The predecessor of the faculty was formed in late 1950s when the Saigon University of Science established the Faculty of Mathematics, laying the foundation for formal mathematics training and research. In 1980s, the first doctoral dissertation in Mathematics was successfully defended, marking an important step in scientific research. In the early 1990s, the master’s training program was launched to meet the demand for high-quality human resources.

In 1995, amid the rapid growth of information technology, part of the faculty split off to form the Faculty of Information Technology, while the Faculty of Mathematics was officially renamed the Faculty of Mathematics and Computer Science. This transition opened a new phase of development, integrating mathematics with computer science.

Alongside the university’s growth, the faculty has continuously advanced research, education, and knowledge transfer, contributing high-quality human resources both domestically and internationally. As part of one of Vietnam’s leading higher education institutions, the faculty aims to become a top center for mathematics and computer science training and research in the country.

Professor Dang Duc Trong of the faculty, at a recent workshop, highlighted many mathematicians currently working abroad who are alumni of the faculty, including Nguyen Cong Phuc, Hoang Thach Luan, Phan Van Tuoc, Nguyen Hoai Minh, Le Long Trieu, Nguyen Hoang Loc, Nguyen Trong Toan, Le Quang Nam, Nguyen Le Luc, Truong Trung Tuyen, Tong Viet Phi Hung, Nguyen Duc Duy, Tran Vinh Hung, Nguyen Tien Khai, Phan Thanh Nam, Tran Minh Binh, Nguyen Quang Thang, Dinh Duy Cao, Thien Vu, Ho Si Tung Lam, Nguyen Quang Huy, Nguyen Quoc Hung, Nguyen Thi Hoang Oanh, Ho Pham Minh Nhat, Nguyen Tien Trinh, among others.

Four outstanding alumni

Professor Dang Duc Trong particularly emphasized four alumni who are now prominent mathematics professors worldwide: Phan Thanh Nam, Nguyen Trong Toan, Nguyen Hoai Minh, and Nguyen Cong Phuc.

Professor Phan Thanh Nam graduated in mathematics from the University of Natural Sciences (VNU-HCMC) in 2007. He later pursued a master’s degree in France, a PhD in Denmark, and postdoctoral research across Europe, including France, Austria, and the Czech Republic.

Since 2017, he has been a professor at Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich (Germany), focusing on mathematical physics, quantum mechanics, and analysis.

In 2020, he received the EMS Prize, one of the most prestigious awards in mathematics, granted every four years by the European Mathematical Society to outstanding mathematicians under 35. He is the first Vietnamese recipient, recognized for contributions to many-body quantum mechanics, spectral analysis, and partial differential equations.

Professor Nguyen Trong Toan, a member of the first cohort (1998) of the Honors Bachelor’s Program at the faculty, is currently a professor at Penn State University (USA).

His research focuses on analysis, partial differential equations, and fluid mechanics, the core areas in applied mathematics. His work stands out for linking mathematical theory with complex physical phenomena.

He received awards from the Society for Industrial and Applied Mathematics, recognizing mid-career researchers for outstanding contributions to nonlinear wave studies. Notably, his 2016 work established the mathematical foundation for “viscous destabilization,” previously observed only experimentally.

He has also been awarded prestigious fellowships such as the American Mathematical Society Centennial Fellowship (2018) and the Simons Fellowship (2019), reinforcing the global standing of Vietnamese mathematicians.

Professor Nguyen Hoai Minh, who enrolled in 1997 and graduated in 2000, is currently based at Sorbonne University in Paris.

At a recent workshop on teaching and learning mathematics in the technology era, he noted that AI is reshaping how mathematics is taught and learned, making education more accessible and personalized while supporting both research and teaching. However, he stressed that learners must not rely on AI and should develop the ability to ask questions and evaluate solutions independently.

He also emphasized the need to update curricula to align with technological demands, strengthen areas such as probability, linear algebra, and optimization, while maintaining strong foundational knowledge for long-term adaptability.

In teaching, he advocated for more interactive methods, personalized learning, and revised assessment approaches suited to the AI era, while underscoring the continued importance of teachers and education policy.

Professor Nguyen Cong Phuc, another outstanding alumnus mentioned by Professor Trong, graduated in 1997 and is currently a professor at Louisiana State University (USA).

Le Huyen