Proposal to pilot the recognition of professors and associate professors and self-determination of the number of vice rectors

Proposal to allow a pilot program to recognize the titles of Professor and Associate Professor and to decide on the number of vice rectors at a number of key universities.

Mr. Nguyen Trong Nghia, Politburo member, Secretary of the Party Central Committee, Head of the Central Propaganda and Education Commission (second from right) attended the conference this morning at Ho Chi Minh City National University.

Photo: Ho Chi Minh City National University

The proposal to allow a pilot program to recognize the titles of Professor and Associate Professor was raised by the Director of the Institute for Policy Development of Ho Chi Minh City National University at the national scientific conference "Modernizing and improving Vietnam's higher education , creating breakthroughs in developing highly qualified and talented human resources, leading research and innovation", jointly organized by the Central Propaganda and Education Commission, the Party Committee of the Ministry of Education and Training, and Ho Chi Minh City National University this morning (October 24).

The workshop aims to disseminate and guide the implementation of Resolution No. 71-NQ/TW dated August 22, 2025 of the Politburo on breakthroughs in education and training development, especially contents related to university education; raise awareness, make proposals and recommendations to concretize breakthroughs to modernize and improve Vietnam's university education. Mr. Nguyen Trong Nghia, Politburo member, Secretary of the Party Central Committee, Head of the Central Propaganda and Education Commission, attended and delivered a speech. The workshop was attended by leaders of central and local departments, ministries, branches, managers, scientists and leading experts in the field of education.

Associate Professor, Dr. Do Phu Tran Tinh, Director of the Institute for Policy Development, Ho Chi Minh City National University, made a proposal at the workshop.

Photo: Ho Chi Minh City National University

Allow some key universities to decide the number of vice presidents?

At the workshop, Associate Professor Dr. Do Phu Tran Tinh, Director of the Institute for Policy Development of Ho Chi Minh City National University, proposed a number of proposals to strengthen decentralization and delegation of authority to spend at Ho Chi Minh City National University in the context of implementing Resolution 71 of the Politburo.

Firstly, the mechanism of decentralization and delegation of authority in terms of organizational structure and personnel apparatus at self-financed public service units in the education sector still has many shortcomings. For example, a university with a scale of 40,000 or 4,000 students can only have a maximum of 3 vice-principals, which is not appropriate. According to Mr. Tinh, it is necessary to allow a pilot autonomy mechanism at a number of key universities in regulating organizational structure and personnel apparatus.

"The proposal allows some key universities to decide on the number of vice rectors and departmental structures based on their scale, operational characteristics and practical needs, along with a monitoring and evaluation mechanism to ensure transparency and accountability," Associate Professor, Dr. Do Phu Tran Tinh commented.

Proposal for pilot self-examination and recognition of professors and associate professors

The Director of the Institute for Policy Development of Ho Chi Minh City National University also said that there is no mechanism for decentralization and delegation of authority in the consideration, recognition and management of academic titles. For example, the process of considering and recognizing qualifications and appointing the titles of Professor and Associate Professor in Vietnam is through 4 councils. "4 councils are too cumbersome and inappropriate. Just in the basic council and the industry council, a candidate needs to submit up to 50 documents," Associate Professor Tinh said.

In addition, the tenure of appointment to the title of Professor and Associate Professor is 5 years. At the end of the tenure, the organization will review and evaluate for reappointment. However, even if not reappointed, those who have met the standards will still retain the title of Professor and Associate Professor and can be appointed to another institution. Meanwhile, many criteria are "quantitative" but "qualitative"...

Based on the above reality, Associate Professor Tinh proposed to allow a pilot program in examining and recognizing the titles of Professor and Associate Professor at a number of key universities. This mechanism can be applied at key, multidisciplinary, prestigious and scientifically strong universities, gathering a large number of leading scientists. The institutions are allowed to self-assess their qualifications and appoint the titles of Professor and Associate Professor based on compliance with the general standards issued by the Prime Minister.

"The recognition results at these facilities have legal value nationwide. In particular, we need to be more flexible with scientists with special talents. The proposed pilot period is 3 years," said the Director of the Institute for Policy Development of Ho Chi Minh City National University.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/de-xuat-thi-diem-xet-cong-nhan-gs-pgs-va-tu-quyet-so-luong-pho-hieu-truong-185251024093220383.htm