Yesterday (November 30), at Phenikaa University (Hanoi), the Ministry of Education and Training organized a seminar to gather feedback on the draft plan for the network of higher education and teacher training institutions (hereinafter referred to as the university network) for the period 2021-2030, with a vision to 2050. According to the draft version currently being reviewed and finalized, the Ministry of Education and Training proposes directions for structuring the network's distribution, aiming to achieve the goal of Vietnam being ranked among the countries with advanced university systems in the region.
Professor Nguyen Hai Nam, Rector of Hanoi University of Pharmacy, proposed that the Ministry of Education and Training consider including this university in the list of key national universities in specific fields.
There will be 30 key national universities.
Regarding the orientation of organizational structure and network distribution, the Ministry of Education and Training maintains a basic view of keeping the number and structure stable, focusing on strengthening capacity, improving quality, and expanding the scale of higher education institutions. By 2030, the whole country will have approximately 250 higher education institutions and 50 branches belonging to 200 key higher education institutions, oriented towards regional distribution, including: about 30 key national higher education institutions (5 national universities, 5 regional universities, 18-20 key national institutions in specific fields); about 100 other key higher education institutions under ministries, central and local agencies; and at least 70 private higher education institutions (both non-profit and foreign-invested).
RESTRUCTURING, MERGER, AND DISSOLUTION OF NON-STANDARD SCHOOLS
For public universities (in the period up to 2030), those that do not meet the university-level standards will be restructured according to the following guidelines: restructuring and focused investment to meet the standards within a 3-5 year timeframe; merging to become a training unit or a branch of a reputable university; suspending training activities before 2028 and dissolving before 2030. Essentially, no new public universities will be established, except in necessary cases (such as establishment in certain regions with low access to higher education...). For branch campuses, training activities will be suspended if they do not meet the standards or have not completed the establishment of their legal status before 2028; merging or dissolving substandard branch campuses before 2030. The establishment of new branch campuses will also be limited to certain cases.
Students of the Vietnam National University Ho Chi Minh City. According to a proposal from the Ministry of Education and Training, national universities will be upgraded to achieve world-class standards in science , engineering, and technology, ranking among the top in the Asian region.
UPGRADING NATIONAL UNIVERSITIES TO BE AMONG THE TOP IN ASIA
Accompanying the above-mentioned orientation is the Ministry of Education and Training's proposal on important programs and projects that need priority investment in the period 2021-2030, with a vision to 2050. The top priority group includes: developing and upgrading national universities to achieve world-class standards in science, engineering, and technology, ranking among the top in the Asian region; developing and upgrading regional universities to achieve advanced standards and prestige in the region in key priority areas; and developing and upgrading key university facilities in the fields of education, healthcare, and other sectors.
In this system, national universities are located in the center of dynamic economic regions, with the mission of leading and playing a core role in implementing national strategic tasks regarding the development of talent, high-quality human resources, science, technology, and innovation. Regional universities are located in the center of their respective regions and sub-regions, with the mission of leading and playing a core role in training high-quality human resources, conducting scientific research, and developing and applying technology for their regions.
AVOID PRESTIGIOUS UNIVERSITIES CHARGING FOR UNIVERSITY ADMISSION QUOTAS.
Representatives from universities speaking at the seminar all expressed agreement with the Ministry of Education and Training's draft planning perspective. According to the delegates, in the context of limited budget resources, focusing investment on national universities, regional universities, and key university institutions is a correct solution instead of spreading investment thinly.
The criteria used by the Ministry of Education and Training to determine which institutions are national key institutions are quite reasonable (capacity, reputation in training and scientific research such as the number of professors and associate professors, the percentage of lecturers with doctoral degrees, the size of the faculty; the scale of postgraduate training and scientific research results...). However, from the perspective of their own interests, some delegates suggested that the Ministry of Education and Training should consider expanding the list of 18 key universities in specific fields.
According to Professor Nguyen Hai Nam, Rector of Hanoi University of Pharmacy, it is necessary to pay attention to the "leading" role of universities, focusing on the proportion of postgraduate training (for example, achieving a minimum of 20% of the total training scale). It is important to avoid situations where key universities, despite receiving more investment, prioritize expanding undergraduate enrollment quotas, while postgraduate training is the key factor in achieving "leadership".
Professor Nam also suggested that the Ministry of Education and Training should consider including Hanoi University of Pharmacy in the list of key national universities. "Currently, there is only one university in the country that specializes in training in pharmacy. Hanoi Medical University does not have a pharmacy program, and Ho Chi Minh City University of Medicine and Pharmacy only offers pharmacy as one of its programs (these two universities are on the list of 18 key universities proposed by the Ministry of Education and Training - PV ). Hanoi University of Pharmacy is currently the training institution for lecturers in most pharmacy programs at medical universities. In essence, Hanoi University of Pharmacy is currently the 'leading' institution in pharmacy training," Professor Nam explained.
Hanoi University of Science and Technology aims to develop into one of the top 5 national universities.
It is necessary to ensure the principle of equality in educational development.
Associate Professor Pham Thu Huong, Vice Rector of the Foreign Trade University, also expressed agreement with the Ministry of Education and Training's proposed direction for restructuring the university network, but emphasized the need for content that shows concern for training units whose effectiveness has been proven in practice. The planning should reflect the principle of not creating inequality in university development. It should be based on the quality of graduates, the ability to mobilize resources, especially international resources, of the universities. "Currently, we have a group of universities that offer single-discipline training, some of which are limited in area but have very good quality graduates and students. Perhaps we should consider restructuring and merging these universities to create large universities, developing them into world-class universities, rather than just developing national or regional universities," Ms. Huong suggested.
"We should differentiate between two groups: the group of quality assurance conditions and the group of output quality. We should open opportunities for universities that are in the top rankings each year in the development process, as well as for universities with output standards, even higher than the national framework, meeting the output standards of international programs," Associate Professor Huong proposed, adding: "We need to ensure the principle of equality in educational development. We want a fair mechanism so that universities can have opportunities, even if they are not among the key universities, so that we do not lose our competitive advantage in the development process."
The planned development direction for 5 national universities is: Vietnam National University, Hanoi; Vietnam National University, Ho Chi Minh City; Hanoi University of Technology; University of Da Nang; and University of Hue.
The planned development direction for regional universities includes: Thai Nguyen University, Vinh University, Nha Trang University, Tay Nguyen University, and Can Tho University.
Expected key university orientations for specific fields : Hanoi University of Education (education and pedagogy), Ho Chi Minh City University of Education (education and pedagogy), Hanoi Medical University (medicine and pharmacy), Ho Chi Minh City University of Medicine and Pharmacy (medicine and pharmacy), Hanoi University of Law (law), Ho Chi Minh City University of Law (law), National Economics University (economics and finance), Ho Chi Minh City University of Economics (economics and finance), Vietnam Maritime University (transportation, marine economics), University of Transport (transportation), Hanoi University of Civil Engineering (construction and architecture), Vietnam Academy of Agriculture (agriculture), Academy of Journalism and Communication (journalism, communication), Vietnam Post and Telecommunications Academy (information and communication), National Academy of Public Administration (public administration), Academy of Finance (finance), Vietnam National Academy of Music (arts), Hanoi University of Theatre and Film (arts).
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