“Be grateful to your parents and family who gave you life and nurtured you. Be grateful to your teachers and your university who educated you. ‘To know gratitude is to know how to live.’ I hope that wherever you may be, you will devote yourselves wholeheartedly, so that society will come to know students of Thai Binh Duong University with admiration and affection.”- Excerpt from the speech delivered by People’s Teacher, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Hồ Thanh Phong, President of Thai Binh Duong University, at the Second Graduation Ceremony 2025, held at Hall A401 on December 25, 2025.
Distinguished:
- Guests and honorable delegates,
- Dear graduates,
Today, the University of the Pacific Ocean solemnly holds the Second Graduation Ceremony to confer degrees upon the fifth cohort of Bachelor graduates and the first cohort of Master graduates of the University.
On behalf of the Board of Presidents, the entire faculty and staff, and more than 2,150 students of the University of the Pacific Ocean, I would like to extend my warmest greetings to our distinguished guests and heartfelt congratulations to all newly conferred Masters and Bachelors. You have successfully completed an important academic journey at the University of the Pacific Ocean, and today is truly a proud and meaningful milestone.
Distinguished guests,
Over the past year, the University of the Pacific Ocean has continuously strived and accomplished a significant volume of work.
- The University is a multidisciplinary and multi-field institution, currently offering 16 undergraduate programs and 2 master’s programs, with a total enrollment of more than 2,150 students (including approximately 2,000 undergraduates and 150 postgraduate students).
- In terms of human resources, the University currently has 162 personnel, including 87 lecturers and 75 administrative staff. Notably, 50.6% of full-time lecturers hold doctoral degrees or higher, reflecting the University’s strong academic foundation.
- In January 2022, the University successfully achieved institutional accreditation, valid until 2027. In addition, five academic programs—Tourism, Law, Business Administration, Information Technology, and English Language—have been accredited, with certification valid until 2030. In the coming period, the University will continue to participate in quality assessment under the ASEAN University Network Quality Assurance (AUN-QA) standards. These achievements affirm the University’s academic stature, credibility, and training quality within Vietnam’s higher education system and toward regional and international integration.
- I am also pleased to inform you that the local authorities have approved adjustments to the University’s campus planning. Within the 13.2-hectare campus, 5.69 hectares are designated as urban central land. The University is currently finalizing an investment plan to develop the campus into a modern, integrated educational and urban complex by 2030, including a university, an inter-level school system from kindergarten to high school, a hospital, and high-quality urban services such as banking and financial services.
- Next week, the University will celebrate its 17th Anniversary (December 31, 2008 – December 31, 2025). This event is not only a great joy for faculty and students, but also a powerful testament to the collective efforts, resilience, and unity of our academic community in overcoming challenges throughout the years. I sincerely thank all faculty members, staff, and especially our students for your understanding, support, and companionship. On this occasion, I warmly invite our alumni and parents to attend the anniversary celebration on December 31, 2025, to witness and share in the University’s continued growth.
Dear faculty members,
I would like to express my deepest gratitude to our esteemed faculty members—those who have devotedly taught, mentored, and inspired our students, not only with academic knowledge but also through personal example and professional integrity. The values of self-learning, self-confidence, exploration, courage to think, act, and take responsibility are the core ideals we strive to instill in our students. If today’s graduates are the “sweet fruits” of education, then our lecturers are the ones who have patiently cultivated and nurtured this fruitful garden.
Dear administrators and staff members,
Please allow me to sincerely acknowledge your quiet yet tireless contributions in supporting teaching and learning activities. Your dedication has played an indispensable role in today’s achievements.
Dear parents,
On this graduation day, I share your joy and pride. After years of diligent study, your children and loved ones have reached this important milestone. Your love, care, encouragement, and timely support have provided them with a strong foundation to pursue their aspirations and move forward with confidence.
I would also like to extend my heartfelt congratulations to the families of our newly graduated Master students. The sacrifices you have made so that your loved ones could pursue higher education deserve our deepest respect and gratitude.
Distinguished representatives of enterprises,
Thank you sincerely for taking the time to attend today’s ceremony. We are honored to introduce to you the outcomes of our educational efforts. We look forward to your continued partnership and trust that our graduates will meet the expectations and needs of your organizations.
Dear new Masters and Bachelors,
Not long ago, you entered this University as freshmen – somewhat shy, somewhat uncertain, yet full of dreams and aspirations. As the saying goes: “A person who does not learn will not understand reason; jade that is not polished will never become a precious gem.” You have proven the truth of this wisdom through your perseverance and growth.
Although your time at the University of the Pacific Ocean may not have been long, it has been a meaningful and unforgettable chapter in your lives. You have contributed to writing a new page in the history of this beloved institution. The University is grateful for your understanding, your shared efforts, and your contributions. You have every right to be proud.
Dear students and graduates,
Allow me, on this joyful day, to continue calling you my students.
No matter where life takes you, I hope you will always dedicate your best efforts to your families and communities, so that society will recognize graduates of the University of the Pacific Ocean with admiration and respect. Let the University be proud of you, just as we will always be honored to know that your future successes carry the imprint of your years of study here.
Albert Einstein once said: “Education is not the learning of facts, but the training of the mind to think.”
Higher education, therefore, is not merely about acquiring knowledge, but about cultivating critical thinking, professional responsibility, and moral values. Today marks the end of one journey and the beginning of another – one in which knowledge must be applied, character demonstrated, and personal success aligned with social responsibility.
Above all, I urge you to always remember the value of gratitude. Be grateful to your parents and families who nurtured and raised you; to your teachers and your University who guided and educated you; to your country and society that welcomed you as contributing members; and to friends and loved ones who shared both joys and hardships with you. “To know gratitude is to know how to live.”
Dear graduates, many challenges lie ahead:
- We live in a rapidly changing era of technology and economic transformation. No university can teach everything you will need in life. What we have sought to provide is the foundation – knowledge, skills, values, and mindset – to help you adapt independently and confidently.
- Life is a multi-objective environment. Avoid extreme solutions; instead, learn to balance interests, responsibilities, and sacrifices in order to make wise and sustainable decisions.
You are entering society during a challenging economic period. However, I firmly believe that with the preparation you have received – especially in values and vision – you will not lose heart. Remember that “Failure is the mother of success”, and as Steve Jobs once advised: “Your time is limited, so don’t waste it living someone else’s life.” From the foundation of knowledge and thinking you have built, I trust that you will confidently choose your own path, continue to innovate, create, and contribute to society.
For all these reasons, on behalf of the University of the Pacific Ocean, I place my full trust in you and proudly remain a supporter behind you whenever you need us.
I wish all newly graduated Masters and Bachelors happiness, success, and fulfillment in life.
Wishing our distinguished guests good health and prosperity.
Thank you sincerely.
People’s Teacher, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Hồ Thanh Phong
President of the University of the Pacific Ocean