VNU-USSH organizes a workshop to announce the National Report "Policy Implementation in Vietnam"

Overview of the Workshop announcing the National Report: “Policy Implementation in Vietnam” at the University of Social Sciences and Humanities.

On behalf of the Board of Directors of the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Professor Lai Quoc Khanh (Vice Rector) congratulated and highly appreciated the success of the authors in completing the national report: "Policy Implementation in Vietnam"; and also thanked the Hanns Seidel Foundation and Justus Liebig Giessen University (Federal Republic of Germany) for their cooperation and support in the research and publication of this report and subsequent issues.
Affirming the value of this collaboration to the University's development, Vice Rector Lai Quoc Khanh emphasized: “Since its establishment, the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Vietnam National University, Hanoi, has proactively developed research and policy consulting activities, contributing to providing arguments for the planning and implementation of policies by Party and State agencies and relevant stakeholders. The National Reporting Series on Vietnam's socio-economic issues is one of the University's outstanding research and policy consulting collaboration activities. The cooperation between the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Vietnam National University, Hanoi, and the Hanns Seidel Foundation reflects a shared vision of promoting dialogue, encouraging interdisciplinary research, and creating applied knowledge. By transcending geographical and professional boundaries, this collaboration demonstrates the power of collective effort in enhancing understanding and contributing to Vietnam's sustainable development.”

Prof. Dr. Lai Quoc Khanh (Vice Rector of the University of Social Sciences and Humanities)

Vice Rector Lai Quoc Khanh expressed his desire to continue receiving closer support and cooperation from the HSF organization and scientists from both Vietnam and Germany to develop the National Report into a prestigious annual scientific report of the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, clearly demonstrating the position and role of the University as a research university and a reputable policy advisory body in Vietnam.
Echoing Professor Lai Quoc Khanh's sentiment, Michael Siegner, Head Representative of the Hanns Seidel Foundation in Vietnam, further emphasized: “This issue of the National Report analyzes several key areas from a policy implementation perspective. Through this, the publication contributes to a new field of research on policy implementation in Vietnam, while also providing practical insights into the policy implementation situation in these sectors and industries.”

Mr. Michael Siegner, Chief Representative of the Hanns Seidel Foundation in Vietnam

On behalf of the authors, Professor Detlef Briesen (Justus-Liebig University of Gießen, Germany) - Co-Editor of the Report - presented the outstanding results of the studies compiled in this publication. This issue of the National Report on Vietnam comprises two parts: The first part provides an overview of current policy planning and implementation issues, drawing on international experience and the case of Vietnam (authored by Detlef Briesen); the second part consists of nine studies focusing on the topic of policy formulation and implementation in specific areas: educational and training reform, social policies in urban areas, public sector policies, enhancing decent work, international cooperation and integration, and public policy in Vietnam. This research focuses on how governments and state agencies attempt to positively influence social realities through laws, regulations, and other measures, such as addressing social, economic, educational, or environmental issues. Furthermore, the primary objective of this research is to determine the level of success of agencies and organizations in implementing public policy. In addition, scientifically-based recommendations for solutions to improve the effectiveness of policy implementation are also presented.

Prof. Dr. Detlef Briesen (Justus-Liebig University of Gießen, Federal Republic of Germany)

The national report's theme, "Policy Implementation in Vietnam," attracted the direct participation of over 70 delegates, including managers, research experts, and a large number of students and trainees from state agencies, universities, and research institutes in Hanoi.

Professor Dr. Nguyen Tuan Anh (Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Social Sciences and Humanities, VNU-USSH) and Mr. Michael Siegner chaired the discussion session of the Workshop.

The speakers unanimously highly appreciated the theoretical and practical value of the research results: The publication offers diverse perspectives, rigorous analyses, and innovative approaches, providing valuable insights not only for policymakers and scholars but also for the general public facing these challenges in practice.
The delegates not only offered comments on the main content of the Report but also shared and analyzed the current situation and challenges in implementing several important policies in Vietnam, such as educational reform, promoting gender equality, sustainable employment, environmental protection, and combating climate change, etc.
At the workshop, experts also discussed and shared experiences from the Federal Republic of Germany and offered recommendations to narrow the gap between policy and implementation, while improving the effectiveness of policy implementation in Vietnam. The focus was on proposals to improve the quality of various stages in the policy process: policy development, promulgation, information dissemination, implementation, and evaluation of policy implementation effectiveness in practice. In particular, experts emphasized the need for training and professional development to enhance the expertise of those involved in policy development and management, as well as the organization of policy impact assessments on social life (a stage often overlooked or even ignored in practice).

Associate Professor Dr. Luu Bich Ngoc, Head of the Office of the National Council for Education and Human Resource Development, Ministry of Education and Training, shared the main research results on Vietnam's education and training development policy in the current period, focusing on understanding the results of implementing fundamental and comprehensive reforms in education and training in Vietnam.

Associate Professor Pham Ngoc Thach (Head of the Public Policy Department, Faculty of Management Science, VNU-USSH) believes that policy is an extremely important factor determining success in the construction and development of a nation, region, and the world. The success of a policy depends on many factors. Therefore, in-depth studies on policy and policy implementation in Vietnam, such as the national report published today, have great theoretical and practical value.

Associate Professor Dr. Do Phu Hai (Faculty of Economics, Vietnam National University, Hanoi) shared: The Vietnam National Report is a valuable scientific publication that provides an independent and objective perspective, unaffected by any political viewpoint. From its general reports to its specific analyses of policies in various fields, the Report is a very useful reference in the policy-making process in Vietnam.

Concluding the workshop, Professor Nguyen Tuan Anh emphasized: The topic "Policy Implementation in Vietnam" within the framework of the Vietnam National Report Project has received attention and recognition from scholars, managers, and businesses both domestically and internationally; we hope that in the future we will continue to receive such valuable support and cooperation in researching and publishing subsequent issues. Based on the research results presented in the Report, along with the valuable contributions at today's workshop, we can be confident that, with the Government's determination through concrete policies, the support of domestic and international organizations and businesses, learning from the experiences of other countries, and with abundant human resources, Vietnam will advance even faster and stronger in the digital age.

The Annual National Report Project on Vietnam is a collaborative project between the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Vietnam National University, Hanoi, and Justus Liebig Giessen University, Germany, funded by the Hanns Seidel Foundation since 2020. The project conducts in-depth, independent, and up-to-date research on key political, economic, and social issues of significant interest in modern Vietnamese society. To date, the project has published six national reports on the following topics:Environmental policy in Vietnam"; "Vietnam: An aging society"; "Vietnam – A Digital Society"; "Addressing the consequences of war in Vietnam"; "Women in Vietnamese society"; "The labor market in Vietnam"The Project's reports (published in English and Vietnamese) are widely disseminated, becoming valuable reference documents for researchers both domestically and internationally when studying contemporary Vietnamese issues."

Some photos from the workshop.