Ho Chi Minh City University of Industry waives tuition and dormitory fees for orphaned grandchild of 'great grandmother'

Đại học Công nghiệp TP.HCM miễn học phí và ký túc xá cho cháu mồ côi của ‘bà ngoại vĩ đại’ - Ảnh 1. — New student Thai Quoc Dat has been exempted from tuition and dormitory fees by Ho Chi Minh City University of Industry and will be awarded many scholarships - Photo: TRAN HUYNH

Get full tuition and dormitory fees waived.

The touching story of Thai Quoc Dat, a freshman in the mechanical engineering technology department at Ho Chi Minh City University of Industry, who was sheltered by his elderly grandmother in poverty and had to borrow every penny to pay for his tuition, published in Tuoi Tre newspaper on the morning of September 20, 2025 , touched the hearts of many people.

University President: Education Must Preserve Even Lost Dreams

Dr. Phan Hong Hai, principal of Ho Chi Minh City University of Industry, said that not long ago he received a letter from the vice principal of Vinh Binh High School, Dong Thap province. In the letter was a tearful text message from Thai Quoc Dat in the middle of the night: "Auntie, my grandmother said she probably won't let me go to school because she can't support me anymore... Please help me...".

"Now reading Tuoi Tre newspaper, I understand more clearly that what is valuable about Dat is not only his difficult circumstances, but also his perseverance and undying dream of studying," Mr. Hai shared.

When reading the story of Thai Quoc Dat, the teachers in the Board of Directors of Ho Chi Minh City University of Industry determined that in such circumstances, education needs to become a fulcrum for dreams to continue, so that determined people are not left behind.

"We understand that education is not only about imparting knowledge, but also about preserving dreams that are at risk of being lost, especially the dreams of young people who only have willpower as a resource," said Mr. Hai.

Free tuition and dormitory fees, many scholarships awarded

On the afternoon of September 20, the principal of Ho Chi Minh City University of Industry said that the school had waived all dormitory fees and was urgently completing procedures to exempt tuition fees for new student Thai Quoc Dat.

In case the student is not a policy beneficiary as prescribed by the State, the school will use the Overcoming Difficulty and Studying Fund to ensure full tuition exemption, helping Dat study with peace of mind. According to Mr. Hai, this is not only financial support, but also a commitment to accompany with responsibility, affection and trust.

Dr. Nguyen Trung Nhan - Head of Training Department - added that the school has connected with sponsors to give an additional 5 million VND in initial support to Dat right in the program "Welcome New Students 2025".

"Thai Quoc Dat was introduced by the school to the list of candidates for the 'Tiep suc den truong' scholarship initiated by Tuoi Tre newspaper. On the day Dat completed the admission procedures, the school's admissions officers and staff also voluntarily donated to support this new student," Mr. Nhan shared.

In addition, Associate Professor Dr. Nguyen Duc Nam - Head of the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, also said that the faculty has proactively completed the application to receive the scholarship "Tiep suc den truong" from the enterprise cooperating with the faculty, expected to be awarded in November this year.

Dr. Phan Hong Hai expressed: "Every year, the school welcomes thousands of new students. Each person has their own story. But with cases like Thai Quoc Dat, we always remind ourselves that we cannot let poverty extinguish the dreams of students. This support not only helps Dat continue his learning journey, but also sends a message to all students: live with determination, have dreams and be compassionate."

1,000 scholarships for new students

The 2025 School Support Scholarship is expected to award 1,000 scholarships to disadvantaged new students in 34 provinces and cities with a total cost of about 20 billion VND, not including organization costs, souvenirs, school supplies, etc.

Each scholarship is worth 15 million VND for new students in difficult circumstances.

Including 20 special scholarships, with a total value of 1 billion VND (50 million VND/scholarship/4 years).

The Organizing Committee will coordinate with local authorities to verify information, select applications according to the program's standards and conditions, and conduct online interviews in some special cases.

Deadline for receiving online applications: September 10, 2025.

To contribute to the program, businesses and philanthropists please transfer to Tuoi Tre newspaper account:

113000006100 Industrial and Commercial Bank ( VietinBank ), Branch 3, Ho Chi Minh City.

Content: Support "Support to school" for new students or specify the province/city that you want to support.

Readers and businesses abroad can transfer money to Tuoi Tre newspaper:

USD account 007.137.0195.845 Ho Chi Minh City Foreign Trade Bank;

EUR account 007.114.0373.054 Foreign Trade Bank, Ho Chi Minh City

with Swift code BFTVVNVX007.

Content: Support "Support to school" for new students or specify the province/city/character that you want to support.

Or readers can go directly to Tuoi Tre newspaper headquarters (60A Hoang Van Thu, Duc Nhuan ward, Ho Chi Minh City), Tuoi Tre newspaper representative offices nationwide.

Support to School 2025: 1,000 more scholarships for poor new students to attend school - Implemented by: QUANG NAM - MAI HUYEN - TRINH TRA