On August 11, 2024, International School – Vietnam National University, Hanoi (VNU) held the 2024 Graduation Ceremony. The event was attended by representatives from diplomatic agencies, functional departments of VNU, partner universities, school leaders, faculty members, and the new master’s and bachelor’s graduates.

In 2024, over 800 new bachelor’s and master’s graduates completed 10 undergraduate programs and 5 master’s programs. This year’s graduating class is particularly notable as most students spent the first half of their studies learning online due to the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite this, both faculty and students of International School creatively and proactively overcame difficulties to maintain teaching and learning activities. The 2024 graduate statistics show that 4.2% of students graduated with distinction, while 41.9% graduated with honors.

Assoc. Prof Dr. Pham Xuan Hoan, Chairman of the School Council, delivered the opening speech at the Graduation Ceremony.

The year 2024 holds special significance as it marks the graduation of the first cohort of the Dual Degree programs in Marketing and Management. International School is the first unit within VNU to implement a dual-degree model, where students receive two degrees – one from VNU and one from a foreign partner university (Keuka College, USA, and HELP University, Malaysia). Notably, students in these programs had the opportunity to study abroad for one semester in the USA and Malaysia, experiencing a multicultural learning environment and the life of a global citizen. The first cohort of the Dual Degree programs has had the chance to explore many interesting things, gain useful knowledge, acquire essential soft skills, and connect with new friends.

Professor Liew Teik Kooi, President of HELP University, Malaysia, expressed his pleasure in welcoming the first graduating class of the Dual Degree program in Marketing.

During the Graduation Ceremony, the new graduates and their families listened to heartfelt messages from school leaders, partner university representatives, direct teaching faculty, and alumni. The speakers congratulated the new master’s and bachelor’s graduates on completing an important milestone and encouraged them to continue their journey with confidence and contribute significantly to the community and society.

Assoc. Prof Garry Giss, representing Keuka College, USA, expressed his hope that the graduates of Keuka and VNU-IS will achieve great success in the future.

This year’s ceremony also honored many outstanding valedictorians from the School: Tran Le Hoang Thang, valedictorian of the Business Data Analytics program with a GPA of 3.91/4, Nguyen Thao Vi, valedictorian of the Management Information System program and also the earliest graduate with a GPA of 3.95/4, and Satyam Mishra, valedictorian of the Informatics and Computer Engineering program and the school’s first international valedictorian with a GPA of 3.6/4. These valedictorians, along with other students, have truly brought pride to International School. Tran Le Hoang Thang shared that his years of study at International School provided him with many valuable experiences. From classroom lessons to extracurricular activities, each moment left a profound impression on him. With the dedicated support of his teachers and friends, Thang had the opportunity to participate in many projects and competitions during his four years at university. The friends he mentioned were not only a source of motivation but also important companions on his academic journey.

Tran Le Hoang Thang, valedictorian of the Business Data Analytics program with a GPA of 3.91/4.

Sharing her secret to graduating early with high marks, Nguyen Thao Vi said it was thanks to her time management skills and her habit of never procrastinating. “Procrastinating makes me feel stressed, so I always try to get things done immediately so I can reward myself with more time to rest, take care of myself, and be with my family and friends. As a result, I don’t feel pressured by deadlines,” Thao Vi shared. Thao Vi is one of the outstanding students who has been offered a job as a data science specialist at a major bank in Vietnam, one of the most sought-after career paths for graduates.

Nguyen Thao Vi, valedictorian of the Management Information System program and also the earliest graduate with a GPA of 3.95/4.

According to an independent survey conducted by the Center for Quality Assurance and Testing in 2023, 60.1% of students secured employment before graduation, and 97% of students from International School’s programs found suitable positions and began their careers within the first year after graduation. Notably, some students have embraced the entrepreneurial spirit and created jobs for society.

Honoring the outstanding valedictorians of 2024.

Congratulations to the new bachelor’s and master’s graduates of International School in 2024. We wish you continued success in your future endeavors and hope you will often return to your “VNU-IS family.”