Phenikaa University Invests VND 80bn in STEM Planetarium

Phenikaa University has announced a major VND 80 billion (approximately US$3 million) investment in STEM education for 2026 and officially launched Phenikaa Planetarium, an international-standard facility dedicated to astronomy education, public science engagement and experiential learning. The announcement was made on 28 September 2026 in Hanoi by the university, a member of the diversified Vietnamese conglomerate Phenikaa Group.

The new planetarium is designed to take science education beyond traditional classrooms. It enables students to explore astronomical phenomena through immersive visualisation and observation under controlled conditions. In addition to supporting university-level teaching, the facility will provide high-school students with access to astronomy and hands-on STEM experiences while also serving teachers and the wider community.

Phenikaa Planetarium will play a central role in the 19th International Olympiad on Astronomy and Astrophysics (IOAA 2026), which Vietnam is hosting for the first time. The Olympiad will bring together nearly 500 international delegates from 64 countries and territories, including more than 300 outstanding high-school contestants, team leaders, scientists and educators. The planetarium’s advanced technical capabilities will enable it to host the event’s planetarium-based observational examination.

The facility features a 16-metre-diameter dome, a high-performance projection system consisting of five Sony GTZ380 projectors, and SkyExplorer simulation software. These systems allow detailed and realistic simulation of the night sky, creating an immersive environment for both learning and competition.

Prof. Dr. Ho Xuan Nang, Chairman of the Phenikaa University Council, described the investment as a long-term commitment to future generations. “This VND 80 billion commitment is ultimately an investment in the next generation of scientists and innovators,” he said. “Through Phenikaa Planetarium, we want young people not only to learn about science, but to experience it first-hand, to ask bigger questions and to develop the confidence to pursue discoveries of their own.”

The investment forms part of Phenikaa University’s broader strategy to strengthen STEM education by integrating learning, research, technology and practical scientific experience. Astronomy provides a naturally interdisciplinary platform, bringing together physics, mathematics, computing, data analysis and engineering. By hosting IOAA 2026, the university is linking its new infrastructure directly with an international community of young scientific talent.

Beyond the Olympiad, Phenikaa University plans to develop the planetarium into a lasting platform for STEM education, astronomy outreach, academic activities and collaboration with schools and international partners. The facility is expected to support ongoing programmes that encourage curiosity, critical thinking and hands-on engagement with science among students at multiple levels.

The announcement comes amid growing international recognition of Phenikaa University’s academic progress. In April 2026, the university became the first Vietnamese institution to win the “Leadership and Management Team of the Year” award at the Times Higher Education (THE) Awards Asia. It was also placed in the 401–600 band globally in the THE Impact Rankings 2026, which evaluate universities’ contributions to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.

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Phenikaa University currently offers more than 130 academic programmes ranging from bachelor’s to doctoral level. These include five ABET-accredited programmes and six medical residency programmes. The university is one of 12 higher education institutions selected under a scheme approved by Vietnam’s Prime Minister to develop leading universities in Hanoi, with the goal of ranking among Asia’s top 150 universities by 2030. The scheme reflects national efforts to strengthen research capacity, international engagement and the global competitiveness of higher education in the capital.

Serving more than 44,000 students, Phenikaa University operates as a private, comprehensive institution within Phenikaa Group’s multidisciplinary ecosystem. Its research focuses on key pillars including semiconductors, robotics and automation, advanced materials, new energy and biomedical sciences. Since 2019, its research community has produced more than 3,700 international publications, supported by more than 150 laboratories. The university has maintained a leading position among Vietnamese higher education institutions in the Nature Index for six consecutive years.

For Phenikaa University, the VND 80 billion STEM investment is intended to translate strategic ambitions into lasting institutional capacity. Modern infrastructure, internationally benchmarked education, stronger research output and greater opportunities for young people to engage directly with science are central to this vision. The launch of Phenikaa Planetarium provides an immediate and visible demonstration of that strategy.

As IOAA 2026 brings the global astronomy community to Hanoi, the new planetarium stands as both a practical venue for the competition and a long-term educational resource. It is expected to open the universe to Vietnam’s next generation of scientists, fostering curiosity, technical skills and the confidence to pursue scientific discovery. Through this investment, Phenikaa University reinforces its commitment to advancing STEM education and contributing to Vietnam’s broader goals of scientific and educational excellence.