140 public universities face major restructuring and mergers

Prepare for the Great Arrangement

In his concluding remarks at the 2025 Higher Education Conference, Minister of Education and Training Nguyen Kim Son said that Resolution No. 71 of the Central Committee, viewed systematically, the guiding spirit of the Politburo is a more correct view of the position and role of higher education with appropriate investment; hoping that universities will develop at a faster and stronger pace, with clearer orientation, thereby having a team of highly qualified human resources, especially in the national field that is in great demand.

The Resolution places very high demands on quality and talent training; especially for public universities, the orientation, command, and leadership must be higher; creating the most favorable conditions for non-public higher education institutions to develop.

According to Mr. Son, this is an opportunity, a chance, an important breakthrough point. If we do not promptly grasp and promote the advantages, we will miss the opportunity. Therefore, the thinking that needs to be put forward now is how not to miss the opportunity, take advantage of the opportunity, and complete the mission of developing higher education. The Minister hopes that the whole industry will join hands to seize this rare opportunity.

Minister Nguyen Kim Son (center) chaired the discussion at the 2025 Higher Education Conference.

Mr. Son said that in the near future, higher education will face a major restructuring, merger, and downsizing. The reorganization and consolidation of institutions may be designated, not chosen by the units. "This is a solution that may be smoother for the schools and there will be a scenario for each institution to have the best personnel plan," Mr. Son said.

Although the Party organizations in higher education have just held congresses, facing the major reorganization and adjustment of the internal organizational model of the schools, this is the time for restructuring, the time for breakthrough. Therefore, the Minister believes that public school teachers are ready in all abilities and "happy" in all situations, taking fairness as the top priority.

The Minister wants schools to unite. If not, he fears the next three months will be a period of "hot war".

The network planning and arrangement of reducing the number of focal points for universities will be combined into one task. The block of public security and military schools will be decided by the two ministries in charge, private schools will remain the same, excluding this number, Vietnam will have about 140 public universities from ministries to localities. Although the reduction has not been announced, the direction of the General Secretary and the Prime Minister will reduce the focal points very deeply.

There are many organizational options: central schools can be transferred to local schools, local schools can be merged into central schools, many central schools can be merged together, many local schools can be merged together, some schools can be dissolved or some small-scale schools can be merged into several places. This will overcome the situation of fragmentation, smallness and lack of development.

University representatives share opinions.

The Ministry's steering committee will develop a plan, report to the Government, and then implement it. Minister Nguyen Kim Son affirmed that this arrangement is similar to merging provinces and cities. Restructuring and reducing the number of public schools is done by planning and requiring implementation. According to the head of the education sector, restructuring is to make schools stronger, not to reduce the number of schools. For example, there are schools that are not large, but in terms of geographical and political location, sometimes they do not merge but are forced to "grow as quickly as possible".

Grasp what needs to be grasped, let go of what needs to be let go.

Minister Nguyen Kim Son said that the amendment of the Law on Higher Education that is being carried out also has a corresponding orientation to institutionalize the spirit of Resolution No. 71, which is to adjust a number of contents on state management of educational institutions. The Ministry of Education and Training will reduce the contents of direct intervention; implement more decentralization, delegation, and authorization. The principle is "firmly grasp what needs to be grasped, decisively let go of what needs to be let go".

Specifically, the Ministry will focus on three tasks: granting licenses, revoking licenses, closing down, and dissolving to exercise state management rights; appointing, dismissing, transferring, and rotating leaders; and approving strategies, missions, and goals of public higher education institutions. Schools are given greater autonomy in academics, finance, science, and training; but governance responsibilities must also be clearer, which will be specified in the law.

Regarding the autonomy of higher education institutions regardless of financial autonomy, the Minister said that a separate decree will be issued in the near future. The Ministry will advise the Prime Minister, the Government, and the Ministry of Finance to strongly shift from regular financial support to the form of ordering and direct support through students, so that schools can be more proactive in their revenue sources.

The Minister said that the Ministry of Education and Training is submitting to the National Assembly the National Target Program on Modernizing Higher Education, with huge investment resources, and many other capital sources will continue to be mobilized for this field, aiming at the goal of modernizing universities. Therefore, investment preparation and disbursement for infrastructure, construction of schools, laboratories, and research centers need to be urgently implemented, otherwise it will directly affect the progress.

Regarding enrollment in 2026, the Minister said that it will remain basically stable. But gradually, according to the plan by 2027, the high school graduation exam will gradually apply the form of computer-based testing. The Ministry of Education and Training will invite the units organizing the computer-based competency assessment test to sit down to agree on principles and criteria, ensure standards, and avoid too large a difference between schools.