Achieving the goals of Resolution No. 71 requires determination, resources, and breakthrough approaches.

To achieve that goal, a very high level of political will is needed, coupled with specific resources and a groundbreaking approach.

The goal is to reach world- class rankings.

Resolution 71 sets a target that by 2035, at least two higher education institutions will be among the top 100 universities in the world in certain fields according to prestigious international rankings; and by 2045, at least five higher education institutions will be among the top 100 universities in the world in certain fields according to prestigious international rankings. According to Mr. Bui Khanh Nguyen - an independent education expert in Ho Chi Minh City - these goals are entirely achievable.

Furthermore, several organizations such as the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) have made optimistic forecasts regarding Vietnam's prospects of becoming one of the top 20 economies in the world in terms of GDP size by 2045, based on current factors. Therefore, Mr. Bui Khanh Nguyen believes that the goal of "Vietnam having a modern, equitable, and high-quality national education system, ranking among the top 20 countries in the world" by 2045 is also reasonable.

"With a developed economy reaching a GDP of approximately US$2 trillion - US$2.5 trillion (4-5 times the current size) and per capita income of approximately US$20,000 per year (higher than Malaysia's current income) by 2045, Vietnam will certainly have enormous resources to invest in educational development, especially in building research universities that rank among the top 100 in the world on rankings such as THE, ARWU, and QS," Mr. Bui Khanh Nguyen further analyzed.

From a more cautious perspective, Mr. Nguyen Vinh San - a member of the VNUR university ranking research team - commented that the above goals are not impossible, but they are also very challenging to achieve.

Mr. Nguyen Vinh San explained that currently, Vietnam has a number of universities ranked in the top 500 in the world and top 200 in Asia according to QS and THE (2 National Universities, Duy Tan University, Ton Duc Thang University). However, the number is still small, the rankings are not stable, and most are still in the 801-1000 group in the world or 301-500 in Asia. To rise from the current ranking to the top 200 in Asia and top 100 in the world requires comprehensive, synchronized changes and significant investment from the universities themselves and the State.

Vietnamese universities have advantages in terms of rapid development, new support policies from the Party and State, and the trend of increasingly deep international integration; however, our starting point is still low.

Sharing specific difficulties that Vietnamese higher education faces in achieving its goal of reaching world rankings, Mr. Nguyen Vinh San outlined four groups: finance and infrastructure; human resources; university governance; and academic culture and integration.

Regarding finances and infrastructure: Reputable international rankings (QS, THE, ARWU) highly value criteria such as international publications, citations, research, and investment in R&D. Meanwhile, Vietnam's budget allocation for higher education and scientific research remains limited, at only about 0.4-0.5% of GDP, significantly lower than countries with universities in the top 100 worldwide. Laboratory infrastructure, electronic libraries, and research data are also lacking and not yet standardized.

Regarding human resources: The proportion of lecturers with doctoral degrees is still low compared to international standards; income and remuneration mechanisms are not attractive enough to attract talent from both within and outside the country; foreign language proficiency and the ability to publish internationally are limited, leading to a lack of sufficient quantity and quality of international publications.

Regarding university governance: University autonomy is still in its initial stages, with many constraints on finance, organization, and personnel; governance mechanisms have not yet caught up with international standards (university councils operate formally, lacking real self-determination); there is no clear long-term strategy for participating in international rankings, and many universities are not yet ready to publicly disclose data.

Regarding academic culture and integration: The culture of international publication and the spirit of scientific research have not yet spread widely; international cooperation, although developing, is not sustainable, lacking deep linkages in research, co-supervision, and co-publication; internationally standardized training programs, dual degrees, and student exchange programs are not yet competitive enough.

It requires strong political will, specific resources, and a groundbreaking approach.

Mr. Nguyen Vinh San believes that the goal is only achievable with strong political will, coupled with specific resources and a breakthrough approach. Specifically, to realize the goals of Resolution 71, the education sector needs to implement a comprehensive set of solutions:

Firstly, prioritize investment and stratify the system. Select approximately 10 key national universities (Vietnam National University, Hanoi; Vietnam National University, Ho Chi Minh City; Hanoi University of Technology; Da Nang University; Hue University; Can Tho University; Ton Duc Thang University; Ho Chi Minh City University of Economics; National Economics University; and several strong private universities…) to focus investment on, create mechanisms, and avoid scattered investment; establish specific mechanisms regarding finance, personnel, and organization for this group of universities.

Secondly, we need to improve the quality of our faculty. We need to rapidly increase the proportion of lecturers with doctoral degrees (prioritizing those sent for training at top universities worldwide); expand programs to attract international scholars to teach and conduct long-term research in Vietnam; and improve salaries and working environments to attract and retain talent.

Thirdly, promote international research and publications. This includes establishing a national research fund to support publications in ISI/Scopus journals; developing interdisciplinary laboratories and centers of excellence; building mechanisms to link research with businesses and practical applications; and reducing/exempting taxes for businesses investing in research and collaborating with universities and research institutes.

Fourth, innovate governance and autonomy by removing administrative barriers to university autonomy, scientific research, and business cooperation; increase transparency of operational data, prepare for participation in international rankings; and apply digital technology in university governance.

Fifth, strong internationalization is being pursued through expanding joint training programs with top 200 universities worldwide; encouraging long-term faculty and student exchanges; and attracting international students to key universities.

According to Mr. Bui Khanh Nguyen, objectives should be accompanied by specific action plans to clearly indicate how they will be implemented and demonstrate a commitment to realizing those objectives.

For example, to strive for a higher education institution ranking among the top 100 in the world, we need to commit corresponding resources to building excellent research universities. The strategic questions to answer are: Will we invest in existing universities, restructure some of the leading universities, or build entirely new ones? Many successful and unsuccessful models from the US, the Middle East, South Korea, Singapore, China, etc., can be used as references to choose the right path for ourselves.

It's also important to note that as we strive to reach the top 100, higher education institutions in other countries will continuously improve to raise their rankings. This means that in this race, we must redouble our efforts: both surpassing our own previous performance and avoiding falling behind other universities and countries.

For higher education institutions to rapidly advance in international rankings, significant resource investment is certainly necessary. However, this investment should be based on the institution's capabilities and proven achievements, demonstrated through concrete figures. Emphasizing this point, Mr. Bui Khanh Nguyen suggested that instead of pre-designating which universities would receive investment to reach the top 100, clear criteria should be established for a select number of large universities to apply for. Upon receiving funding, universities must commit to achieving specific key performance indicators (KPIs) in each phase.

"An economy ranking among the top 20 in the world also requires a corresponding workforce and intellectual resources, both in quantity and quality. Therefore, investing in building leading higher education institutions domestically, alongside increasing the number of international students, is a very welcome action," Mr. Bui Khanh Nguyen further emphasized.

Furthermore, this expert also proposed establishing a "National Education Fund" so that all citizens and philanthropists can contribute to realizing educational goals. Alternatively, a mechanism could be built to allow higher education institutions to receive large grants, helping to develop important departments and disciplines; and to allow philanthropists to fund the construction of modern lecture halls, laboratories, and dormitories. These actions could help rapidly upgrade domestic higher education institutions and increase their global competitiveness.

“The goals set out in Resolution 71 are quite ambitious in the current context, but necessary, reflecting the aspiration for advancement and integration of Vietnam's education system. Whether the goals are achievable depends on political determination, breakthroughs in governance, financial investment, and especially changes in academic culture within each university,” said Mr. Nguyen Vinh San.

The goal is to reach world- class rankings.

It requires strong political will, specific resources, and a groundbreaking approach.

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