Clarifying the position, role and operational efficiency of the regional university model

On the morning of November 20, continuing the 10th Session, the National Assembly discussed in the hall the Draft Law on Higher Education (amended).

Delegates expressed their agreement with the need to amend the Law on Higher Education to fully and promptly institutionalize major policies and orientations of the Party, Government and National Assembly ; remove institutional bottlenecks, and improve the effectiveness and efficiency of State management of higher education.

Carefully evaluate the effectiveness of the regional university model in the context of streamlining the apparatus

Regarding the regulations on higher education institutions and other educational institutions with higher education activities, delegate Nguyen Van Thi ( Bac Ninh Delegation) commented: The Draft Law has expanded the subjects of regulation, which is necessary to comprehensively cover educational institutions with higher education activities in accordance with reality, creating a unified legal corridor, helping to improve the effectiveness of State management of higher education activities.

Delegate Nguyen Van Thi (Bac Ninh delegation) speaks at the hall. (Photo: DUY LINH)

However, regarding the regional university model that was formed in the early 1990s, the delegate said that, according to information from a number of member universities of the three current regional universities (Thai Nguyen University, Da Nang University, Hue University), this model is revealing many shortcomings such as: Regional universities are now becoming administrative intermediaries (regional universities are not allocated regional budgets, do not have the authority to coordinate investment, human resources or science and technology). This goes against the spirit of Resolution 71-NQ/TW on "eliminating intermediate levels, ensuring streamlined, unified and effective governance.

In reality, member universities are still bound by the “two-tier” mechanism – they must submit to the regional university and then to the ministry – in investment procedures, opening majors, and international cooperation, leading to loss of opportunities and flexibility. On the other hand, the regional university brand has not been clearly identified, limiting competitiveness and affecting international rankings and cooperation.

From the above practical analysis, delegate Nguyen Van Thi suggested that it is necessary to continue to have a thorough assessment of the position, role and operational efficiency of the regional university model in the past time to research and propose amendments to complete the draft Law on Higher Education, create a legal corridor and promote the role of "opening the road, repairing the road", "creating development" when building laws to improve the effectiveness of higher education.

At the same time, it is recommended to consider and build a structure for the higher education system including: universities, national universities, multidisciplinary universities, and universities called academies. Particularly for the Regional University model, it is necessary to carefully consider whether to continue maintaining this model due to the shortcomings and inadequacies as mentioned above; from there, it is necessary to have regulations to convert existing regional universities appropriately; it is necessary to reorganize to create motivation for member universities to develop more strongly...

The National Assembly discussed in the hall the Draft Law on Higher Education (amended). (Photo: NA)

Delegate Tran Thi Nhi Ha (Hanoi City Delegation) also said that it is necessary to redefine the system of higher education institutions according to international practices and in accordance with Vietnamese reality, ensuring clarity and ease of understanding. Accordingly, only two basic models should be established: multidisciplinary and multi-field universities and specialized universities for specific fields.

In particular, multidisciplinary universities need to be identified as a comprehensive training model at all levels of higher education. National universities are classified in this group, but with a special position: assigned national-level tasks and need to be clearly defined on specific mechanisms guided by the Government, in order to ensure key investment resources and differences to create conditions for development in the direction of elite universities.

Regarding regional universities, delegate Nhi Ha suggested that they can be completely arranged into a multi-disciplinary, multi-field university model.

"In the context that the country is promoting digital transformation and restructuring the higher education system in the spirit of Resolution 71 with the requirement to streamline the apparatus and eliminate intermediate levels, continuing to prescribe the 'regional university' model as a separate structure in the law will no longer be appropriate," the delegate stated.

There is a need for criteria to assess the autonomy capacity of higher education institutions.

Delegate Mai Van Hai (Thanh Hoa Delegation). (Photo: DUY LINH)

Commenting on the authority and responsibility of other higher education institutions (Article 14), delegate Mai Van Hai (Thanh Hoa Delegation) said that the draft Law has affirmed the principle of "autonomy, self-responsibility coupled with accountability". However, the delegate pointed out that there is still a lack of quantitative criteria to determine the level of autonomy.

Therefore, delegates suggested that there should be criteria to assess the autonomy capacity of higher education institutions, especially in terms of finance and human resource organization.

At the same time, it is necessary to supplement the requirement that autonomous establishments must have an internal control system, an independent audit mechanism and periodic public accountability reports.

“It is necessary to clarify the relationship between school autonomy and the State management rights of ministries and localities, avoiding understanding autonomy as 'absolute freedom',” delegate Hai noted.

Delegate Tran Khanh Thu (Thai Binh Delegation). (Photo: DUY LINH)

According to delegate Tran Khanh Thu (Thai Binh delegation), some fields need strict specific regulations in opening training majors right in the law, not only related to infrastructure but also the capacity and qualifications of lecturers of each different major. Therefore, adding regulations on principles right in the law is extremely necessary because the quality of a trained generation is very important.

On that basis, the female delegate of the Thai Binh delegation proposed that the law should add regulations for health training facilities to ensure practice facilities (practice hospitals; not just laboratories and pre-clinical centers as currently regulated) to meet the specific nature of the industry and international integration.

THU HANG

Source: https://nhandan.vn/lam-ro-vi-tri-vai-tro-va-hieu-qua-hoat-dong-cua-mo-hinh-dai-hoc-vung-post924494.html