MODERNIZING AND RAISING VIETNAMESE HIGHER EDUCATION: Synchronous investment to create breakthroughs

The mechanism of decentralization and delegation of power still has many shortcomings and needs to be adjusted to attract talent and create breakthroughs in the development of higher education.

On October 24, at Ho Chi Minh City National University, a national scientific conference was held with the theme "Modernizing and upgrading Vietnam's higher education, creating breakthroughs in developing highly qualified and talented human resources, leading research and innovation", co-organized by the Central Propaganda and Education Commission, the Party Committee of the Ministry of Education and Training (MOET), and Ho Chi Minh City National University. Thereby, it aimed to thoroughly grasp and guide the implementation of Resolution No. 71-NQ/TW dated August 22, 2025 of the Politburo on breakthroughs in education and training development. The event had the participation of prestigious speakers from central agencies, leading universities and international organizations.

There are still many shortcomings

Speaking at the opening of the workshop, Mr. Nguyen Trong Nghia - Politburo member, Secretary of the Party Central Committee, Head of the Central Propaganda and Mass Mobilization Commission - asked experts and scientists to focus on discussing the completion of institutions, mechanisms and policies. Especially the unique and outstanding mechanisms and policies, the strategic framework for university education development; and streamlined, unified and effective university governance.

In addition, it is necessary to properly assess the actual capacity of learners, develop a team of lecturers, researchers, experts, scientists, and educational managers to ensure sufficient capacity, quality, and prestige to meet the requirements of modernization and upgrading of university education. Maximize the autonomy mechanism to build a competitive remuneration policy to attract and promote talents, especially excellent domestic and international experts.

Member of the Politburo, Secretary of the Party Central Committee, Head of the Central Propaganda and Education Commission Nguyen Trong Nghia speaks at the workshop

Associate Professor Dr. Do Phu Tran Tinh, Director of the Institute for Policy Development of the National University of Ho Chi Minh City, assessed that Resolution No. 71 is a breakthrough in placing education, science - technology and talent at the center of the country's development strategy. "This is a breakthrough that paves the way for comprehensive autonomy of higher education institutions associated with a transparent and effective inspection and supervision mechanism," Mr. Tinh assessed.

Regarding the issue of decentralization and delegation of power when implementing Resolution No. 71, Mr. Tinh said that the organizational structure and personnel apparatus at self-financed public service units still have many shortcomings. For example, a university with 40,000 or 4,000 students has a maximum of only 3 vice rectors... Current regulations require at least 1 of 2 supervisors of doctoral students to work at the unit that is training the doctoral students. This leads to the fact that supervisors, even leading professors or internationally prestigious scientists, cannot independently supervise doctoral students if they are not working at the training unit.

Regarding finance, Ms. Tran Thi Anh Nguyet, an expert in education economics at the World Bank, said that to create a breakthrough in university education and develop high-tech human resources, Vietnam needs to invest heavily in finance, infrastructure, talent policies and public-private partnerships. She said that university education is the foundation for developing high-quality human resources, science and technology and innovation, contributing to socio-economic growth. Therefore, it is necessary to invest synchronously in human resources, infrastructure and public-private partnerships to create a breakthrough.

Flexible mechanism needed

At the workshop, many recommendations were also made to effectively implement Resolution No. 71. As Associate Professor, Dr. Le Manh Tu (Phenikaa University) suggested, there should be an integrated model between scientific measurement and research funding to narrow the gap between basic and applied research. Thereby, promoting innovation, developing strategic technology and forming a sustainable knowledge cycle in Vietnamese university education.

Associate Professor, Dr. Do Phu Tran Tinh proposed that Ho Chi Minh City National University be allowed to pilot the autonomous mechanism at a number of key universities in regulating organizational structure and personnel; allow piloting the consideration and recognition of the titles of Professor and Associate Professor at a number of key universities, applied at key, multidisciplinary, prestigious and strong scientific potential university educational institutions, gathering a large number of leading scientists.

At the same time, it is necessary to be more flexible with scientists with special talents... delegating or authorizing approved key universities to carry out training programs for teacher training, health and law fields and doctoral training.

According to Ms. Tran Thi Anh Nguyet, currently, the demand for human resources in high-tech industries requires 28% - 90% of workers with university degrees or higher. At the postgraduate level, Vietnam lacks highly qualified human resources, while 11 strategic technology industries have 64% of Vietnamese talents working abroad. To attract and retain talents and experts, Ms. Nguyet proposed the need to establish an "excellent lecturer/research" fund, support scholar exchanges, post-doctoral scholarships; improve remuneration, working environment, invest in laboratories, modern research facilities...

In addition, the workshop also had many opinions and proposed solutions such as: granting comprehensive autonomy to university education institutions; attracting talent; improving the working environment; building a regime according to job positions; supporting excellent research...

Mobilizing social resources

Resolution No. 71-NQ/TW of the Politburo on breakthroughs in education and training development has set out strategic goals, tasks and solutions with a long-term vision for the new development stage of the country. The Resolution affirms that education and training development is the cause of the Party, the State and the entire people, a key pillar to improve people's knowledge, develop human resources, nurture talents and create a central driving force for rapid and sustainable development of the country.

Breakthroughs in education and training must start with innovation in thinking, awareness and institutions; create strong changes in resources, motivation and development space; improve comprehensive quality, ensure the State plays a leading role, public investment is leading, and at the same time mobilize and effectively promote social resources for the modernization of national education.

Source: https://nld.com.vn/hien-dai-hoa-nang-tam-giao-duc-dai-hoc-viet-nam-dau-tu-dong-bo-de-tao-dot-pha-19625102420501035.htm