This day in history

First days in 1994, Mr. Lam Thanh Hien took Mr. Doan Van Dien who had just fulfilled his position as the Rector of Ho Chi Minh City University of Nong Lam to Dong Nai province Department of Education and Training to meet a leader who was  at that time Mrs. Nguyen Thi Thanh – Deputy Director of the Department (passed away). His aim of the meeting was to offer a proposal of establishing a community university in Dong Nai based on Provincial Education College and  Open University Center but unsuccessful. However, Mr.  Dien  continued to keep this idea in his mind. Since then, every day in a small office at Nong Lam University, he devoted himself to make a plan of establishing a university and waited for an opportune day.

Early 1995, Mr. Dien and other teachers in Ho Chi Minh city went to the office of Dong Nai Department of Education and Training again to meet Mr. Pham Hong Hai (passed away) as the Deputy Director in charge of professional education to offer the proposal but Mr. Hai said “I cannot do this, but I will recommend you one person”.  Then, they went to see Mr. Do Huu Tai (as Deputy Director of the Department) to discuss promotion of establishing  a university. Mr. Dien suggested setting up a Founding Board. It had 9 members. Five of them in Ho Chi Minh city were recommended by Mr. Dien and the rest in Dong Nai  were mobilized by Mr. Tai. Mr. Dien was responsible for the project and Mr. Tai was in charge of initial legal procedures. After the consent, the Directorate Board of the Department reported to the provincial People’s Committee and Party Committee to ask for policies.

Starting from the demand for human resources for the industrialization and modernization of Dong Nai province in particular and the Southern key economic zone in general, Dong Nai’s authorities and people desire to have a university in Dong Nai.

The 5^th Dong Nai Porvince Congress of the Communist Part of Vietnam had a resolution on the establishment of a university in Bien Hoa. This was a basis for promoting the early birth of the university in Dong Nai.

There were many opinions about the school name, but eventually it was agreed that a university providing manpower for the country, the people, trainees must keep in mind the origin, be proud of being Lac Hong’s descendants, must do how to deserve the teaching of the President Ho Chi Minh: “the Hung Kings built this nation, so we must try our best to protect it". Therefore, the school was called Lac Hong University.

On September 29^th, 1995, provincial People’s Committee decided to recognize the University Founding Council. On the same day, Chairman of provincial People’s Committee Nguyen Thi Hoang sent a statement to the Prime Minister and Ministry of Education and Training for establishing the University of Lac Hong. While awaiting the recognition decision of the Prime Minister and Dong Nai Province People’s Committee, a Permanent Board of the Founding Council leaded by Assoc. Prof. Doan Van Dien and Mr. Do Huu Tai (as Deputy Head)  was born with the task to complete the necessary preparatory work for a university, being able to start an operation once officially decided by the Prime Minister. On June 2^nd, 1997, the Minister of Education and Training, Prof. Dr. Tran Hong Quan, signed the decision to recognize the Founding Council of the University of Lac Hong headed by Nguyen Trung Phuong (Vice Chairman of People’s Committee at that time) as the Chairman. Mr. Dien and Mr. Tai were Vice Chairmen. Six other members included Mr. Lam Hieu Trung (passed away), Mr. Huynh Xuan Dinh, Mr. Nguyen Van Lam, Mr. Tran Hanh, Mr. Nguyen Duc Khuong (passed away), and Mrs. Nguyen Thi Thu Lan.

On September 9^th, 1997, the Minister set up a statement No 8140/TCCB on the establishment of University Lac Hong to submit to the Government. On September 24^th, 1997, the Prime Minister Vo Van Kiet signed Decision No. 790/TTg officially launched the University of Lac Hong located in Bien Hoa city, Dong Nai province. On October 17^th, 1997, the Minister, Prof. Dr. Nguyen Minh Hien, signed Decision No. 3261/GD-DT Board recognized the Board of Trustees leaded by Mr. Nguyen Trung Phuong. On October 31^st, 1997, the Minister signed Decision No. 3463/GD-DT appointing Assoc. Prof. Dr.  Doan Van Dien as the Rector.

In this stage, just established, the university did not have any campus to operate. However, there were individuals, units and organizations willing to help it.

• Dong Nai Province People’s Committee signed  a decision handing over 10 hectares (signed by Mr. Nguyen Trung Phuong) belonging to Trang Dai ward, Bien Hoa city to the university to make the reason for establishment.
• Director of Dong Nai Department of Education and Training Nguyen Thi Thu Lan used one office to make a working room for the Council.
• Mrs. Nguyen Thi Lan Huong (Mr. Do Huu Tai’s wife) - the owner of Tan Thanh tile manufacturing business used this factory to build the campus 1 (headquarters) of Lac Hong University.

Tan Thanh business – the location to build the first campus of Lac Hong

• Mr. Le Hoang Quan (Former Chairman of Dong Nai People’s Committee) – Chairman of Ho Chi Minh city People’s Committee directly met the late Prime Minister Vo Van Kiet to ask to open the university.
• In addition, there were some individuals belonging to  Dong Nai Department of Education and Training such as Mr. Ung Ngoc Chau, Mr. Le Minh Thanh, Mr. Diep Cam Thu, Mr. Nguyen Van Lam, Mr. Lam Thanh Hien and other members.
• There was also great assistance of teachers and staff from the first days of the university to present.

On November 13, 1997, in Resolution No 3678/GD- DT,  Minister of Education and Training allowed the university to open the first course including disciplines Information Technology, Telecommunications Electronics, Civil Engineering, Economics (Business Administration, Finance – Accounting, Tourist Trade). At present, the university has 21 different academic disciplines. All of them meet various needs of labor market  in door - opening period and in global economic integration.

Dong Nai – based Lac Hong University is located in the Southern key economic zone, so it has training programs and plans suitable for the economic growth of the South. In addition to frame program required by the Ministry of Education and Training,  the university builds training programs suiting socio-economic development plan of Dong Nai province and neighboring areas. It closely associates with businesses in training and human resources supply. To make the human resources approach economic integration in the regions and in the world, the university builds output standards with soft skills about informatics, languages, communication skill… so as to maximize students’ knowledge in new age. University’s strength is scientific research movement. It always offers students opportunities to promote their creativity and potentialities.

After 15 years of operation and development, under the leadership of Rector Assoc. Prof. Dr. Doan Van Dien, Dr. Tran Hanh and now People’s Teacher Dr. Do Huu Tai, Lac Hong University has gained outstanding achievements. Particularly, it was awarded Third Class Labor Medal (in 2007), Second Class Labor Medal (in 2012), Emulation Flags of the Prime Minister (in 2008, 2009, 2010 and 2011).  Collectives and individuals also were recognized and awarded noble titles for their noteworthy contributions to the university’s development. Faculty of Electrical and Electronics Engineering and Faculty of Electro Mechanics received Third Class Labor Medals. Mr. Lam Thanh Hien was awarded Third Class Labor Medal. Faculty of Electro Mechanics, Faculty of Electro Mechanics, University Labor Union, Youth Union… received certificates of merit of the Prime Minister. In addition, collectives and individuals were awarded certificates of merit from the Ministry of Education and Training, Dong Nai province People’s Committee… for their outstanding achievements in training activity and scientific research.

The 15- year period is not a long stage but it has special meaning since it marks  the birth and development of a young university. With development strategies, right investment and enthusiasm of leaders, teaching staff, young talented staff, we have right to hope of a large calibre university in the future.