The University Council of Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology (Ho Chi Minh City National University) has prestigious businessmen and scientists who have contributed greatly to the development orientation of the school - Photo: Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology
According to the Law on HigherEducation 2018, the organizational structure of a university consists of many components, including the university council and the academy council (collectively referred to as the university council).
Similarly, the organizational structure of a university has a university council. Each council has different functions and duties.
Does not reduce the role of national universities
Explaining this difference, Prof. Dr. Le Minh Phuong - Chairman of the University Council of the University of Technology (Ho Chi Minh City National University) - analyzed the model of a two-level university council in the national university system. It can be understood that level 1 is the national university council that decides on overall strategy, finance, senior personnel, and common industry linkages.
Level 2 is the school council at member schools, managing daily activities, deciding on important issues regarding training, science and technology, and appropriate individual development strategies.
From practical management, Mr. Phuong said that sometimes the authority between the two levels is not clearly defined, which can easily lead to overlap. Member schools find it difficult to decide on their own specific issues and breakthrough strategies. The level 1 council is responsible for deciding on major issues, while at the same time giving the necessary initiative to the level 2 council.
"The reality of autonomy at the University of Technology has proven that having a university council does not eliminate the role of the national university, but increases the effectiveness of academic management and transparent decentralization," said Mr. Phuong.
Similarly, Associate Professor Dr. Le Tuan Loc, Chairman of the University Council of the University of Economics and Law (Ho Chi Minh City National University), also said that the institution of the university council was formed and operated since Law No. 34 of 2018 with advantages and also many shortcomings in the early period.
However, reality over the years shows that the school board and university council are performing their roles and tasks well.
Member schools build development strategies in line with the general direction, without any inconsistencies.
Associate Professor, Dr. Le Thi Ngoc Diep - President of the University Council of the University of Social Sciences and Humanities (Ho Chi Minh City National University) - said that universities under the national university and regional universities have built university councils and operated stably in the recent past. The national university council and the university council have coordinated smoothly.
According to Ms. Diep, maintaining a school council at each member school helps schools be proactive, flexible, and quick in making important decisions and strategies, without having to depend too much on the national university council.
Besides, it also does not put great responsibility and pressure on members of the national university council when making decisions for member schools, which have their own characteristics.
University grows from member schools
In terms of law, Associate Professor Dr. Doan Thi Phuong Diep, Head of the Legal Inspection Department of the University of Economics and Law (Ho Chi Minh City National University), said that in essence, the relationship between the university council and the school board is not a superior-subordinate relationship, and the school board is not responsible for reporting and being responsible to the university council.
The role of the university council is separate from the school councils. This is an important point that needs to be clarified to avoid the misunderstanding that the university council can replace the role of the school council. If the removal of the council of member schools is approved, pushing all those functions to the university council is impossible, both impractical and inconsistent with current legal regulations.
"The growth and sustainable development of national universities originate from the growth and sustainable development of member units. The university councils of member universities are institutions that ensure increased autonomy and self-responsibility, which is the foundation for the development of the universities," said Ms. Diep.
According to the schools, university autonomy is linked to the school council.
Autonomy has helped member universities develop rapidly in recent times, contributing to enhancing the strength of the national and regional university systems.
If the university council of a member university is abolished, it will seriously affect the implementation of autonomy, hinder development and maturity, and thereby affect the strength of the system.
Associate Professor Dr. Huynh Ky Phuong Ha - Vice Principal of the University of Technology (Ho Chi Minh City National University) - said that 30% of the school council members are outsiders. These are people with great voices and strategic vision. They are prestigious businessmen and scientists, contributing greatly to the development orientation of the school.
From there, he warned, "If we abolish the school board, we could fall behind the world. When member schools fall in rank, the whole system will be dragged down. This is very worrying."
Need to be more specific
The member schools of Ho Chi Minh City National University do not agree to abolish the member university council and maintain the current model of university council and school council. However, from the actual operation, many opinions suggest that adjustments should be made to more clearly define the roles of the university council and school council.
Mr. Nguyen Hoang Dung - Vice President of the University of Health Sciences (Ho Chi Minh City National University) - proposed that there should be a legal document detailing the relationship between the university council and the national university council, regional university council, ensuring the principles of autonomy, responsibility, accountability and supervision. In addition, it is necessary to clearly define the roles between the council levels.
Associate Professor Dr. Dinh Duc Anh Vu - Vice President of International University (Ho Chi Minh City National University) - said that the drafting committee to amend the Law on Higher Education should focus on clearly defining the responsibilities and relationships between the university council and the school council, clarifying the decentralization, while ensuring the effectiveness of university governance and maintaining the real autonomy of each school in the system.
Source: https://tuoitre.vn/hoi-dong-truong-thanh-vien-co-lam-giam-vai-tro-dai-hoc-quoc-gia-dai-hoc-vung-20250711130111277.htm
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