The project, assigned to the Ministry of Education and Training, is meant to cultivate national talent and enhance the country’s global competitiveness.

The directive was issued in the government’s action program announced on Sept. 15 to implement a Politburo resolution, which calls for breakthrough reforms in education and training. The ministry must finalize the proposal by 2027.

The plan goes beyond just a few flagship schools. Authorities will restructure the entire higher education system, transferring some universities to local government management, and reorganizing how institutions are funded and run. Several schools will be upgraded into strong research hubs with tighter links between teaching, research and industry.

By 2025–2026, Vietnam also aims to establish advanced training centers focused on artificial intelligence, as well as centers of excellence for research, innovation and entrepreneurship at key universities. These hubs are expected to anchor the country’s strategy for building a skilled workforce in fast-growing sectors.

The long-term target is that by 2030, Vietnam will have 15–20 reputable public universities known for their research and application strengths, especially in priority technologies and frontier sciences. Among them, at least two will receive special funding, legal mechanisms and autonomy to rise into the ranks of world-class elite institutions.

Evaluation standards will include scientific publication output, the qualifications and quality of faculty and researchers, research funding capacity, innovation ecosystems, infrastructure and laboratory equipment, international cooperation, and social impact.

According to Tran Nam Tu, deputy director of the Department of Science, Technology and Information, the concept of “elite universities” represents a level above strong research universities.