THE QUIET RISE OF NGUYEN THI PHUONG THAO'S EDUCATION ECOSYSTEM

Few people know that before becoming Vietnam’s first self-made female billionaire in business, Nguyễn Thị Phương Thảo earned her PhD in Economic Cybernetics in Russia at a remarkably young age. She once shared that her childhood dream was to become a teacher, a dream now unfolding in a profound and ambitious way. Private Capital in Education Heats Up and Sovico Takes the Quiet but Powerful Path

On November 20, conversations about private investment in education once again surged. In the landscape where corporations like Vingroup and FPT have already defined their positions, Sovico Group, led by billionaire Thảo, has chosen a more discreet yet deeply influential trajectory.

Victoria School: Pioneering Vietnam’s First UNESCO-Endorsed “Happy School” Model

Among Sovico’s recent investments, the rapid expansion of Victoria School stands out.

Rather than spending aggressively on publicity, Victoria School targets a highly promising niche: the “Happy School” model, focusing on student well-being rather than exam races.

It is the first school system in Vietnam to partner strategically with UNESCO to implement this global initiative, a milestone that elevates Vietnam’s education standards on the world map.

With 17 campuses (from preschool to K–12) designed under Green School and Smart School principles, and with strong presence in areas like South Saigon, Victoria School directly addresses a major pain point for Vietnam’s urban middle class:
An international-standard learning environment (Cambridge-integrated curriculum) that still preserves Vietnamese identity and cultivates emotional balance.

This is how billionaire Thảo’s education ecosystem is quietly rising.

Universities of Hòa Bình & Pacific Ocean: M&A Strategy and the “Three-Pillar Advantage”

At the higher-education level, Sovico takes a different approach: strategic mergers & acquisitions to shorten market entry time and then undertake bold restructuring.

- Hòa Bình University (Hanoi): Joined the Sovico ecosystem in 2015. It is now reshaped into a multidisciplinary applied university, focusing on Economics, Technology, and Industrial Design.

- Pacific Ocean University (Nha Trang):  Acquired in 2023. Leveraging its coastal location and Sovico’s aviation ecosystem (Vietjet), the university is positioned as a regional hub for aviation, tourism, and semiconductor talent development in South Central Vietnam.

The Unique “Three-Pillar Model”: University - Student - Enterprise. The signature advantage of Sovico’s university investments lies in the integration of real industry ecosystems:

- Students gain hands-on experience through Sovico’s corporate network: Vietjet, HDBank, Phú Long

- Training programs are aligned with actual business needs (“training by industry demand”)

- Job placement pathways are embedded from day one

This directly addresses the most critical KPI in higher education today: graduate employability.

From Oxford to Global Aspiration: The Vision of a Vietnamese PhD

Sovico’s education strategy does not stop at Vietnam’s borders. It extends globally through world-class partnerships.

In October, at the University of Oxford (UK), Linacre College announced the Pioneer Scholarship Programme with an initial fund of £17.83 million, including a major contribution of £13.7 million from Dr. Nguyễn Thị Phương Thảo.

This is far more than a philanthropic gesture. It signals a long-term ambition:

Empowering Vietnamese talent to access the world’s most elite scientific and academic environments.

The fund prioritizes outstanding postgraduate scholars, especially from Vietnam, helping build a future generation of world-class Vietnamese researchers and leaders.

Sources: cafef.vn