(VHU) On August 26, 2026, the UPM Institute of Innovation under the Vietnam Union of Science and Technology Associations announced the benchmarking results for academic programs based on the UPM quality standards. Two academic programs at Van Hien University — the Bachelor’s Program in Food Technology and the Master’s Program in Tourism and Travel Services Management — received a 4-star rating under the application-oriented category, marking another significant milestone in the University’s ongoing efforts to enhance the quality of education.

Two Van Hien University Programs Receive 4-Star UPM Ratings

According to the announced results, two academic programs at Van Hien University achieved a 4-star rating under the application-oriented category:

• Bachelor’s Program in Food Technology
• Master’s Program in Tourism and Travel Services Management

The results were recognized under UPM (University Performance Metrics), a benchmarking system designed to assess educational excellence through a comprehensive set of standards and comparative criteria.

Notably, the latest assessment was conducted using the UPM standards for academic programs, comprising seven standards and 44 criteria. This framework provides a systematic basis for benchmarking and evaluating program quality and the extent to which programs meet their respective development orientations.

The 4-star UPM ratings represent an important milestone for Van Hien University, reflecting the University’s continued efforts to develop and enhance the quality of its application-oriented academic programs.

UPM – An Internationally Oriented Educational Quality Benchmarking System

UPM (University Performance Metrics) was established in 2020 by Professor Nguyen Huu Duc, former Vice President of Vietnam National University, Hanoi. Since October 2021, the system has been operated by the UPM Institute of Innovation, a consulting organization under the Vietnam Union of Science and Technology Associations.

UPM focuses on research and consultancy in policy and strategy while also providing consulting and training services in higher education, science, technology, and innovation.

Beyond benchmarking, UPM is designed to support higher education institutions in self-assessment, strategic governance, brand development, and partnership expansion. Through this process, institutions can identify their strengths, determine areas for further improvement, and establish development directions aligned with their individual strategies.

According to published information, the UPM system currently includes more than 170 higher education institutions and academic programs from 13 countries and territories, including Vietnam, Thailand, the Philippines, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Myanmar, Brunei, China, Taiwan, South Korea, Japan, and the United States.

This international participation provides a broader perspective for quality benchmarking, particularly as higher education increasingly emphasizes quality, practical relevance, and international integration.

4-Star UPM Rating – Recognition of Application-Oriented Quality

Within the UPM system, assessments are conducted according to different institutional orientations, including research-oriented (R) and application-oriented (A) models. Higher education institutions may select the orientation that best aligns with their development strategies and use UPM criteria and indicators to evaluate their performance.

According to information published by UPM, universities achieving a 5-star rating are regarded as leading institutions at the national level, with emerging international recognition and the potential to approach the group of Asia’s top 100 universities. A 4-star rating, meanwhile, recognizes institutions with established reputations at the national and regional levels.

Against this background, the 4-star application-oriented ratings awarded to two academic programs at Van Hien University are not only noteworthy achievements but also demonstrate that the University’s commitment to improving educational quality is increasingly being recognized through a structured benchmarking system.

Food Technology and Tourism and Travel Services Management – Two Highly Application-Oriented Fields

The two programs receiving 4-star UPM ratings represent highly application-oriented fields closely connected to workforce needs and socioeconomic development.

The Food Technology program focuses on food science and technology, a field that requires a strong combination of specialized knowledge, practical competencies, and the ability to apply expertise to food production, processing, and quality management.

Meanwhile, Tourism and Travel Services Management is associated with a sector offering considerable development potential and requiring professionals with specialized knowledge, management skills, and the ability to adapt to changes in the tourism and service markets. Van Hien University also offers programs through its Faculty of Tourism that emphasize the knowledge and management skills required to organize and operate tourism and travel activities.

The recognition of programs from two different fields with the same 4-star UPM rating represents another notable achievement in Van Hien University’s overall educational quality development.

Affirming an Ongoing Commitment to Educational Quality

The achievement of 4-star UPM ratings for two academic programs recognizes Van Hien University’s sustained efforts to enhance educational quality and develop application-oriented curricula.

It also provides further motivation for the University to continue improving its academic programs, strengthening faculty capabilities, expanding connections with professional practice, and creating a learning environment that responds to the increasingly demanding expectations of society and the labor market.

Throughout its development journey, educational quality is reflected not only in rankings and quantitative indicators but also in the University’s ability to equip learners with the knowledge, skills, and adaptability required in real-world settings.

The 4-star UPM ratings of these two academic programs mark another milestone in Van Hien University’s continued commitment to application-oriented education, innovation, and quality enhancement.

Center for Information and Communications