Public universities implement new leadership models

According to the Minister of Education and Training, the plan to arrange leadership personnel for public universities and colleges according to the new model (Party Secretary concurrently the head of the university education institution) will be implemented from the beginning of December this year to ensure that schools have new leaders and a stable apparatus by the beginning of 2026.

NEW LAW TAKES EFFECT AT THE SAME TIME AS SCHOOL BOARD ENDS ACTIVITIES

The above information was noted by Minister of Education and Training Nguyen Kim Son in the conclusion of the conference to study and implement Resolution 71-NQ/TW on breakthroughs in education and training development organized by the Ministry of Education and Training on October 24. In particular, a notable content is that the plan to arrange leadership personnel for public universities and colleges will be implemented from the beginning of December, not waiting until the beginning of 2026.

The Organizing Committee of the Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee Party Committee in coordination with the Party Executive Committee of the University of Finance and Marketing announced the decision to appoint additional personnel for the Secretary and Deputy Secretary of the Party Committee of the school for the 2025 - 2030 term.

PHOTO: UFM

The Minister stated the view of the Ministry of Education and Training that the day the new law comes into effect is also the day the school council's activities end and the chairman of the school council also ends his role. At the same time, the principal (or director of the university or academy) also completes the responsibilities assigned by the school council, so it is necessary to try so that before the school council's activities end, everything is operated according to the new model: the party secretary is also the head.

Previously, the secretary was associated with the leadership position of the school board chairman. In the future, when there is no longer a school board and no dedicated position for the secretary, it is necessary to arrange management work for the secretary. The arrangement principle will be implemented on the basis of trust at the base, from which the governing body will find the most worthy and suitable person to take on the role of secretary and head of the base. Special cases will be decided by the superior governing body.

There are universities that are gradually implementing a comprehensive restructuring of their leadership apparatus according to new regulations, for example, the University of Finance and Marketing. On October 23, the Organizing Committee of the Party Committee of the Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee coordinated with the Executive Committee of the Party Committee of this university to organize a ceremony to announce the decision to appoint additional personnel for the Secretary and Deputy Secretary of the Party Committee of the University for the 2025-2030 term. According to the decisions of the Standing Committee of the Party Committee of the Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee, the Principal of the University of Finance and Marketing was appointed to hold the position of Secretary of the Party Committee of the University for the 2025-2030 term and 1 Vice Principal of the University was appointed to hold the position of Deputy Secretary of the Party Committee of the University for the 2025-2030 term.

CHALLENGES AND POTENTIAL RISKS WHEN IMPLEMENTING THE NEW MODEL

Regarding the policy of implementing the university leadership model according to new regulations, Associate Professor Dr. Do Van Dung, former Principal of Ho Chi Minh City University of Technical Education, said that this change will transfer authority from the school council to the Party Committee and principal, creating a new, more centralized leadership model.

However, Associate Professor Dung also said that this raises many issues regarding governance, autonomy and sustainable development. In essence, this is a dual governance model in the university with an administrative system and a Party system led by the Party Secretary and the principal. Abolishing the school council requires building a new, streamlined and effective leadership apparatus, with a focus on unifying authority under the leadership of the Party Committee.

Mr. Dung proposed: "It is necessary to unify the "two-in-one" leadership role to avoid role conflicts and overlapping authority between political leadership and administrative management. However, schools should elect the principal first, then appoint the secretary, because currently in most universities according to the old law, the secretary is elected at the party congress, usually the chairman of the school council and the principal is the deputy secretary. If the secretary-principal session is rigid, it can cause many problems, even internal conflicts." In addition, this expert also said that it is necessary to maintain a review mechanism, for example, establishing a scientific or professional council to advise and review academic policies and financial management. The Ministry of Education and Training needs to issue specific standards for the "two-in-one" leadership position, prioritizing management capacity, courage and innovative thinking.

Dr. Pham Do Nhat Tien proposed that the construction of a new Law on University Education , decrees and guiding circulars need to clearly stipulate full and comprehensive autonomy.

Photo: KH

At the scientific conference "Modernizing and improving Vietnam's higher education, creating breakthroughs in developing highly qualified human resources and talents, leading research and innovation" on October 24, Dr. Pham Do Nhat Tien, an education expert, said that the 2012 Law on Higher Education (amended and supplemented in 2018) is a strong innovation in thinking in university education management, including the policy of "not organizing school councils in public educational institutions, implementing the Party Secretary as the head of the educational institution". According to this expert, eliminating the school council means eliminating the intermediate level to concentrate the focal point, transferring the administrative function to the Party organization in the school.

However, Mr. Tien said that the new governance model also comes with potential challenges and risks. The biggest challenge is the huge workload when the Party Secretary holds both key positions of political leadership and administrative leadership. The biggest risk is that the concentration of authority can lead to a lack of democracy, negatively affecting the promotion of school autonomy. Another potential risk is the reduction of stakeholder participation, limiting the foundation of autonomy and accountability.

From there, Mr. Tien proposed that the construction of a new Law on University Education, decrees and guiding circulars should clearly stipulate full and comprehensive autonomy; demarcate authority between the Party Secretary who is also the head of the university and the principal; and prescribe mechanisms to control power along with promoting grassroots democracy.

Development orientation in the context of no school council

At the national scientific conference "Modernizing and improving Vietnam's higher education, creating breakthroughs in developing highly qualified human resources and talents, leading research and innovation", organized by the Central Propaganda and Mass Mobilization Commission, the Ministry of Education and Training in coordination with Ho Chi Minh City National University on October 24, the presentation of the Department of Scientific Research on Organization and Personnel (Central Organization Commission) outlined the orientation for developing grassroots Party organizations in higher education institutions when not organizing school councils according to Resolution No. 71 of the Politburo on breakthroughs in education and training development.

Accordingly, the policy of not organizing school councils according to the resolution is an important innovation, affirming and strengthening the direct and comprehensive leadership role of party organizations in public educational institutions. The absence of school councils helps to concentrate leadership power at one point, creating conditions for grassroots party organizations to proactively implement unified leadership in politics, ideology, organization and personnel; overcome the situation of power dispersion, ensuring democratic centralism in management. This is a fundamental advantage, helping Party committees to be more proactive in strategic planning, directing training tasks, scientific research, international cooperation and staff development; at the same time, linking the leadership responsibility of party organizations with the comprehensive development results of the school. This model also contributes to strengthening discipline, order, ensuring correct political and ideological orientation in the development of public universities.

The lack of a school council also poses new difficulties and challenges for grassroots party organizations. When there is no longer a mechanism for decentralization in deciding strategic issues, the scope of leadership of the Party Committee expands, requiring fundamental innovation in leadership methods and internal power control mechanisms. Without clear regulations, it is easy for excuses, substitutions, or overlapping functions with the Board of Directors to arise. Therefore, it is necessary to clearly define the functions, tasks, and authority between the Party Committee - Board of Directors - organizations, ensuring the principle of democratic centralism, avoiding formalism or lax leadership.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/truong-dh-cong-lap-thuc-hien-lanh-dao-theo-mo-hinh-moi-185251028192548661.htm