According to the general policy of education, a return to teaching and learning is of great importance, especially for medical universities. Overcoming difficulties and seriously implementing measures to prevent and control the pandemic, on November 5, 2021, Can Tho University of Medicine and Pharmacy held the Opening Ceremony of the 2021-2022 school year, and announced its decision to appoint new Vice Rectors of the University.

Representing the Ministry of Health, Ph.D. PHAM Van Tac – Vice Chairman of the National Medical Council, Director of the Administration of Science, Technology and Training – was present. On the side of the leaders of Can Tho city, there was the attendance of Comrade NGUYEN Trung Nhan - Member of the Standing Committee of the City Party Committee, Chairman of the Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee of Can Tho city, and Mr. DUONG Tan Hien - Member of the Party Committee, Standing Committee of Can Tho City Party Committee, Vice Chairman of People's Committee of Can Tho city, Mr. VAN Ngoc Ha - Deputy Head of the Organizing Committee of Party Committee of Can Tho city, Mr. TRAN Hong Tham - Deputy Head of Propaganda Department of Party Committee of Can Tho city. On the side of leaders of the Mekong Delta provinces, Ph.D. HA Van Phuc – Director of Kien Giang Provincial Department of Health, MD. TRAN Thanh Tuan – Deputy Director of Soc Trang Provincial Department of Health, MD. NGUYEN Thanh Tung - Director of Hau Giang Provincial Department of Health, Pharmacist LAM Thi Ngoc Kim – Deputy Director of Dong Thap Department of Health, MD. NGUYEN Minh Nghiem - Deputy Director of Can Tho Central General Hospital. Standing for the University, Ph.D. MD. NGUYEN Minh Phuong – Chairwoman of the Council of Can Tho University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Assoc. Prof. Ph.D. NGUYEN Trung Kien - Rector of Can Tho University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Assoc. Prof. Ph.D. NGUYEN Van Lam - Vice-Rector of Can Tho University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Assoc. Prof. Ph.D. TRAN Viet An – Vice Rector of Can Tho University of Medicine and Pharmacy, MD. NGUYEN Thanh Tan - Vice Rector of Can Tho University of Medicine and Pharmacy, leaders of faculties, departments, units, subjects, especially the students of Can Tho University of Medicine and Pharmacy were present.

At the opening ceremony, Assoc. Prof. Ph.D. NGUYEN Trung Kien – Rector of Can Tho University of Medicine and Pharmacy, congratulated the new students on being admitted to the university and emphasized the vital role of the faculty and students. In upholding the educational philosophy of "Intellectual - Medical - Creative"; take the core values ​​"Responsibility - Quality - Development - Integration" as a guideline for learning and training. Can Tho University of Medicine and Pharmacy has overcome difficulties, completed key tasks in parallel with participating in pandemic prevention and control in Can Tho city and several other provinces/cities; The university still ensures the quality of teaching and learning, meeting the requirements set in quality. In terms of training, the university had 2,200 graduates of doctors, pharmacists, and bachelors in the past year, reaching 93.6%, of which 10.5% were excellent and 76% were good. 471 specialist 1 students have completed the program and passed the graduation exam; 372 residents, masters, and specialists level 2 have graduated from the theory part and will defend their graduation thesis in November 2021. In addition, the university also opened many continuous training programs, specialized training in the application of new methods and techniques in management, preventive medicine, medical examination and treatment, and community health care for the students and health workers from provinces in the region. Scientific research has also seen many positive results: 336 projects at all levels have been carried out, of which 02 at the state level, 10 at the provincial/city level, 322 at the institutional level, and 02 international cooperative projects; examination and recognition of 23 innovation initiatives, including 05 ideas to improve the production of antiseptic solutions, automatic hand sanitizer dispensers, body temperature meters, and disease prevention masks that have been deployed immediately, bringing high efficiency in disease prevention for staff and students of the university; 93 scientific conferences and seminars were organized on many topics within Medicine and Pharmacy; 05 international scientific conferences and workshops were held with both online and face-to-face form. The university published 10 issues of Vietnamese Medicine and Pharmacy Journal with 283 articles and 02 English issues with 38 articles and 53 international articles in journals in ISI and Scopus catalogs. Efforts in international cooperation are also a major focus. Last school year, due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, the reception of international delegations was limited; only 10 delegations visited. The university worked on cooperation agreements, of which 04 delegations were from the United Kingdom, Germany, and Taipei on training cooperation and career opportunities for students, and 06 delegations from domestic institutes and schools. Cooperation agreements on training, medical examination, and treatment were signed with partners, alongside 05 Memorandum of Understanding on cooperation with domestic institutes and schools and 05 Memorandum of Understanding on cooperation with 5 universities and hospitals in Taiwan, India. Regarding staff, the University currently has 765 officers, public employees, and workers with 420 lecturers.

Besides core lecturers, the University has 380 visiting lecturers at practical hospitals, medical centers and 23 officers working at hospitals and holding Vice Dean positions at Faculties and Departments of the university. The human resources are constantly being trained and studying to improve their professional and managerial ability to perform duties tasked by the Rector Board. In addition to professional work, teaching, and learning, last year, lecturers and students participated in voluntary groups fighting against COVID-19 at Can Tho, Ho Chi Minh City, and other areas of the Mekong Delta, including Vinh Long, Dong Thap, Hau Giang, Kien Giang, Soc Trang. The total number of participation times is 847 for lecturers and 20.285 for students. The achievement a year ago presented the responsible, united, innovative, problem-solving spirit of lecturers and staff, the diligence in studying and training of students, inheriting experiences from previous generations. In the opening ceremony of the school year, the university welcomed 1.700 first-year students. Affected by the pandemic, it was impossible to participate in the ceremony in person; online participation through the live stream on the Fanpage was the only option. Nevertheless, the university congratulates all freshmen and wishes health to all students and their families. The university believes that outstanding academic achievements are the sweet outcome of a rigorous process of studying and taking the exam in special conditions. The university offers assistance to the students on this new and challenging path to achieve excellent results in studying and training. The university hopes the student will accommodate new environments and new study methods and never cease striving towards greater heights.

          The mission of a new school year requires the unified effort of all lecturers and students. As part of the tradition of the University, it is hoped that each lecturer will remain and never stop the enthusiasm, positivity, creativity to finish the mission successfully. Each student should be active in learning, training and doing research.

          In the ceremony, the Rector Board honored the contribution and achievement of all lecturers of the University last year. Under the authorization of the Rector of Can Tho University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Ms. TRAN Truong Ngoc Bich - Head of Organization and Personnel Department announced the decision of the Can Tho People’s Committee, awarded the title of Meritorious teacher, the certificate of merit from the President, the certificate of merit from the Ministry of Health for 22 departments and 24 individuals and the certificate of merit from the Ministry of Education and Training for 1 department.

          Ph.D. Pham Van Tac – Vice Rector of the National Medical Council, Director of the Department of Scientific Technology and Training, gave gifts to students who volunteered to participate in preventing and controlling the COVID-19 pandemic.

          Comrade Duong Tan Hien - Member of Standing Committee of the Can Tho Committee of the Party, Vice Rector of the Can Tho People's Committee congratulated Can Tho University of Medicine and Pharmacy for the efforts to overcome challenges caused by the COVID-19 pandemic to complete the school year's goals successfully, and at the same time encourages the entire human resources of the school to continue to maintain and promote the mission of training high-quality medical resources, doing scientific research, applying and transferring technology, protecting, caring for and improving the people's health.

          On behalf of 1,700 first-year students, NGUYEN Thuy Vy – a first-year student in the Faculty of Odonto-Stomatology, Course 47, delivered a speech at the ceremony, sharing the honor and pride of being able to step into her dream university. She also expressed her determination to study, practice, and join hands with the other students in continuing the glorious tradition of the school.

          In the ceremony, the University announced the decision to appoint Assoc. Prof. Ph.D. MD. TRAN Viet An and Ph.D. MD. NGUYEN Thanh Tan holds the position of new Vice Rectors of Can Tho University of Medicine and Pharmacy. Speaking for the new Vice Rectors, Ph.D. MD. NGUYEN Thanh Tan expressed his gratitude for the university's trust and would always strive to fulfill the management task in the coming time.

          Pictures from the ceremony:

The scene of the opening ceremony

People's Committee of Can Tho city presented Can Tho University of Medicine and Pharmacy with a certificate of merit in anti-pandemic work

Comrade DUONG Tan Hien - Vice Chairman of the City People's Committee of Can Tho city awarded the title of the meritorious teacher to Assoc. Prof. Ph.D. TRAN Do Hung

Comrade DUONG Tan Hien - Vice Chairman of the City People's Committee of Can Tho city awarded the certificate of merit of the State President to Assoc. Prof. Ph.D. TRAN Viet An – Vice Rector of Can Tho University of Medicine and Pharmacy

Collectives and individuals received certificates of merit from the Minister of Health for achievements in the past school year

Assoc. Prof. Ph.D. NGUYEN Trung Kien presented a certificate of merit to valedictorian PHAM Minh Nhan - a new medical student of the University

Students who volunteered to participate in the prevention and control of COVID-19 received rewards.

Mr. DUONG Tan Hien, Vice President of Can Tho People’s Committee delivered a speech at the ceremony.

  NGUYEN Thuy Vy - the Faculty of Odonto-Stomatology, Course 47, delivered a speech at the ceremony.

Ph.D. NGUYEN Minh Phuong – Chairman of the University Council – congratulated Ph.D. MD. Nguyen Thanh Tan for becoming a new Vice Rector of Can Tho University of Medicine and Pharmacy.

Commemorative photo of the Rector Board with Assoc. Prof. Ph.D. MD. TRAN Viet An and Ph.D. MD. NGUYEN Thanh Tan as new Vice Rectors of Can Tho University of Medicine and Pharmacy

Ph.D. MD. NGUYEN Thanh Tan – new Vice Rector – delivered a speech at the ceremony.

For further information, please contact:

Office of Science – Technology and External Relations Office

Can Tho University of Medicine and Pharmacy

179 Nguyen Van Cu Street, Ninh Kieu District, Can Tho City, Vietnam

Telephone: (84) 292 3739809;        Email: ico@ctump.edu.vn