Higher education shifts from training human resources to training talents

Instead of just stopping at the goal of high-quality human resources, Vietnamese higher education is shifting strongly to training talents. After nearly 2 years of implementing the Project to develop talented students, many positive results show that this new requirement has become a strategic task of universities.

According to the Ho Chi Minh City National University Training Board, after nearly 2 years of implementing the Project to select and develop talented students for the period 2023 - 2027, many initial results have been recorded. Specifically, many students won high prizes in academic competitions, 100% met foreign language standards, more than 90% participated in scientific research and internships at enterprises, 20% had scientific publications. These are signs that the program is on the right track in its goal of training elites.

Associate Professor Dr. Tran Cao Vinh, Vice President of Ho Chi Minh City National University, spoke at the mid-term review conference of the Project on Selection and Development of Talented Students. Photo: Nam Phong

It is expected that by December 2025, the entire system will have 2,290 students studying the talent program, accounting for about 2.5% of the training scale. Students will study according to a separate program, with 25-30% of specialized subjects, some subjects taught in English to meet integration requirements.

On September 17, at the mid-term review conference, delegates recommended that Ho Chi Minh City National University continue to improve its selection criteria, linking training of talented students with scientific research, innovation and business cooperation. Some other opinions proposed adjusting the financial mechanism to be more flexible, increasing the level of support for lecturers and encouraging students to publish research.

Prof. Dr. Nguyen Trung Nhan, Vice Rector of the University of Natural Sciences, affirmed that the goal of the Project is to train elites, so each unit needs to develop a selection process appropriate to the specific characteristics of the industry. However, the units also need to allocate funds flexibly, applying appropriate coefficients to fields with in-depth research activities.

This opinion was followed by Dr. Le Hoang Dung, Vice Rector of the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, when he said that the internationalization process must start from the teaching staff. Therefore, according to Mr. Dung, there needs to be a specific mechanism to attract international lecturers and students, in parallel with improving foreign language skills for domestic students.

From a management perspective, Associate Professor Dr. Tran Cao Vinh, Vice President of Ho Chi Minh City National University, emphasized that the implementation of the Project must be closely linked to the Politburo 's resolutions on science, technology, innovation, digital transformation, international integration and education and training. In particular, human resources are the key factor, in which training and attracting talent must become the central solution to achieve strategic goals.

According to Mr. Vinh, the demand for high-quality human resources is gradually turning into the demand for talent training, a task that Ho Chi Minh City National University needs to undertake as the center of the national higher education system. To do this, it is necessary to have the support of member training institutions, while the National University will play a supporting role in terms of institutions, policies and implementation conditions.

The Vice President of Ho Chi Minh City National University also acknowledged the comments and requested a review of the Project on Selection and Development of Talented Students, ensuring that it is consistent with the national policy on human resource development in strategic technology sectors. Accordingly, member schools need to develop programs based on the strengths and characteristics of each unit to ensure suitability and effectiveness in the new situation.

Source: https://baotintuc.vn/ban-tron-giao-duc/giao-duc-dai-hoc-chuyen-tu-dao-tao-nhan-luc-sang-dao-tao-nhan-tai-20250917201917502.htm