific research activities continued to be deployed systematically and rigorously, yielding positive results. The Academy greenlit 158 scientific research projects involving 595 students from various faculties and branches across the system. Out of these, 149 projects were successfully evaluated and approved, 9 were discontinued, and 30 exemplary projects were selected to showcase at the Academy-level conference.

The research topics were diverse, reflecting numerous theoretical and practical issues across public governance, administrative science, human resource management, law, economics, culture, society, communications, IT, digital transformation, environment, and sustainable development. Many projects boldly tackled contemporary, hot-button issues such as the application of AI in learning and management, the impact of AI on students, digital transformation in state agencies, digital capacity development, building a green academy, preserving national cultural values, and solutions to improve governance efficiency in the public sector.

Evaluation results indicated a steady rise in the quality of the projects. Many works were meticulously invested in, utilizing appropriate research methodologies, reliable datasets, and proposing practical solutions. Out of the 149 projects reviewed at the faculty and branch levels, 17 were rated Excellent, 120 rated Good, and 12 rated Fair; no projects were graded Average or Failed.

Speaking at the event, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Hoang Anh recognized and commended the outstanding achievements of the Academy of Public Administration and Governance in student scientific research over the past year. He highly appreciated the attention from the Party Committee and the Board of Management, the dedication of the faculty advisors, as well as the proactive and creative spirit of the students.

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Hoang Anh emphasized that against the backdrop of digital transformation, innovation, and the demand for high-quality public sector human resources, student scientific research does not merely supplement specialized knowledge. It also serves as a crucial environment to hone critical thinking, creativity, research skills, and practical problem-solving abilities. He urged the Academy to continue investing in and innovating its support mechanisms to create even more favorable conditions for students to engage in research and develop innovative ideas.

On behalf of the Academy’s leadership, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Ba Chien expressed his gratitude and accepted the guidance. He affirmed that student scientific research is a core mission that helps elevate training quality, build a modern academic environment, and develop high-quality human resources for the country. In the coming time, the Academy will continue to refine its support mechanisms, encourage student participation in research, promote innovation, and strengthen the link between scientific research and the realities of state management and governance.

Following the agenda, representatives from student research groups presented summaries of exemplary projects selected for the Academy level. The presentations demonstrated maturity in scientific thinking, the ability to apply specialized knowledge, and sharpness in approaching practical issues facing society and modern administration.

A highlight of the conference was a roundtable discussion themed "Enhancing the Effectiveness of Student Scientific Research Activities," featuring the Academy's Board of Management, lecturers, and student researchers. The session sparked lively exchanges among institutional leaders, faculty, and students.

During the discussion, participants analyzed the advantages and bottlenecks in the research process, proposed solutions to elevate project quality, and discussed ways to strengthen connections between students and scientists, experts, and practitioners. They also explored developing strong student research groups and promoting the application of research findings into actual governance and state management.

Within the framework of the conference, the Academy announced commendation decisions and awarded prizes to outstanding collectives, lecturers, and students for their achievements in scientific research during the 2025–2026 academic year.

Accordingly, 20 exemplary student research projects were presented with Academy-level awards, including 2 First Prizes, 4 Second Prizes, 6 Third Prizes, and 8 Consolation Prizes. The two First Prizes were awarded to the project "Application of Artificial Intelligence in Student Learning at the Academy of Public Administration and Governance" by a student group from the Faculty of Administrative Science, and the project "Enhancing Cyber Behavior and Etiquette among Students of the Academy of Public Administration and Governance" by a student group from the Faculty of Archival Studies and Office Management.

Additionally, the Academy honored 20 faculty advisors for their outstanding guidance. This was a recognition of the faculty's vital contributions in directing, supporting, and walking alongside students throughout their research journeys.

Also at the conference, the Academy presented awards to three collectives with exemplary achievements in driving the student scientific research movement. The Faculty of Administrative Science won First Prize; the Faculty of Archival Studies and Office Management took Second Prize; and the Ho Chi Minh City Branch of the Academy secured Third Prize.

The Academy-Level Student Scientific Research Conference for the 2025–2026 academic year concluded successfully, confirming the robust growth of the scientific research movement among students at the Academy of Public Administration and Governance. The outcomes achieved not only help elevate training quality but also lay a foundation for nurturing a generation of students equipped with research capacity, innovative mindsets, and a drive to contribute to national development in the new era.