Minister of Education and Training: There will be a major reorganization of universities

About 140 public universities are facing a major restructuring and merger, with a 'very deep' reduction in the number of focal points, according to the Minister of Education and Training.

At the Higher Education Conference on the morning of September 18, Minister Nguyen Kim Son said that Resolution 71 of the Politburo identified one of the most important tasks as modernizing higher education (from college to doctoral level). The goal is to develop universities at a faster, stronger pace, with a clear direction, creating a high-quality human resource for the fields the country needs.

"This is the opportunity, the time for higher education to make a breakthrough. Not seizing this opportunity means we are at fault," said Mr. Son.

He commented that universities are currently facing many changes, such as abolishing the school council, the secretary will also be the head, and innovation in the way of examining and appointing professors and associate professors...

"In particular, the education sector is preparing to face a major restructuring of higher education institutions," said Mr. Son.

Minister Nguyen Kim Son speaks at the Higher Education Conference on September 18. Photo: MOET

Resolution 71 of the Politburo requires urgent arrangement and restructuring of universities; merging and dissolving substandard schools; eliminating intermediate levels; studying the merger of research institutes with universities; and transferring some schools to local management.

Except for police, military and private schools, Mr. Son said that about 140 public schools will be rearranged. Currently, the Ministry of Education and Training is calculating many options, such as transferring central schools, schools managed by ministries and branches to local areas; merging local schools with central schools, schools under ministries/branches with each other... Some schools will be dissolved if they are too small in scale and do not meet standards.

The arrangement, according to the Minister, aims to overcome the fragmented, small-scale, and undeveloped situation.

"The Ministry of Education and Training will discuss with school leaders the schools that have to merge, but basically this will be an order, similar to when merging provinces and cities," said Mr. Son.

In addition, the Ministry of Education and Training is calculating the restructuring plan, reducing the number of units to make the schools stronger and better. There are schools that are not big but in terms of geopolitics, the necessary positions will be retained, at the same time forced to develop as quickly as possible. The Ministry will have a scenario for each school with the best plan, including personnel assignment.

"This is a time for restructuring and breakthroughs. Teachers need to be ready, happy in every situation, and be fair, not asking where I sit ," said Mr. Son. "In the next three months, we must think together to take advantage of opportunities and prepare for future development. That is what I want to call on teachers at this important moment."

On its part, the Ministry of Education and Training will reduce the content it is holding, decentralize, delegate more authority, and delegate more power in the direction of "firmly grasping what needs to be grasped and decisively letting go of what must be let go".

Specifically, the Ministry of Education and Training only holds the responsibility of granting, revoking, closing, and dissolving universities; appointing, dismissing, transferring, and reassigning heads. For public schools, the Ministry of Education and Training will approve strategies, goals, and missions because this group must carry out public goals.

In March, the Prime Minister approved the Plan for the network of higher education and pedagogical institutions for the 2021-2030 period, with a vision to 2050. The plan clearly states that Vietnam will dissolve unqualified universities and university branches; only consider establishing new public schools when there is an urgent need; and encourage the establishment of new and expanded private university networks and branches of prestigious foreign universities, especially in the science, engineering and technology training group.

National and regional universities are being invested in and upgraded to achieve quality and prestige on par with the region and the world. It is expected that by 2030, Vietnam will have Hue and Da Nang National Universities, 5 technical and technological schools with key investment, and 14 "key" teacher training schools. The number of teacher training schools is expected to be 48-50, a decrease of 15-17 compared to the present.

Source: https://baohatinh.vn/bo-truong-bo-gddt-se-co-cuoc-dai-sap-xep-cac-truong-dai-hoc-post295832.html