Universities 'roll out the red carpet' to attract experts

In the context of the country promoting science and technology development, innovation and digital transformation, many universities have had policies to attract domestic and foreign experts to form a high-quality human resource team, serving the development of the knowledge economy and international integration.

In recent times, the State has issued many policies to promote the development of science and technology , innovation and digital transformation. This has created a solid legal corridor, encouraging universities to proactively build flexible policies to attract and effectively use domestic and foreign experts to develop research and teaching.

This is reflected in Resolution No. 57 (December 2024) of the Politburo on breakthroughs in science, technology, innovation and national digital transformation, Resolution No. 193 (February 2025) of the National Assembly on piloting a number of special mechanisms and policies to create breakthroughs in science, technology, innovation and national digital transformation, Decree 219 (August 2025) regulating foreign workers working in Vietnam and most recently Decree 249 (September 2025) regulating mechanisms and policies to attract experts in science, technology, innovation and digital transformation.

STRIVE FOR EACH FIELD OF STUDY TO HAVE 2 FOREIGN EXPERTS TEACH AND RESEARCH

Dr. Le Ngoc Son, Director of the Institute of International Cooperation and Postgraduate Studies of Ho Chi Minh City University of Industry, said that on August 19, the school had concretized the above policies by the Decision on the action program to implement Resolution 57 and Resolution 193, in which attracting international experts, scientists and lecturers was identified as a key task in the group of solutions for science - technology development and international cooperation.

"Every year, the school welcomes hundreds of international lecturers and experts to teach, research, collaborate academically and transfer technology in many diverse forms. The experts' working hours are organized flexibly - it can be just a few days, a few weeks, a few months or combine online working to maintain long-term cooperation," Mr. Son shared.

International lecturer teaching at Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology

PHOTO: OISP

Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology - Vietnam National University also invited many foreign experts to teach and research for several weeks to several months. Associate Professor, Dr. Tran Thien Phuc, Vice Principal of the school, informed: "In the coming time, the school strives to have two foreign experts for each major to teach and research."

In recent times, Van Lang University has also invited experts from more than 20 countries and territories such as the UK, Germany, Australia, France, Korea, Taiwan... to participate in teaching topics, co-instructing, project consulting and communication - branding activities. The experts mainly work at the university's research institutes.

Dr. Vo Van Tuan, Vice Principal of Van Lang University, said that in the coming time, the school plans to attract 100 experts to work on strategic tasks to serve the activities of the AI ​​Center for Innovation.

In recent years, Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology (HUTECH) has also implemented many policies to attract leading domestic and foreign science and technology experts to improve the quality of research, training and innovation. Working time can be flexible depending on the job content and cooperation needs, it can be long-term, directly attached to the school or short-term (usually with international experts).

Dr. Nguyen Quoc Anh, Vice Principal of the school, informed: "Inviting science, technology and innovation experts to work is a long-term strategy to improve research capacity and increase the academic value of the school. Experts play an important role in leading strong research groups to carry out topics of practical value; participating in postgraduate teaching, guiding doctoral students and graduate students; training a team of source researchers, sharing experiences, skills, and modern scientific approaches. At the same time, advising the school on building strategies for science and technology development...".

Foreign experts at Van Lang University

Photo: VL

What is the attraction policy?

Associate Professor, Dr. Tran Thien Phuc commented: "Previously, inviting foreign experts and lecturers to work encountered difficulties in procedures for requesting foreign labor quotas, application for work permits... Decree 219 has "unchained" universities that want to attract foreign experts to work. At the same time, Decree 249 has very specific regulations on policies to attract experts."

Dr. Le Ngoc Son also said that the new national policy framework in the above two decrees has created favorable conditions for inviting, signing contracts and using foreign experts.

"To attract and maintain a team of high-quality experts, Ho Chi Minh City University of Industry has a transparent expert contract mechanism, clearly defining tasks, time and output products. Flexible remuneration policies such as airfare support, accommodation, insurance, and rewards for international publications. For international experts, the school provides administrative and legal support through a specialized team to guide visa procedures, work permits, and temporary residence cards," said Dr. Son.

According to Mr. Son, experts are also given favorable conditions for research activities, funding, topics and the right to use facilities. After each term, the school also honors and recognizes the contributions of experts, nominating and rewarding outstanding achievements.

Dr. Quoc Anh said that attracting experts must first create a dynamic and open academic environment and promote the spirit of research cooperation. "The school has also issued remuneration and financial support policies commensurate with the qualifications, experience and practical contributions of experts. Apply appropriate rewards for outstanding research works, works published in prestigious domestic and international scientific journals, and at the same time create conditions in terms of time and resources for experts to be able to balance research and other activities," Dr. Quoc Anh shared.

Japanese experts work at Ho Chi Minh City University of Industry

PHOTO: IUH

According to him, Decree 249 is an important legal basis for higher education institutions to standardize the selection and treatment of experts. Specifically, the school will review and update internal regulations, ensuring transparency, publicity and professionalism to create an attractive research and innovation environment so that experts can maximize their professional capacity and accompany the school for a long time.

Dr. Vo Van Tuan also acknowledged that the very open corridor created by Decree 249 will help schools to be able to treat flexibly, allowing to sign contracts without quota, age, or staffing limits with experts. "In addition, the decree allows the mechanism of nomination and candidacy in the expert selection process to help schools access the international expert network, shortening the gap in expertise between Vietnamese universities and schools in the region," Mr. Tuan shared.

Intense competition

According to Dr. Le Ngoc Son, attracting experts currently faces certain difficulties such as limited financial resources, difficulty in paying for travel, living and research costs at a competitive level with international schools, so it is often necessary to combine programs and match funding with partners.

"Not only that, international experts have high requirements for a professional working environment, transparent assessment mechanisms and flexible policies. Therefore, the school is gradually perfecting a model to attract experts in a professional, integrated and sustainable direction," said Mr. Son.

Dr. Vo Van Tuan assessed that attracting experts not only involves competition with international universities but also fierce competition between domestic universities. "The Decree requires funding to be taken from the source of implementing science and technology tasks, but in reality, small public universities in remote areas have few topics and little research revenue, while private universities have difficulty accessing the state budget for science and technology tasks. Therefore, only large universities or universities with financial potential can attract high-quality experts," Dr. Tuan assessed.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/truong-dh-trai-tham-de-thu-hut-chuyen-gia-185251026203314662.htm