Promoting the Values of Ho Chi Minh’s Thought, Morality, and Style in the Renewal of Higher Education
The 136th anniversary of the birth of President Ho Chi Minh (May 19, 1890 – May 19, 2026) is an occasion for the entire Party, people, and armed forces to respectfully commemorate his great contributions to the nation, while continuing to affirm the enduring values of Ho Chi Minh’s thought, morality, and style in the country’s current development. In the field of higher education, studying and following his example is not only of political and ideological significance but also a practical requirement for improving the quality of education and building a knowledgeable workforce with strong character, ethical values, and a spirit of dedication to society.
In the context of the Fourth Industrial Revolution, digital transformation, and increasingly intensive international integration, higher education is facing demands for comprehensive renewal in governance thinking, teaching methods, scientific research, and community service. These changes require lecturers, administrators, and students not only to possess strong professional qualifications but also to demonstrate aspirations for national development, a spirit of self-reliance and resilience, and a strong sense of social responsibility. These are also core values embedded in Ho Chi Minh’s thought that the education sector needs to continue studying and applying creatively.
For the Party Cell of the School of Financial and Banking Technology, studying and following Ho Chi Minh’s thought, morality, and style is not only a regular political task but also an important driving force for improving the quality of teaching, research, and social service. This provides a foundation for transforming awareness into action and turning political determination into concrete outcomes in the School’s activities.
1. Ho Chi Minh’s thought on education and its guiding values for contemporary higher education
During his lifetime, President Ho Chi Minh always paid special attention to education and human development. He affirmed: “An ignorant nation is a weak nation.” In his view, education should not merely transmit knowledge but also develop well-rounded individuals with morality, ideals, and a sense of responsibility toward society.
In Ho Chi Minh’s thought, education must be closely connected with practice, with learning going hand in hand with practice and theory closely linked to the realities of life. He criticized formalistic learning detached from practice and emphasized the importance of self-study and lifelong learning. This represents an important orientation for universities today in renewing curricula toward competency development, strengthening practical skills and research capabilities, and enhancing learners’ adaptability to the requirements of the labor market and modern society.
In particular, President Ho Chi Minh’s thought of “taking the people as the foundation” carries profound significance for higher education in the current period. Universities cannot be separated from the development needs of the country and the lives of the people. All activities in education, scientific research, and knowledge transfer should aim to serve the community, address practical issues, and contribute to the sustainable development of the nation.
Applied to the practice of the School of Financial and Banking Technology, this requires training programs to be closely aligned with the needs of the digital economy, the modern financial market, and emerging technologies such as fintech, artificial intelligence, and big data. Studying and following Ho Chi Minh’s example in this field means not only maintaining professional ethics but also renewing teaching content, strengthening practical relevance, and enhancing the applicability of knowledge.
2. Renewing leadership thinking and nuiversity governance in the spirit of Ho Chi Minh
Renewing university governance in the spirit of Ho Chi Minh also requires the development of a culture of responsibility and a culture of service within the university. All management activities should aim to create the best possible conditions for lecturers to conduct research and for students to study and develop their comprehensive capabilities. This is also a concrete manifestation of the spirit of “serving the Fatherland and serving the people” in the field of education.
Renewing leadership thinking needs to be translated into practice by shifting from administrative management toward modern, flexible, and effective governance. The Party Cell should play a role in providing strategic direction, promoting innovation, and strengthening supervision of the implementation of professional tasks. The application of technology in training management, scientific research, and cooperation with enterprises is also a concrete manifestation of renewing management methods in the spirit of “words must be followed by actions.” In particular, each Party member in the Party Cell should promote their pioneering and exemplary role in their work, having the courage to think, act, and take responsibility for the common interests of the collective.
3. Building a university teaching workforce with both moral and professional excellence
President Ho Chi Minh once emphasized that a good teacher is among the most honorable of professions because teachers contribute to educating future generations of the country. In the higher education environment, lecturers are not only transmitters of knowledge but also sources of inspiration who help shape students’ character and nurture their aspirations to contribute to society.
Studying and following Ho Chi Minh’s example first requires lecturers to possess sound professional ethics, a high sense of responsibility, and a commitment to continuous learning in order to improve their professional qualifications. In a context where human knowledge is changing rapidly, lecturers who fail to renew their thinking and update their knowledge will find it difficult to meet the requirements of training a high-quality workforce.
President Ho Chi Minh’s spirit of self-study and lifelong learning provides a profound lesson for intellectuals and lecturers today. He always regarded learning as a continuous process of self-improvement and of enhancing one’s ability to serve the revolutionary cause. Therefore, university lecturers need to proactively engage in scientific research, apply new technologies in teaching, innovate training methods, and enhance their capacity for international integration.
4. Inspiring students’ aspirations to contribute and spirit of self-reliance and resilience
Young people and students have always received special trust from President Ho Chi Minh. He regarded the youth as the force that determines the future of the nation and the future owners of the country. Therefore, higher education is not only responsible for training human resources but must also inspire students with noble ideals, aspirations for advancement, and a sense of responsibility toward the community.
In the context of globalization, many development opportunities are opening up for the younger generation, while numerous challenges are also emerging, including materialistic lifestyles, reluctance to face difficulties, and a lack of aspirations to contribute. This requires universities to place greater emphasis on ideological education, morality, and civic responsibility, helping students understand their role in the development of the country.
Lecturers need to inspire students with a spirit of innovation, entrepreneurship, and technological mastery. Students should not study merely to secure employment but also to contribute to the development of the financial and banking sector and the national economy.
In addition, the Party Cell should provide direction for building a dynamic academic environment that encourages scientific research, cooperation with enterprises, and participation in addressing practical issues facing the economy. This is a practical way to inspire aspirations to contribute and strengthen the connection between education and the needs of society.
5. Transforming thought into substantive action in higher education
Transforming thought into substantive action in higher education is an urgent requirement. In higher education, this means that studying and following Ho Chi Minh’s thought, morality, and style cannot stop at formalistic campaigns but must be concretized through clear changes in every activity of the university. For the Party Cell and the School, this should be demonstrated through specific actions:
- Improving the quality of education through innovation in curricula, teaching methods, and assessment.
- Promoting scientific research in close connection with the practical needs of the financial and banking sector.
- Strengthening the application of digital technology in management and teaching.
- Building an academic culture characterized by integrity, responsibility, and creativity.
- Promoting the exemplary role of Party members in all activities.
To effectively implement these tasks, it is first necessary to link studying and following Ho Chi Minh’s example with improving the quality of education and scientific research. Each higher education institution needs to develop a development strategy based on the spirit of innovation, social responsibility, and service to the community. The quality of education should be measured by learners’ working capacity, creativity, and civic responsibility after graduation.
Second, it is necessary to build a healthy, democratic, and humane university culture. Such a culture must be reflected in the relationships between lecturers and students, between the university and society, and in each individual’s sense of responsibility toward the collective. Combating formalism, the pursuit of achievements, and academic dishonesty is also a concrete manifestation of studying and following Ho Chi Minh’s moral example.
Third, it is necessary to strongly promote digital transformation and innovation in higher education. This is not only an objective requirement of the times but also an opportunity to improve the quality of governance and education. However, technological innovation must go hand in hand with innovation in thinking and greater human responsibility; ultimately, people remain the decisive factor in all development.
6. Conclusion
The anniversary of President Ho Chi Minh’s birth is an occasion for every staff member, lecturer, and student to reflect on their responsibility to the country and society. In the new stage of development, Ho Chi Minh’s thought, morality, and style continue to serve as a firm spiritual foundation for the renewal of Vietnamese higher education.
Studying and following Ho Chi Minh’s thought, morality, and style in the higher education environment, particularly within the Party Cell of the School of Financial and Banking Technology, is not only a political task but also a driving force for sustainable development. Linking learning with renewed leadership thinking, improved governance quality, the development of exemplary teaching staff, and the inspiration of aspirations to contribute will create endogenous strength for the School’s development.
Only when higher education truly becomes a place that nurtures intelligence, morality, character, and aspirations for national development can the study and following of Ho Chi Minh’s thought, morality, and style fully realize their profound value and contribute to building a prosperous and happy Vietnam in the new era.
Nguyen Thi My Linh, Chu Thi Thanh Trang
School of Financial and Banking Technology.