Undergraduate The year 2025 marked a series of significant milestones in Can Tho University’s development across education and training, scientific research, international cooperation, and digital transformation. These notable achievements not only continued to reaffirm Can Tho University’s role as the leading center for education and research in the Mekong Delta, but also laid a solid foundation for a new phase of development amid the profound transformation of higher education.
Let us take a look back at the ten highlights of Can Tho University in 2025.
The Can Tho University Party Congress for the 2025–2030 term, held successfully under the action motto “Solidarity – Innovation – Development”, marked a significant political event in Can Tho University’s development journey.
During the previous term, the Party Executive Committee of Can Tho University achieved numerous remarkable results in education and training, quality assurance and accreditation, scientific research, digital transformation, international cooperation, resource development, and the strengthening of the political system. Notably, six out of eight targets set by the Party Resolution exceeded expectations, contributing to the consolidation of Can Tho University’s position within Vietnam’s higher education system and its gradual advancement toward regional and international integration.
Entering a new phase, the Congress identified key objectives, including enhancing the Party Committee’s leadership capacity; promoting collective strength; innovating organizational structures and governance systems; and building Can Tho University into an excellent institution in education, scientific research, innovation, and community service, with an open academic environment and steadily improving rankings in Asia and globally.
The Congress also set forth 12 key targets, focusing on the development of a high-quality academic workforce, expansion of education and training scale, investment in modern infrastructure and laboratories, promotion of scientific research, quality accreditation, international cooperation, comprehensive digital transformation, and improved efficiency in financial autonomy.
This Congress provides an important strategic orientation for all training, research, governance, and sustainable development activities of Can Tho University in the new term.
On July 15, 2025, the Prime Minister of Vietnam signed Decision No. 1531/QĐ-TTg on elevating Can Tho University to a higher-tier university model - as a regional university. This transition formally affirmed Can Tho University’s position as a multidisciplinary center for education and scientific research serving the Mekong Delta region and the country as a whole.
This transformation aligns with national policies on higher education reform and the development trend of modern research universities, contributing to enhanced organizational capacity, governance effectiveness, and sustainable development. Through this transition, Can Tho University continues to strengthen its role as a regional and national center of knowledge, science and technology, and innovation.
Based on its strategic vision of becoming a regional hub for culture and knowledge, research and innovation, the University has continued to leverage internal resources, expand domestic and international cooperation, invest in facilities, enhance staff quality, and improve advanced university governance models—thereby improving education quality, research performance, and knowledge transfer in service of the community.
In the era of knowledge, science and technology, and digital transformation, guided by the educational philosophy of “Community - Totality - Uniqueness”, Can Tho University continues to affirm its role as a key pillar within the national and regional education–research–innovation ecosystem, making meaningful contributions to sustainable and integrated development.
In 2025, Can Tho University implemented a restructuring of its organizational structure, reducing the number of affiliated and subordinate units from 51 to 42, thereby improving governance effectiveness and efficiency.
On August 1, 2025, Can Tho University simultaneously announced resolutions on the establishment, merger, consolidation, and reorganization of schools/colleges, institutes, and affiliated units.
Specifically, the School of Pre-University and the Shool of Physical Education were merged into the Shool of Education; the Mekong Institute was established through the consolidation of the Research Institute for Climate Change and the Mekong Delta Development Research Institute; the School of Political Science, Social Sciences and Humanities was formed through the merger of related School; the College of Rural Development was reorganized into the Hau Giang Campus; and and the College of Natural Sciences was upgraded to a specialized university. At the same time, Can Tho University finalized the proposal to merge the Southern College of Law and submitted to the Ministry of Education and Training a proposal to upgrade Can Tho University into a high-quality human resource training, research, and applied science center for Can Tho City and the Mekong Delta.
In 2025, Can Tho University recorded a notable breakthrough in its international standing, with continuous improvements across several prestigious global university rankings, reflecting the effectiveness of its strategies in staff development, scientific research, and international integration.
According to QS World University Rankings 2026, Can Tho University was ranked in the 1,201–1,400 band globally, and placed 6th among 10 Vietnamese universities ranked by QS. Notably, in QS Asia University Rankings, the University rose from the 651–700 band in 2024 to 521–540 in 2025, and further advanced to rank 493 in 2026.
In QS World University Rankings by Subject, Can Tho University was ranked 351–400 globally in Agriculture and Forestry, holding the top position in Vietnam in this field. In QS Sustainability Rankings 2025, the University was ranked in the 1,061–1,080 band, improving from the 1,101–1,150 band in 2024.
Additionally, Can Tho University continued to be listed in the Best Global Universities Rankings 2025–2026 by U.S. News & World Report, ranked 2,087 globally, 904 in Asia, and 8th in Vietnam, marking a significant improvement compared to 2024.
Alongside enhancing its academic reputation, Can Tho University placed strong emphasis on quality assurance and academic programme development, aligning education and training with societal needs, labour market demands, and international integration.
In the 2024–2025 academic year, the University conducted external assessments for 18 academic programmes, including six programmes accredited under the standards of the Ministry of Education and Training and 12 programmes accredited under AUN-QA standards, with 100% of the assessed programmes meeting quality requirements.
As of 31 August 2025, Can Tho University had 41 AUN-QA-accredited programmes and 34 programmes accredited under national standards, corresponding to 73% of undergraduate programmes and 20% of master’s programmes meeting recognised quality benchmarks. These figures reflect a clear and sustained improvement in Can Tho University’s quality assurance system and training effectiveness.
In parallel with quality standardisation, the University continued to expand and diversify its academic programme. In 2025, Can Tho University opened five new undergraduate programmes and two high-quality programmes. At the postgraduate level, the University opened and enrolled students in eight new programmes, including five master’s programmes and three doctoral programmes.
At present, Can Tho University offers 128 undergraduate academic programmes, comprising 111 standard programmes, two advanced programmes, and 15 high-quality programmes. These programmes serve 36,087 full-time undergraduate students and nearly 10,000 learners enrolled in part-time and distance learning undergraduate modes. The expansion of training scale in parallel with quality standardisation has significantly enhanced Can Tho University’s academic reputation and strengthened its competitiveness within Vietnam’s higher education system.
In 2025, a breakthrough in admissions with the successful implementation of the V-SAT University Entrance Assessment, organized by Can Tho University.
The year 2025 was the second consecutive year in which Can Tho University organized the V-SAT Examination, one of the University’s six official admission pathways for full-time undergraduate programmes. Conducted from March to July 2025, the examination attracted more than 28,000 candidates, reflecting its growing outreach as well as the increasing trust placed in this admission method by students and parents.
The examination was meticulously and systematically organized, from investments in facilities and modern equipment to the establishment of rigorous operational procedures. Before each test session, the technical infrastructure at examination sites was carefully reviewed, while the assignment of invigilators, supervisors, and technical support staff was implemented in a unified and consistent manner, ensuring that the examination was conducted in a safe, fair, and transparent environment.
A notable highlight of the V-SAT Examination in 2025 was the growing number of universities across the Mekong Delta region that officially recognized and utilized V-SAT results for admission purposes. This admission method has contributed to diversifying student selection approaches, enhancing flexibility, and aligning with the trend toward greater institutional autonomy in higher education. In doing so, it has further affirmed Can Tho University’s pioneering role in innovating admissions practices and assessing learners’ competencies.
In 2025, Can Tho University achieved significant milestones in science, technology, and innovation, further affirming its growing academic standing at both regional and international levels.
On July 6, 2025, the CTU Journal of Innovation and Sustainable Development was officially accepted for indexing in the Scopus database. This milestone represents a major achievement, recognizing the sustained efforts of the editorial board, scientists, and the broader research community in enhancing quality, standardization, and international integration within Can Tho University’s academic publishing system.
In the field of strategic technology education and research, Can Tho University was entrusted by the Ministry of Education and Training with leading the Network of Excellence in Agricultural Biotechnology Education – Southern Region (CTU-NEAB), one of 13 national Networks of Excellence in Industry 4.0 technologies. This leadership role reflects official recognition of the University’s strong capacity in training, research, and technology transfer in high-tech agriculture—a strategically important field for the sustainable development of the Mekong Delta and the nation.
During the year, Can Tho University effectively implemented a wide range of scientific research projects, including 394 student research projects, 157 academic staff research projects, 17 ministerial-level projects, and seven new collaborative projects with local authorities. In parallel, the University signed 22 consultancy and technology transfer contracts with local governments and enterprises, organized 338 academic seminars, and actively promoted the registration and establishment of intellectual property rights both domestically and internationally. As a result, the total number of granted patents and utility solutions reached 15, along with two protected plant varieties.
Notably, 2025 marked the first time Can Tho University surpassed 2,600 scientific publications, including more than 1,100 international articles—of which 770 were indexed in Scopus/Web of Science and 74 were published in the CTU Journal of Innovation and Sustainable Development—alongside 1,140 domestic publications. These figures reflect strong growth in both the scale and quality of research activities, as well as a deepening level of international integration in scientific research at Can Tho University.
Beyond research activities, in 2025, Can Tho University continued to affirm its role as a leading regional knowledge hub of the Mekong Delta by actively leading and participating in numerous scientific forums, conferences, and sustainable development initiatives. These activities effectively bridged scientific research with local development practices and policy formulation, reinforcing the University’s mission of serving regional and national development.
In 2025, Can Tho University successfully organized the 11th and 12th SDMD Dialogues, focusing on key issues such as the marine economy and innovation aligned with sustainable development goals for the Mekong Delta. These dialogues not only served as academic exchange platforms but also provided important scientific foundations to support governance, management, and policy-making processes.
In addition, Can Tho University co-hosted the 2025 Can Tho City Week of Science, Technology, Innovation, and Digital Transformation (CASTID 2025), creating an effective platform for collaboration among scientists, policymakers, businesses, and the innovation-driven startup community. The diverse range of activities contributed to promoting a scientific mindset, accelerating the application of research outcomes, and enhancing technology transfer in support of the city’s and the region’s socio-economic development.
Notably, Can Tho University was honored to host the 7th ASEAN+3 Rectors’ Conference, a prestigious regional higher education forum that brought together academic leaders, experts, and international partners to exchange strategic visions, share best practices, and propose initiatives for regional and international cooperation in higher education.
This series of hallmark events further reaffirmed Can Tho University’s academic leadership, international integration capacity, and social responsibility in advancing sustainable development across the Mekong Delta and the wider Southeast Asian region.
In 2025, Can Tho University continued to strengthen and expand its academic workforce, thereby enhancing its capacity in education, research, and overall academic reputation.
During the year, the University recruited 43 staff members, including 12 PhD holders and 31 Master’s degree holders appointed as lecturers, along with 13 teaching assistants. To date, Can Tho University has a total of 1,885 staff members, of whom 58.2% of lecturers hold doctoral degrees.
In 2025, the State Council for Professorship recognized 22 distinguished educators as meeting the standards for the academic titles of Professor and Associate Professor, including three Professors and 19 Associate Professors. To date, the University has a total of 220 faculty members holding these titles (26 Professors and 194 Associate Professors).
The continued increase in both the quantity and quality of Professors and Associate Professors not only reflects individual academic excellence, but also underscores Can Tho University’s enduring mission as a center for elite human resource development, scientific research, technology transfer, and contributions to sustainable social development in the era of globalization and the Fourth Industrial Revolution.
In 2025, Can Tho University implemented digital transformation systematically and comprehensively across both governance and education to build a modern, smart university model that meets the requirements of institutional autonomy and international integration.
Digital infrastructure continued to be upgraded and expanded, with 76% of internal administrative processes conducted online, significantly reducing processing time and improving service efficiency. The electronic office system operated effectively, handling 56,708 digital documents, with 100% of university leaders using digital signatures, and more than 1,100 staff members were issued digital signatures. Digital transformation has become a critical tool in supporting governance reform, enhancing education quality, and improving the learning experience.
During the year, Can Tho University converted 16.98% of its academic courses to online delivery, while simultaneously strengthening digital and AI competencies among staff through five experience-sharing workshops and seven in-depth training programs. In addition, a Digital Competency course was developed and officially introduced into the curriculum for students starting from the first semester of the 2025–2026 academic year.
Digital communication activities were also intensified, with the publication of 205 articles in Vietnamese and 52 articles in English, along with 592 posts on social media platforms. Can Tho University produced 22 video news bulletins, four highlight videos, 54 short-form videos, six infographics, 11 photo sets, four e-newsletters, and livestreamed 34 events. These efforts further reaffirm Can Tho University’s pioneering role in comprehensive digital transformation, enhancing governance effectiveness, educational quality, and academic communication.
The year 2025 marked numerous outstanding achievements of Can Tho University across education, research, governance, and community engagement, reflecting the spirit of unity, responsibility, and dedication of all faculty, staff, and students.
Entering 2026, building on the solid foundation of these accomplishments, Can Tho University will continue to pursue comprehensive innovation, enhance the quality of education and training, advance science, technology, and innovation, expand cooperation, and make meaningful contributions to the sustainable development of the Mekong Delta region and the nation in a period of deep international integration.
(Website Editorial Board)
