Removing the 'bottleneck' to attract universities to the Pho Hien University Zone.

GD&TĐ - Many groundbreaking solutions have been proposed to overcome difficulties, unlock resources, and accelerate the construction progress of the Pho Hien University Area.

On the afternoon of December 18th, the Ministry of Education and Training, in coordination with the People's Committee of Hung Yen province, organized a conference to summarize the implementation of Decision No. 999/QD-TTg dated July 10, 2009, of the Prime Minister approving the Project for the construction of the Pho Hien University Area.

Attending the conference were Deputy Minister of Education and Training Nguyen Van Phuc; Chairman of the People's Committee of Hung Yen province Pham Quang Ngoc; representatives from the National Assembly's Committee on Culture and Society, various ministries and agencies; leaders of functional units of the Ministry of Education and Training, colleges, universities and some related units.

The implementation rate is still low compared to the target.

According to the assessment of the Pho Hien University Area Management Board, after 15 years of implementation, the project still has many limitations, especially in not attracting enough universities to register to relocate to the Pho Hien University Area. To date, only two universities have invested in construction: Chu Van An University (now Intracom University), which has been operating since 2012, and Thuy Loi University.

Furthermore, the land area utilized in the University Zone is still very low compared to the scale of the Project. Specifically, the land area for constructing new universities is only about 63.25 ha/773.1 ha (8.2%); the land area for transportation, parking lots, and technical infrastructure (mainly transportation infrastructure) is only about 69 ha/170.3 ha (40.5%); and the land area for constructing the urban area to generate capital is only about 44.4 ha/276.9 ha (16%).

Based on the practical implementation of the Project, at the conference, Hung Yen province proposed adjustments and additions to some contents of the Pho Hien University Zone Project:

Adjusting the land use scale of the Pho Hien University Area in Hung Yen province ensures consistency with the development orientation of the research and training area in the Hung Yen Provincial Planning Project for the period 2021-2030, with a vision to 2050, meeting the needs for expanding training scale, expanding area, and modernizing facilities to meet the standards of universities, colleges, research institutes, etc.

Adjusting and supplementing several areas into the objectives and structure of the Pho Hien University Zone Project, including: vocational education institutions and multi-level secondary schools.

Chairman of the People's Committee of Hung Yen province, Pham Quang Ngoc, delivered a speech.

Adjust the nature of the funding source for the Project from only auctioning land use rights for urban land to a bidding process to select investors for concentrated urban land areas and auctioning land use rights for urban residential land plots with a scale of less than 20 hectares.

Extend the implementation period of the Project to 2035 with a vision towards 2050.

Universities, colleges, scientific research and technology development institutions, vocational education institutions, and public general education institutions are permitted to generate capital by transferring part or all of their assets and land use rights from their former campuses in downtown Hanoi to the Pho Hien University Area; in which, the institutions are allowed to use at least 50% of the land at the existing location to generate capital for the construction of new facilities.

Proposing several solutions to overcome difficulties.

At the conference, delegates focused on analyzing the current situation, causes, and proposing solutions and development directions for the Pho Hien University Area.

Chu Van An University (now Intracom University) was one of the earliest institutions to invest in and build a university in the Pho Hien University Area. Professor Ngo Xuan Binh, Acting Rector of Intracom University, pointed out several current difficulties and obstacles such as: the university's land area is limited compared to the development plan, making it difficult to implement comprehensive infrastructure expansion for teaching and learning; the mechanism for financial support and preferential credit for private higher education institutions is unclear, limiting the ability to mobilize social capital; some common technical infrastructure items (electricity, water, internal transportation, digital infrastructure) have not been invested in comprehensively, affecting the ability to attract secondary investors and students for study and living...

Prof. Dr. Ngo Xuan Binh, Acting Rector of Intracom University.

Professor Ngo Xuan Binh suggested that the People's Committee of Hung Yen province and the Management Board of Pho Hien University Area expedite the completion of the general technical infrastructure and issue favorable procedures for allocating land for expansion to educational institutions committed to implementing the project; strengthen urban transportation links and public services between the university area and the provincial center, creating favorable conditions for lecturers, students, and experts to work and study…

Representatives from Intracom University also requested that Hung Yen province research and consider supporting the university in expanding its investment and development project; and support the construction of a research and innovation center linking universities in the region, creating a ripple effect and forming a knowledge and innovation ecosystem in the area.

Meanwhile, Nguyen Trung Kien, Vice Rector of the Posts and Telecommunications Institute of Technology, suggested that Hung Yen province and the Ministry of Education and Training consider clearly defining the role and position of the Pho Hien University Area within the overall development space of the province and the Red River Delta region. He also recommended that the province continue to improve the planning, land, and infrastructure conditions for the Pho Hien University Area in a stable, synchronized manner with a clear roadmap, creating favorable conditions for universities to confidently invest in and develop their training facilities.

Mr. Kien also suggested that the province consider implementing support mechanisms for higher education institutions. This includes not only land allocation but also investment resources and long-term support policies such as: tuition fee subsidies for students from the province studying at universities located within the province; connecting educational institutions with the province's business ecosystem; and mechanisms to attract talent, etc.

Delegates discuss at the conference.

An extension of the implementation period is necessary.

Speaking at the conference, Deputy Minister of Education and Training Nguyen Van Phuc assessed that the objectives of the Project have been achieved at a very low level so far. The main reasons are the lack of comprehensive and synchronized investment in infrastructure and services to attract students, and the limited investment resources for universities.

Considering the continued implementation of the Pho Hien University Area development project to be crucial, the Deputy Minister requested Hung Yen province to continue implementing the Pho Hien University Area project with a long-term vision. The development orientation should be to transform the Pho Hien University Area into a university, science, and knowledge center in the region. This will be a significant driving force for the development of the Red River Delta region.

Drawing on experiences in establishing and attracting universities to university zones in other localities, Deputy Minister of Education and Training Nguyen Van Phuc requested Hung Yen province to resolutely invest in land clearance and provide capital support for the construction of universities. He also called for creating favorable conditions for private investors to participate in the construction of high-quality universities and colleges.

The Deputy Minister also requested that universities and research institutes establish sub-campuses and branches within the Pho Hien University Area to alleviate pressure from downtown Hanoi. Simultaneously, they should research the possibility of integrating the development of high-quality vocational and general education institutions within the university area.

"The Ministry of Education and Training acknowledges the recommendations from Hung Yen province and will continue to study them and coordinate with the locality to advise and propose appropriate solutions as soon as possible," affirmed Deputy Minister of Education and Training Nguyen Van Phuc.

Source: https://giaoducthoidai.vn/thao-go-nut-that-de-thu-hut-cac-truong-dai-hoc-ve-khu-dai-hoc-pho-hien-post761024.html