Deputy Minister of Construction Pham Minh Ha and his delegation recently had a working visit to the University of Architecture Ho Chi Minh City (UAH) on November 28th, acknowledging the school's efforts to innovate in training, scientific research and meeting the requirements of life.
The Deputy Minister requested the school to continue improving the quality of human resource training to meet the strong development requirements of the Construction industry in the new period.
Deputy Minister of Construction Pham Minh Ha spoke at the working session with University of Architecture Ho Chi Minh City .
Training quality continues to improve, many management recommendations are put forward
Reporting at the meeting, Associate Professor Dr. Pham Trong Thuat - Rector of University of Architecture Ho Chi Minh City said that the past school year marked many positive changes in the school's training activities. UAH is currently one of the leading training institutions for architects, engineers and planning experts in the country, attracting a large number of candidates with the capacity and passion to pursue the field of architecture - construction.
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Associate Professor Dr. Pham Trong Thuat, Rector of University of Architecture Ho Chi Minh City (standing) reports on the school's performance to Deputy Minister Pham Minh Ha and the working delegation of the Ministry of Construction.
According to Principal Phạm Trong Thuat, the enrollment results and student quality for the 2024-2025 academic year show a clear improvement in both input and output. The proportion of students graduating with good, very good, and excellent grades has increased compared to the previous academic year. Notably, graduation projects are increasingly aligned with practical industry requirements, clearly demonstrating students’ creative thinking, research capabilities, and technology application skills. Many projects have won top awards in domestic and international architecture competitions, further affirming UAH’s academic standing.
In addition to the training results, Mr. Pham Trong Thuat presented a number of recommendations to improve the effectiveness of university administration and optimize the operations of affiliated units. The school proposed to maintain the organizational structure of 25 units according to Decision No. 1435/QD-BXD dated December 30, 2022 of the Minister of Construction; add the function of communication - business cooperation to the Student Affairs Department and adjust the department name according to the new function. At the same time, the school also proposed to expand the function of the Center for Planning - Architecture Research in the direction of integrating the construction field, thereby changing the name to "Center for Planning - Architecture - Construction Research".
Some adjustments related to legal work and internal inspection are also proposed to strengthen monitoring capacity and improve the effectiveness of quality management. These recommendations are considered suitable for the trend of university autonomy and changes in training requirements in the context of the strong development of the Construction industry.
Training linked to practice, prioritizing research serving the Construction industry
Speaking at the meeting, Deputy Minister Pham Minh Ha highly appreciated the efforts and positive results that the University of Architecture Ho Chi Minh City has achieved in recent times. He emphasized that the new context of the country requires high-quality human resources, especially when Vietnam aims for double-digit economic growth in the period 2026-2030 and becomes a developed country by 2045. Along with that is the requirement for strong investment in infrastructure, urban and transportation systems, areas in which UAH's human resources are playing an important role.
Deputy Minister of Construction Pham Minh Ha concluded the working session with University of Architecture Ho Chi Minh City.
According to Deputy Minister Phạm Minh Hà, the university needs to continue innovating its training programs, with a strong focus on applying information technology, digital transformation, modeling, BIM technology, artificial intelligence, and other new technologies in architecture and construction. Training must be closely linked to real-world practice, strengthening cooperation with enterprises, expanding practical environments for students, and creating opportunities for them to participate in real projects during their studies.
Regarding scientific research and technology transfer activities, Deputy Minister Phạm Minh Hà asked UAH to implement effective mechanisms to encourage lecturers to engage in research, especially projects with high applicability that serve the construction sector and the Ministry of Construction. He emphasized the university’s role in researching and improving the system of standards and technical regulations - a field that is currently in great need of scientific contributions from reputable training institutions.
In terms of financial autonomy, the Deputy Minister stated that UAH needs to further diversify its non-tuition revenue sources by strengthening consulting activities, technology transfer, short-term training and professional development programs, as well as effectively utilizing its modern facilities. Enhancing financial capacity not only helps the university increase its level of autonomy but also contributes to improving the livelihoods of staff and lecturers, while enhancing the quality of training and research.
Concluding the working session, Deputy Minister Phạm Minh Hà affirmed that the Ministry of Construction will thoroughly review all proposals submitted by UAH. At the same time, he asked the university to continually review and adjust certain shortcomings to align with the current context; and study and propose additional specialized training programs in architecture, planning, and interior design for the Mekong Delta region, which is currently experiencing a high demand for human resources in urban development and climate change adaptation.
The Deputy Minister also noted that any expansion of training scale must be considered carefully, avoiding excessive increases in enrollment, and instead prioritizing the improvement of training quality and the university’s academic reputation.
With its 50-year tradition and significant achievements in education, research, and contributions to the construction sector, Deputy Minister Phạm Minh Hà expressed his confidence that UAH would continue to build on its strengths, successfully fulfill its tasks for the 2025-2026 academic year, and maintain its position as a leading training institution in the fields of architecture and construction nationwide.