From April to June 2026, VGU Library continued to strengthen its role as a dynamic learning hub by organizing academic events, professional training programs, and community activities that supported students, faculty members, and researchers. Looking ahead, the Library is also preparing a series of exciting events for Orientation Week and the new academic semester.
Book Review Contest 2026: Turning Pages, Turning Point
The contest concluded successfully after several weeks of reading, reflection, and creative expression. Organized by VGU Library, the contest encouraged students to share their perspectives on books through thoughtful reviews, inspiring a stronger reading culture and meaningful intellectual exchange across the VGU community.
The competition attracted enthusiastic participation from students representing different academic disciplines, with submissions demonstrating critical thinking, creativity, and personal reflection. Entries were evaluated across multiple categories, recognizing both analytical excellence and creative presentation.
The Grand Prize was awarded to Tran Diem Quynh for her review of Men Like Gods. Additional awards included the People’s Choice Award presented to Duong Quang Nhat for Calculus, the Best Creative Design Award presented to Le Bao Chau for Of Mice and Men, and the Most Inspiring Award presented to Luu Nguyen Huong Duyen for Cánh đồng bất tận. In recognition of their participation, all contestants received certificates and commemorative gifts from the Library.
The Book Review Contest continues to serve as one of VGU Library’s signature initiatives to encourage reading, promote critical thinking, and inspire students to share knowledge through books while strengthening an active learning community on campus.
Talkshow “Bước Ngoặt: You-Turn”
On 21 May 2026, VGU Library, in collaboration with the VGU ReadInspired Club (LIBER), organized the “You-Turn” talkshow and the closing ceremony of the Book Review Contest 2026. The event provided a platform for students, guest speakers, and faculty members to exchange perspectives on personal choices, the journey of growth, and the role of books in shaping young people’s thinking.
In his opening remarks, Prof. Dr. René Thiele, President of VGU, emphasized that books remain an essential source of knowledge and self-reflection, enabling students to develop critical thinking and confidently navigate life’s turning points in an era shaped by rapid technological advancement and artificial intelligence. He also expressed his appreciation to the guest speakers for sharing practical experiences and diverse cultural perspectives with the VGU community.
The talkshow featured Dr. Nguyen Dong Hai and Mr. Do Quang Tuan Hoang. Through their personal stories and interactive discussions with students, the speakers explored how reading can broaden perspectives, support informed decision-making, and inspire lifelong learning.
Movie Night: Building Connections Beyond the Classroom
On 27 May 2026, a group of VGU students organized Movie Night, which took place at the Reading Theatre, VGU Library. The event provided VGUers with an opportunity to relax after a busy academic period or hard working hours while connecting with friends through a shared cinematic experience.
In addition to the film screening, participants enjoyed light refreshments and interactive games, creating a lively and welcoming atmosphere for students from different programs to socialize and build new friendships. The event reflected the enthusiasm and creativity of the student organizers in fostering an engaging campus community beyond the classroom.
Movie Night received organizational support from VGU Library and Goethe-Institut Ho Chi Minh City, which provided the featured film and gifts for participants. The collaboration demonstrated a shared commitment to promoting cultural exchange and enriching student life through community-based activities.
Strengthening Digital Research Skills
Supporting research and academic success remains one of the Library’s key priorities.
During June and July, the Library successfully organized four professional training sessions designed to enhance digital research competencies:
- Turnitin for Instructors
- Turnitin for Students
- R Programming Applications: From Raw Data to Interactive Visualizations
- Python & Codebook for LSEG (Thomson Reuters) Dataset Retrieval
Delivered by experts from iGroup, LSEG, and VGU, these workshops provided practical guidance on academic integrity, responsible AI use, plagiarism prevention, research data retrieval, statistical programming, and interactive data visualization.
Welcoming More Than 1,400 Visitors
Over the past three months, VGU Library warmly welcomed more than 1,400 visitors through campus tours, institutional visits, and professional exchanges.
Visitors included students participating in ARC Festival, Campus Tours, representatives from universities and libraries across Vietnam, including the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Nha Trang University, Binh Duong Library, and several academic libraries from Southern Vietnam.
The Library also had the pleasure of welcoming Dr. Knut Beuck, 11 German interns, Mr. Oliver Stasch, lecturers from Vien Dong College, together with various educational partners and professional delegations.
These visits provided valuable opportunities for exchanging ideas, showcasing the Library’s innovative learning spaces and services, and strengthening collaboration within both national and international academic communities.
Looking Ahead: Upcoming Events
VGU Book Fair (7–11 September 2026)
As part of Orientation Week, VGU Library will organize the VGU Book Fair 2026, a week-long celebration designed to introduce new students to the Library while promoting sustainability, creativity, and lifelong learning.
Visitors can expect a wide range of activities, including:
- Thai Ha Books booths: Thai Ha Books will showcase a selection of books and learning materials from Thai Ha Books and other publishers covering a variety of subjects, together with stationery and study supplies.
- Recycled paper workshop: A hands-on DIY workshop on handmade eco-friendly products will be facilitated by 2030 Youth Force Vietnam and the Green Inspiration Group. The workshop aims to encourage creativity, reuse and recycle practices, and environmentally friendly consumption habits through practical and engaging activities.
- Battery-for-plant exchange: HSBC will support a battery exchange activity where used batteries can be exchanged for plants and tote bags. The initiative aims to promote responsible waste disposal, raise awareness of environmental sustainability, and encourage sustainable consumption habits among students and staff.
- Mobile Library by Provincial Library: The Mobile Library service will bring a collection of books and educational materials directly to the VGU campus, providing students with additional opportunities to access reading resources. The initiative also highlights innovative library outreach services and strengthens connections between academic and public libraries.
- German Travelling exhibition “Universe Humankind Intelligence” (UMI): Hosted in cooperation with Goethe-Institut Vietnam (cooperated by LCFY and LIC), this travelling exhibition showcases current scientific research from Germany through interactive displays and multimedia content. Covering themes such as the Universe, Human History, the Brain, the Anthropocene, and Artificial Intelligence, the exhibition aims to inspire curiosity, innovation, and intercultural learning among students and visitors. VGU is one of only four locations in Vietnam selected to host the exhibition.
- Mini sustainable market: A number of handmade and eco-friendly merchandise booths will be invited to participate in the Book Fair, contributing to a lively and engaging event atmosphere. These booths will provide visitors with opportunities to explore unique products while supporting creativity, student engagement, and community participation.
- Interactive & cultural activities: The Library will organizes games, book exchange corner, Top book lovers recognition, live music, and DIY workshop organized by VGU ReadInspired Club where students can connect and exchange ideas through fun and engaging activities.
Book Sharing Session “The New Literacy: Reading and Learning in the AI Age“
11 September 2026 | 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM
As artificial intelligence continues to transform the way people access, process, and create information, the skills required for effective learning are also evolving. Beyond traditional reading and writing abilities, students today must be able to critically evaluate information, navigate AI-generated content, synthesize knowledge from multiple sources, and adapt to continuous learning in a rapidly changing world. To explore these emerging challenges and opportunities, the VGU Library will organize a book sharing session entitled “The New Literacy: Reading and Learning in the AI Age.” The session will be conducted from 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM on Friday, 11 September 2026, at the Ceremony Hall, Vietnam-Germany University, delivered by Dr. Nguyen Manh Hung, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of ThaiHaBooks Joint Stock Company.
Discover New eBooks on Perlego
The Library continues to expand access to high-quality digital resources through Perlego, providing unlimited access to over one million academic eBooks and textbooks from leading international publishers.
Students and faculty can conveniently access learning materials anytime and anywhere across a wide range of disciplines, supporting coursework, independent learning, and research.
- Request account to access Perlego system
- Perlego help page
VGU-OCLC Academic Library Forum 2026
18 August 2026 | 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM
VGU Library, in collaboration with OCLC, will host the VGU-OCLC Academic Library Forum 2026, bringing together librarians, researchers, educators, and information professionals to discuss the future of scholarly communication.
Under the theme “Connecting Knowledge: AI, Open Access and the Future of Scholarly Communication,” the forum will explore how artificial intelligence, open science, and digital transformation are reshaping academic libraries and research ecosystems.
Participants will have opportunities to learn from international experts, exchange best practices, and discuss innovative strategies for supporting research, teaching, and lifelong learning in higher education.
