Regional universities come to the end of their role?

At the group discussion session, Head of the National Assembly Delegation of Can Tho City Nguyen Tuan Anh gave his opinion on the university organization model. Mr. Tuan Anh commented that the Vietnamese university system initially had universities, then added academies (also universities but with different names). Recently, the Law on University Education stipulated additional types of universities, national universities and regional universities.

No longer relevant

The country has 3 regional universities: Thai Nguyen University, Da Nang University, and Hue University. After about 25 years of implementation, the 2-level model has revealed shortcomings in its organizational structure. In the university, there is a Board of Directors, training service units, and member schools. These member universities have similar structures. For example, if a university has 10 member schools, the university has a Training Department, then the other 10 member schools also have 10 training departments.

Delegate Nguyen Tuan Anh said that the apparatus of this model is too cumbersome, costly, and even requires increasing the number of students to rationalize costs. He said that the draft Law on Higher Education (amended) should not specifically mention regional universities (currently regulated in Articles 11 and 12). According to the delegate's analysis, after streamlining the apparatus and merging provinces, the "regional" nature of current regional universities is no longer suitable, especially when we are implementing digital transformation in national governance.

The Ministry of Education and Training manages dozens of schools. So it is not necessary to have three regional universities just to manage a few member universities. Delegate Tuan Anh shared that Resolution 71, which has just been issued, requires the elimination of intermediate levels, streamlining the apparatus and especially rearranging universities. The latest spirit is to rearrange schools, including schools of central agencies located in the area or schools managed by local authorities, to facilitate enrollment and use of shared resources and facilities. With the spirit of Resolution 71, if the regulations on regional universities are still maintained, the rearrangement of schools in these localities will certainly be difficult, because the arrangement will be limited or must be done later. Regional universities are within the law, so they cannot be rearranged or reorganized.

Delegate Nguyen Tuan Anh proposed solutions. Firstly, the law should stipulate that there cannot be two-level universities in the university education system, only one-level universities (such as Hanoi University of Science and Technology, National Economics University, Can Tho University, Ho Chi Minh City University of Economics, etc.). Vietnam should only have universities that provide specialized training, certain specialized training, and multi-disciplinary universities.

In case option 1 is not approved, Mr. Tuan Anh suggested that the Ministry of Education and Training re-evaluate and determine whether the current regional universities, if they have no students and no training, are intermediate level or not. If they are intermediate level, they should be resolutely eliminated.

An expert said that if the regional university model is maintained, it will only bring short-term benefits but harm the national interests in the long term. Therefore, he agreed with the proposal to abolish the regional university model, minimize the cumbersomeness in university administration, and eliminate the intermediate level. University administration must be streamlined; if this cannot be done, the problem of ensuring the quality of university education will not be solved.

Candidates learn about admission information at the 2025 University Admissions Consulting Fair. Photo:

Previously, when the Ministry of Education and Training sought opinions on the draft revised Law on University Education, Prof. Dr. Bui Xuan Hai, Principal of Hai Phong University, said that in the world, there is almost no two-level university model (there are no "universities within universities"). This makes it impossible for member universities to develop, and at the same time, they fall into a "double yoke" situation, being under the management of both the university and the state management agency.

Switch to integrated university model

If we abolish the two-level university model, based on legal documents, we will have to amend Decision 452 of the Government on planning the network of university and pedagogical education facilities for the 2021-2030 period, with a vision to 2050.

Vietnam currently has university education models such as two-level universities, universities within universities (National Universities, Regional Universities); one-level universities, schools within universities (Hanoi University of Science and Technology, National Economics University, Ho Chi Minh City University of Economics, etc.); academies; universities; research institutes (postgraduate training). Assessment of the impact of the revised law on university education shows that the regulations on the organization of universities with member universities (two-level model) have many shortcomings, especially when implementing the autonomy mechanism.

Speaking to the press, National Assembly Delegate Trinh Thi Tu Anh affirmed that eliminating the two-level model, or at least reducing the management role of the national/regional university level, will help member universities have the same autonomy as independent universities. This is consistent with the direction of the revised Law on Higher Education, emphasizing autonomy associated with accountability and quality assurance.

This change is also in line with international trends. The transition from the “University within University” model to an integrated university model with schools/colleges without separate legal status will help Vietnam better integrate with advanced university education systems. This makes it easier for schools to cooperate internationally and attract investment.

According to Decision 452, the Government orients the development and distribution of the network until 2030, specifically: developing 2 National Universities among the top universities in Asia; developing Hue University and Da Nang University into national universities. Upgrading and expanding the development space of Thai Nguyen University in the Northern Midlands and Mountains; upgrading and developing more regional universities in the North Central, South Central, Central Highlands and Mekong Delta.

(Source: Tien Phong)

Source: https://vtcnews.vn/dai-hoc-vung-den-luc-het-vai-tro-ar983405.html