Building a quality-first research university: QS and VinUniversity share strategic perspectives

On 8–9 July 2026, VinUniversity welcomed a delegation of experts from QS (Quacquarelli Symonds) for a strategic working visit aimed at exploring emerging trends in global higher education and exchanging data-informed perspectives on university development. The visit provided an opportunity for both parties to discuss the key drivers of competitiveness and reputation for research universities in an increasingly dynamic international higher education landscape.

During the two-day program, QS experts held a series of in-depth working sessions with VinUniversity’s leadership and key functional units. Discussions focused on academic reputation, employer reputation, and research performance, while also exploring international best practices in benchmarking, data analytics, and strategic planning. The two sides exchanged insights into how leading research universities leverage data to inform institutional decision-making, enhance the quality of teaching and research, strengthen academic reputation, and generate meaningful societal impact.

Throughout the discussions, QS reaffirmed its recognition of VinUniversity as a “quality-first university” – an institution that places quality at the center of every strategic decision and development priority. This philosophy has guided VinUniversity since its inception: investing first and foremost in academic excellence, research, faculty, student experience, and institutional governance before pursuing outcomes in reputation or international rankings.

This commitment was recognized in 2024, when VinUniversity became the youngest and fastest university in the world to achieve the QS 5 Stars overall rating in nine categories: global engagement, good governance, programme strength, academic development, teaching, employability, facilities, arts, and social impact. This achievement reflects comprehensive recognition of VinUniversity’s development model, where excellence is cultivated across every dimension – from education, research, and internationalization to governance, student experience, and meaningful contributions to society.

For VinUniversity, international evaluation and ranking systems are not an end in themselves, but valuable benchmarking tools that enable the University to measure its progress, identify opportunities for improvement, and drive continuous innovation. This approach allows VinUniversity to continuously enhance the quality of its education, research, and societal impact through evidence-based decision-making and internationally recognized standards.

The QS visit not only further strengthened the partnership between the two institutions but also opened new strategic conversations for VinUniversity’s next stage of development on its journey toward becoming a world-class research university. Throughout this journey, VinUniversity remains committed to building genuine quality as its foundation, viewing academic reputation as the natural outcome of sustained excellence in education, research, and innovation. In this context, international rankings are not the ultimate goal, but rather an objective recognition of enduring value built through long-term commitment and continuous improvement.