Building Da Nang into education and training centre

Conclusion No. 79-KL/TW of the Politburo on continuing to implement Resolution No. 43-NQ/TW of the Politburo (12th tenure) on building and developing Da Nang until 2030, with a vision to 2045, continues to emphasise the city’s orientation to mobilise resources to develop the education and training network and scale in a synchronous and increasingly modern direction.

In late 2024, work started on a series of key infrastructure parts which were under sub-project 1 on building technical infrastructure and urgent works for the University of Da Nang in Hoa Quy – Dien Ngoc. Photo: NHAT HA

Comprehensive education development

One of the bright spots of the city’s education in recent times is the school network that has been planned to be both suitable for the national education system and meet the scale, requirements of urban development and the learning needs of local people.

According to Director of the Da Nang Department of Education and Training Le Thi Bich Thuan, the innovation and improvement of the quality of comprehensive education has achieved positive results. In particular, the 10th-grade entrance and senior high school graduation exams are held safely, and seriously. The rate of children attending primary school at the right age reached 100%. Up to now, districts, wards, and communes have met the standards for universal preschool education for five-year-old children and universal primary and junior high education at the right age according to the regulations of the Ministry of Education and Training. 100% of districts and communes have met the standards for illiteracy eradication.

Teachers in the city have met high standards, adapting quickly to the implementation of the 2018 general education programme. Educational institutions have proactively developed school education plans, subject teaching plans, and educational activities suitable to actual conditions based on ensuring the goals and content meet the requirements of the 2018 general education programme. Many teaching and learning activities have been organised to develop students’ capacity and qualities, with a focus on diversifying learning forms, and enhancing life skills education. There have been many new and creative models to improve the quality and comprehensive development of students.

By identifying investment in education as a top priority, in 2020 the city approved the project to build, upgrade and expand schools in the 2021-2025 period. Under the project, a total of 452 schools will be upgraded and built with about 339,315 pupils.

To achieve the goal, the project offers several solutions to expand the network of educational establishments, develop the scale of education and training in the direction of diversifying types, arrange small educational facilities, merge small primary and junior high schools, and ensure land area for the construction of educational and training facilities.

Currently, the Da Nang Department of Education and Training continues to coordinate with relevant units to advise the People’s Committee to arrange and allocate the budget to effectively implement the abovementioned project, as well as mobilise maximum non-refundable aid from domestic and foreign organisations and individuals to renovate and upgrade schools. The intention is to cater to teaching and learning needs and effectively carry out the 2018 general education programme.

Towards national universities

Along with the attention and investment in preschool education, general education, and continuing education, in recent years, the city has laid an emphasis on higher education. The city has 61 vocational education institutions, and nearly 20 universities and higher education training institutions, contributing to the supply of human resources for the labour market of the city, the Central and Central Highlands regions, and the whole country.

On February 27, 2025, the Prime Minister signed Decision No. 452/QD-TTg approving the planning of the higher education network until 2030, with a vision to 2050. The plan is to form 4 major higher education centres in 4 urban areas, namely Ha Noi, Da Nang, Ho Chi Minh City and Can Tho.

As one of the national key regional universities established in 1994, in recent years, the University of Da Nang has affirmed its leading role as a major university.

Associate Professor, Dr. Nguyen Ngoc Vu, Director of the University of Da Nang, said that from a team of nearly 400 staff and lecturers, many majors without PhDs, the university now has nearly 2,600 staff and lecturers (an increase of 6 times), including 127 professors and associate professors (an increase of nearly 10 times), and 758 doctors of science (an increase of more than 16 times). The proportion of lecturers in the city with PhDs is 48%, of which that of the University of Science and Technology accounts for more than 70%, while the national average is 32%.

Thanks to the quality of its lecturers, up to now, the University of Da Nang has developed into a multidisciplinary, multi-field university with a training scale among the top in the country. It has affirmed its brand with nearly 55,000 full-time students, trainees, and international students (an increase of 8.5 times) with 136 undergraduate majors, 48 ​​master’s majors, and 32 doctoral majors.

To contribute to building Da Nang into a regional education and training centre, universities and colleges citywide are constantly developing. The University of Da Nang has developed into a national university with a focus on training high-quality talents and postgraduate training associated with scientific research and innovation in basic science, engineering, technology and some other key fields.

Notably, the project to build the University of Da Nang in Hoa Quy – Dien Ngoc was decided by the Prime Minister for investment policy. The sub-project 1, worth more than US$ 117 million (equivalent to over VND 2,767 billion), was approved by the Minister of Education and Training.

Under the project, the University of Da Nang will be developed into a centre for training, scientific research and technology development according to international standards. It will be upgraded into a National University according to the policy and tasks defined in the spirit of Resolution No. 26-NQ/TW of the Politburo on socio-economic development and ensuring national defense and security in the North Central and Central Coast regions to 2030, with a vision to 2045 and Conclusion No. 79-KL/TW of the Politburo on continuing to implement Resolution No. 43-NQ/TW of the Politburo (12th term) on building and developing Da Nang to 2030, with a vision to 2045.

DA NANG Today