Vietnam Aviation Academy Kicks Off the New Academic Year, Preparing Future-Ready Aviation Talent

On the morning of September 5, joining schools and universities across the country in welcoming the new academic year, the Vietnam Aviation Academy (VAA) held the Opening Ceremony for the 2026–2027 academic year, welcoming its new cohort of first-year students.

With nearly 20,000 students and trainees currently enrolled, VAA continues to expand its education and training ecosystem beyond aviation to encompass economics, engineering, logistics, technology, tourism, and services. At the same time, the Academy is accelerating the adoption of artificial intelligence (AI), digital transformation, scientific research, and international collaboration.

The opening ceremony was held at Hall F100, bringing together former and current leaders of the Academy, representatives from government agencies, businesses, organizations and partners, as well as leaders of VAA’s affiliated units, lecturers, and students.

Before the main ceremony at the Academy, VAA’s staff, lecturers, and students also joined an online nationwide opening ceremony alongside educational institutions across the country. The event marked the official start of the new academic year and allowed the VAA community to share in the excitement of the new school year.

Before the main ceremony at the Academy, VAA’s staff, lecturers, and students joined the nationwide online opening ceremony together with educational institutions across the country.

Following the nationwide connection program, VAA held its Opening Ceremony at Hall F100, with the participation of former and current Academy leaders, representatives from government agencies, businesses, organizations and partners, as well as leaders of VAA’s affiliated units, lecturers, and students. The presence of leaders from different generations and the Academy’s partners highlighted the long-standing relationships VAA has cultivated with government agencies, businesses, and the aviation community over the years.

Honoring Outstanding Achievers

One of the highlights of the Opening Ceremony was the recognition of students who achieved outstanding results in the 2026 admissions cycle.

One of the highlights of the Opening Ceremony was the recognition of students who achieved outstanding results in the 2026 admissions cycle.

Nguyễn Ngọc Nhi, a student admitted to the Air Traffic Management program with a score of 29 points, was honored as the Academy’s overall Valedictorian and received an award of VND 15 million. VAA also recognized 20 program-level valedictorians, each receiving a VND 10 million award.

The valedictorians of individual programs were also admitted with exceptionally high scores, demonstrating the strong appeal of VAA’s academic programs and the high quality of its incoming students. In addition, the Talent Scholarship continued to recognize outstanding achievements among new students. Nguyễn Lê Ánh Dương, who won an award at the National Excellent Student Selection Examination, received a VND 5 million scholarship.

More Than 1,500 Scholarships Worth Over VND 6 Billion

A notable highlight of the 2026 admissions season is VAA’s introduction of more than 1,500 scholarships with a total value exceeding VND 6 billion. The scholarships include programs for Valedictorians, Talented Students, Foreign Languages, Local Students, and Corporate-sponsored scholarships, with awards ranging from VND 5 million to VND 15 million depending on the recipient category.

Associate Professor Dr. Trần Hoài An, President of the Vietnam Aviation Academy, delivers remarks at the Opening Ceremony.

The Academy also offers 1,000 Local Scholarships each year as part of its strategy to attract students and prepare a qualified workforce for Long Thanh International Airport and Gia Binh Airport. For students who have lost both parents, the Academy provides full tuition waivers along with VND 50 million per year in living expense support. Each year, 50 students from disadvantaged backgrounds who demonstrate strong academic performance receive the “Supporting Students on Their Journey to School” Scholarship, worth VND 10 million per recipient.

According to the Academy, its scholarship policies are intended not only to provide financial support but also to demonstrate its commitment to expanding access to education, encouraging talent, and ensuring that personal circumstances do not become a barrier to learning.

18 Programs, 44 Specializations, Expanding into Emerging Fields

As of 2026, the Vietnam Aviation Academy offers 18 undergraduate programs with 44 specializations, along with two master’s programs and one doctoral program.

Building on its foundation in aviation workforce training, the Academy is gradually expanding into economics, management, technology, engineering, logistics, tourism, and services. Emerging fields such as artificial intelligence, data, the digital economy, the space economy, financial technology, e-commerce, foreign languages, and automation have been incorporated into its academic portfolio, with the aim of meeting workforce demands in emerging and rapidly developing industries.

“Master Technology, but Never Let Technology Replace Critical Thinking”

Speaking at the Opening Ceremony, Associate Professor Dr. Trần Hoài An, President of the Vietnam Aviation Academy, noted that AI, digital transformation, automation, big data, and emerging technologies are creating new demands for higher education and the labor market.

According to him, the Academy will continue to enhance the quality of education, strengthen hands-on learning and experiential opportunities, promote scientific research, innovation, entrepreneurship, and digital transformation, while expanding collaboration with businesses and domestic and international partners.

Outstanding musical performances were presented as part of the ceremony.

Addressing students, he emphasized: “Master a foreign language. Master technology, but never let technology replace critical thinking.” Students were encouraged to engage in research and hands-on learning, participate in academic activities, innovation initiatives, community engagement, and international exchange programs.

Preparing Human Resources for Long Thanh and the Aviation Ecosystem

As Long Thanh International Airport and the national aviation infrastructure system continue to take shape and develop, workforce demand will extend beyond specialized positions directly related to aviation to encompass management, logistics, technology, finance, commerce, tourism, and services.

The Academy sees this as an opportunity to build on its strengths in aviation education while connecting emerging fields to develop a workforce capable of serving the entire aviation ecosystem. At the same time, stronger collaboration with businesses and international partners will help integrate real-world industry requirements into academic programs, promote applied research and knowledge transfer, and enhance students’ capacity for international integration.

The new academic year at the Vietnam Aviation Academy marks not only the beginning of a new learning journey, but also a new chapter in preparing a high-quality workforce for an increasingly modern, multidisciplinary aviation ecosystem deeply connected with technology, industry, and the international community.

President of the Academy Trần Hoài An affirmed that VAA’s goal is to develop a workforce “with strong professional expertise, proficient skills, and the capacity to integrate internationally,” meeting the development needs of Vietnam’s aviation industry in the new era.

In the 2026–2027 academic year, VAA will continue to uphold its spirit of “Quality – Innovation – Integration.” Quality must be reflected in every lecture and professional output; innovation must become a shared mindset across teaching, research, management, and learning; and integration must become a tangible capability for every member of the VAA community.

P. TS & CTSV – TH