Strengthening preferential policies in training human resources in basic science and high technology fields

Many policies related to training and preparing human resources for high-tech fields have been issued and there will continue to be preferential policies for students in the fields of basic science, key engineering, and strategic technology.

The 2018 generaleducation program is a program that encourages students to pursue science, technology, engineering and mathematics (Illustration photo)

The scale and quality of STEM human resources are growing strongly.

At the regular Government Press Conference in June 2025, Permanent Deputy Minister of Education and Training Pham Ngoc Thuong discussed training and preparing human resources for high-tech fields.

Permanent Deputy Minister Pham Ngoc Thuong said that the task of improving people's knowledge, nurturing human resources and training talents is one of the core tasks and goals of the education sector.

In recent years, from general education, the Ministry of Education and Training in curriculum development has paid great attention to STEM subjects including science , engineering, technology and mathematics, continuing to university and postgraduate education.

Permanent Deputy Minister Pham Ngoc Thuong said that the Ministry of Education and Training has consulted the Prime Minister to approve Decision No. 1002/QD-TTg dated May 24, 2025, approving the Project on training human resources to serve high-tech development in the period 2025-2035, with a vision to 2045. This is an important basis for implementing many breakthrough solutions to develop STEM human resources in the coming time.

Permanent Deputy Minister of Education and Training Pham Ngoc Thuong speaks at the regular Government Press Conference in June 2025 (Photo: MOET)

In fact, the scale of regular university training in 2024 will increase compared to 2023; STEM alone will increase by 10.6%, equivalent to more than 60,000 students. The entire system has 218 training institutions (including 158 public and 60 private) participating in STEM training. The total number of new students recruited in 2024 is more than 218,000, accounting for about 36% of the total number of students enrolled nationwide. This shows that the policies of the Party and State are creating a positive effect on learners.

At the postgraduate level, in 2024, the number of STEM students will continue to increase sharply: master's degrees will increase by 34%, reaching nearly 20,000 students; doctoral degrees will increase by 33%, with nearly 4,000 graduate students, an increase of about 600 compared to 2023.

Notably, 2025 is the first year that students graduate from the 2018 General Education Program – a program that is encouraging students to pursue science, technology, engineering and mathematics, taking advantage of the strengths of Vietnamese students, especially in Mathematics.

High school students in class with digital transformation applications

At the postgraduate level, in 2024, the number of STEM students will continue to increase sharply: master's degree will increase by 34%, reaching nearly 20,000 students; doctoral degree will increase by 33%, with nearly 4,000 graduate students, an increase of about 600 compared to 2023. These are very positive signals, showing strong growth in both the scale and quality of STEM human resources in the coming time.

However, the rate of students studying STEM in Vietnam is still fluctuating between 27% and 31%, lower than many countries in the region and the world such as Singapore (46%), Malaysia (50%), South Korea (35%), Finland (36%), Germany (39%). Therefore, it is necessary to continue increasing investment in higher education institutions to promote training in STEM fields.

There are about 19,000 students majoring in semiconductor microcircuits.

Regarding human resource training in the semiconductor industry, the Prime Minister issued Decision No. 1017/QD-TTg dated September 21, 2024, approving the Program for human resource development in the semiconductor industry to 2030, with a vision to 2050.

In the 2024–2025 academic year, approximately 19,000 students enrolled in majors relevant to the semiconductor field, accounting for approximately 10% of all students studying STEM.

There are currently 166 institutions offering degrees in semiconductor-related fields. In the 2024–2025 academic year, approximately 19,000 students enrolled in majors relevant to the semiconductor field, accounting for approximately 10% of all students studying STEM.

There are currently 166 training institutions for semiconductor-related fields, of which 97 directly train in these fields (including 66 public schools and 31 private schools). Many non-public universities such as CMC, Phenikaa, FPT... are also actively participating in the process of training human resources for the semiconductor industry.

To ensure training quality, the Ministry of Education and Training has established an Advisory Council and a Council for Appraisal of Training Program Standards for undergraduate and master's degrees in semiconductor microchips. On that basis, the Minister of Education and Training issued Decision No. 1314/QD-BGDDT dated May 13, 2025, promulgating the Training Program Standards for undergraduate and master's degrees in semiconductor microchips.

"Currently, more than 30 training programs have registered to implement Program 1017, of which 8 higher education institutions will apply it from the 2025-2026 school year. At the same time, the Ministry is also urgently developing and will soon issue the STEM talent training program standards to implement the Project according to Decision 1002/QD-TTg," said the leader of the Ministry of Education and Training.

Incentives for students of basic sciences, key engineering, strategic technology

Regarding incentives for students studying in basic sciences, key engineering, and strategic technologies, Permanent Deputy Minister Pham Ngoc Thuong said that, implementing Resolution No. 57-NQ/TW dated December 22, 2024 of the Politburo on breakthroughs in science, technology, innovation, and national digital transformation and Resolution No. 71/NQ-CP dated April 1, 2025 of the Government amending and supplementing the Government's Action Program to implement Resolution No. 57, the Ministry of Education and Training is developing a Decree regulating scholarship policies for students studying in basic sciences, key engineering, and strategic technologies; expected to be submitted to the Government in July 2025.

Scientific research at university

The content of the draft Decree stipulates the policy of granting scholarships focusing on students, graduate students, and researchers in 3 fields specified in Resolution No. 57, including: Basic science, key technology, and strategic technology, serving the training of high-quality human resources that are of interest to the Party and State.

The Ministry of Education and Training is also coordinating with the Ministry of Finance to develop a Prime Minister's Decision on credit for students, master's students, and biological researchers in the fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). The draft Decision is currently in the process of collecting comments for completion; it is expected to be submitted to the Prime Minister for promulgation in July 2025.

In addition, the Ministry of Education and Training is taking the lead in developing regulations on scholarship policies for students in basic sciences, key engineering and strategic technologies; it is expected to be submitted to the Government for consideration and promulgation in 2025.

VIET DUNG

Source: https://nhandan.vn/tang-cuong-chinh-sach-uu-dai-trong-dao-tao-nhan-luc-nhom-nganh-khoa-hoc-co-ban-cong-nghe-cao-post891669.html