Positive movements in sustainable development of Vietnamese higher education

In the global trend of higher education increasingly emphasizing social responsibility, many Vietnamese universities are making remarkable progress through improvements in sustainability rankings.

In addition to traditional evaluation criteria developed by organizations such as QS or Times Higher Education (THE), the THE Impact Rankings or QS World University Rankings: Sustainability (QS Sustainability) are still measures reflecting the level of university contribution to sustainable development goals.

Vietnam's higher education on the international ranking map

According to the QS Sustainability 2026 results, Vietnam has 02 more universities recognized, showing the greater attention of the education system to sustainability criteria. Hanoi National University continues to lead the country, ranking 374/1,994 globally, after reaching 325/1,779 in QS Sustainability 2026. Some other schools such as Ton Duc Thang University, Duy Tan University, Can Tho University or Hue University also have significant improvements in rankings, reflecting efforts to integrate internationally with social responsibility.

Top 5 Vietnamese schools according to QS Sustainability 2026. Source: QS, announced November 18, 2025

The excellence of universities is not only based on the number of scientific publications but also on the impact on the community, the quality of governance, and the level of integration of sustainable development goals into training and research strategies.

From “hot development” to sustainable growth

One of the most prominent examples of this transformation is Ton Duc Thang University (TDTU). After a period of rapid growth in the number of international publications, in recent years TDTU has restructured itself towards a more sustainable direction, focusing on research quality and social impact. This change has been recognized by prestigious organizations.

In the QS World University Rankings 2026, TDTU ranked 684th in the world, up more than 317 places after seven years since its first ranking in 2020. In the QS Sustainability 2026 table, the school ranked 553rd globally (Top 28%) and 138th in Asia (Top 17%), becoming one of the three leading schools in Vietnam in the field of sustainable development. Along with these achievements, TDTU was awarded the “Most Improved – Asia” award by QS at the QS EduData Summit 2024.

QS Sustainability and QS WUR results of TDTU. Source: QS, announced November 18, 2025

TDTU received the award "Most Improved - Asia"

That achievement comes from a key investment strategy in human resources and research foundation. The University has built research institutes and 9 strong research groups led by leading professors and doctors at home and abroad, focusing on areas that are in line with the trends and orientations of Resolution 57-NQ/TW, including advanced materials, smart technology, artificial intelligence, pharmaceuticals - biomedical sciences and sustainable economics. Developing in-depth research groups helps TDTU create a highly applicable scientific environment that is closely linked to the needs of society.

Members of strong research groups took souvenir photos with the Board of Directors and Leaders of TDTU

Incubating young scientists

Along with research development, TDTU focuses on the strategy of "growing people", creating an environment for young scientists to grow up. At the 2025 Golden Globe Awards Ceremony, Dr. Le Quoc Viet, Deputy Head of the Faculty of Pharmacy, was honored as one of the 10 outstanding young Vietnamese scientists with his research on drug delivery systems for cancer treatment. Dr. Viet has had dozens of articles published in prestigious international journals, becoming proof of the effectiveness of the strategy of investing in research human resources.

Dr. Le Quoc Viet, Deputy Dean of TDTU Pharmacy Faculty, received the 2025 Golden Globe Award

TDTU's research spirit does not only stop at lecturers but also spreads strongly to students. Two female students majoring in Chemical Engineering, Ha Ngoc Nhu Y and Nguyen Doan Quynh Nhu, who won the 2025 Vietnam Science and Technology Female Student Award, both graduated with honors and had international articles while still in university. In addition, two students, Nguyen Ho Ngoc Dan and Vo Quoc Duy, won the First Prize of the 2025 Student Science and Technology Award thanks to their research and development of an injectable hydrogel system capable of controlled release of antibiotics and angiogenic drugs, applied in the treatment of dental pulpitis and tissue regeneration. Currently, four other topics of TDTU students continue to participate in the final round of the 2025 Euréka Student Scientific Research Award.

The above achievements contribute to proving that the rising position of Vietnamese universities in international rankings is no longer simply the result of increasing the number of scientific articles, but is evidence of a strategic shift towards sustainable development. Universities are making efforts to build a comprehensive academic ecosystem where research, training and social responsibility are closely connected. From the story of TDTU, it can be seen that sustainable development is becoming a suitable path for Vietnamese higher education to enhance international competitiveness, while making more practical contributions to the country's development in the new period.

(Source: TDTU)

Source: https://vietnamnet.vn/chuyen-dong-tich-cuc-trong-phat-trien-ben-vung-giao-duc-dai-hoc-viet-nam-2464830.html