Prime Minister outlines breakthrough directions to elevate Hanoi National University

On the morning of November 28, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh worked with the Vietnam National University, Hanoi (VNU) on its operations, implementation of functions, tasks and powers in the past and major orientations in the coming time, resolving difficulties and obstacles, and identifying breakthrough tasks for the Vietnam National University, Hanoi to develop to its full potential.

Also attending the meeting were Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam, Minister and Head of the Government Office Tran Van Son, and Prof. Dr. Le Quan, President of VNU.

Outstanding efforts and attempts to affirm the right policy

According to the report of VNU and opinions at the meeting, after 28 years of promoting autonomy and high self-responsibility, VNU has achieved many important achievements. In particular, the period 2001-2013 was a period of remarkable development. From not being named in any rankings, in 2013, VNU was in the top 3% of the best universities in the world and the top 250 universities in Asia, with some fields in the top 100 in Asia.

From 2014 to present, VNU has made remarkable progress, affirming its outstanding academic reputation domestically and internationally. The number of international articles in the ISOSCOPUS system in 2020 was 1,100, an increase of 2.8 times compared to 2013 (200 articles); the internationalization indexes in 2020 compared to 2013 increased from 2 to 5 times. VNU's university rankings have increased sharply on the international rankings, for 3 consecutive years (2019-2021) it has been in the 801-1,000 group in the world. VNU's international rankings in a number of fields have increased significantly, some fields are in the 500 group in the world.

“In the context of limited investment resources, at a very low level compared to the requirements for building a university of regional and international stature, the fact that VNU has its name and continuously advances in the regional and international university rankings is a remarkable effort. This has proven that the establishment of national universities is a strategic and consistent policy of the Party and State, in line with the development trend of world higher education.

The difference and effectiveness of the VNU organizational model brings about outstanding achievements in pioneering innovation, unique training, science and technology products that only multidisciplinary and multi-field universities can achieve,” affirmed Prof. Le Quan, President of VNU.

According to VNU Director Le Quan, the core “keyword” in the future development orientation of VNU is “high quality”. Photo: VGP/Nhat Bac

According to VNU Director Le Quan, the core “keyword” in the future development orientation of VNU is “high quality”. Accordingly, in terms of training, VNU will prioritize strong investment in traditional basic science training majors to train and develop human resources in science and technology, innovate talent training programs in new forms and methods, etc.

Regarding scientific and technological research, promote research in the fields of social sciences and humanities and educational sciences; participate in summarizing practices, researching theories; provide policy advice to the Party and the State. Strengthen research activities in a number of natural science fields in which VNU has advantages through basic research programs.

Research and build scientific arguments to grasp the laws and natural conditions, contributing to solving the country's important immediate and long-term problems. Promote the implementation of scientific research directions and the development of new technologies, priority technologies with high applicability, in which VNU has advantages...

At the same time, proactively participate in the global innovation network. Strengthen cooperation with partners, especially large domestic and foreign enterprises, prioritizing Japanese partners to develop large international and transnational research projects and programs; cooperate in implementing research, transferring and commercializing scientific and technological products.

In addition to the advantages, the process of implementing the mission and goals assigned to VNU by the Party and State still faces some difficulties and obstacles. VNU recommends that the Government soon issue a Decree on national universities and regulations on the organization and operation of national universities in the direction of granting greater autonomy. VNU also recommends a number of specific contents related to the legal status, training, research, finance, organization, staff, investment, etc. and the project to build VNU in Hoa Lac.

Maximize human resources

After listening to opinions and concluding the meeting, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh highly appreciated and basically agreed with the reports, opinions and proposals at the meeting and emphasized some additional contents.

The Prime Minister pointed out a number of impressive results and achievements that VNU needs to promote more actively in the coming time. On the basis of inheritance, stability, innovation and development, VNU has a team of cadres and scientists with great potential; has a glorious and proud historical tradition with many leaders of the Party, State and agencies in the political system having studied and trained here.

VNU also receives the affection, trust and admiration of the people; recognition in international evaluation and ranking tables; and attention from the Party and State, such as the allocation of more than 1,000 hectares of land to build VNU in Hoa Lac.

In addition, VNU’s activities still have limitations and shortcomings such as not having many famous scientists in the region and the world. Applied research for management, production, business, serving important tasks of the Party, State, people, and policy consulting activities are still limited. Infrastructure is still difficult, investment in the construction of the VNU project in Hoa Lac is still stuck, not focused on completion.

Pointing out the causes of these shortcomings, the Prime Minister stated that leadership and direction must be more drastic, closer, stronger, with a focus on innovation and strategic vision. Complicated regulations and some inappropriate policies and mechanisms are slow to be amended while reality is changing very quickly. Investment in facilities has not been on schedule and has not kept up with professional development. The general requirement for VNU's activities is to be stronger, more drastic, and worthy of being the leader in the university system.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh: The general requirement for VNU’s activities is to be stronger and more determined, worthy of being the leader in the university system. Photo: VGP/Nhat Bac

Basically agreeing with the directions and tasks for the coming time reported by VNU and the delegates' comments at the meeting, the Prime Minister added and emphasized some more contents.

Firstly, it is necessary to elevate VNU in the new period when the whole country implements the Resolution of the 13th National Party Congress; have a mechanism to maximize the liberation of huge human resources so that the staff can develop and contribute more; handle harmoniously, reasonably and effectively the relationship between the State, society and the market, and strengthen public-private cooperation.

Second, focus on concretizing and institutionalizing the Resolution of the 13th National Party Congress, Resolution 29 of the Central Committee on fundamental and comprehensive innovation of education and training, Resolution 20 on science and technology development, and the resolution of the VNU Party Congress. Regarding organization, apparatus, staffing, autonomy mechanism, Party building work and staff, it is necessary to closely follow and concretize the Party's resolutions on these issues and the Law on Higher Education. The Prime Minister requested the development of programs, projects, plans, schemes, policy mechanisms, focusing on leadership and direction, resource allocation, with specific goals for each year and in the next 5 years to raise the level of VNU.

Third, focus on overcoming shortcomings, limitations, and weaknesses, ensuring the apparatus operates more smoothly, efficiently, and effectively, especially in training, research, and mission implementation; and overcoming scattered investment, lack of focus, key points, and indecision when resources are limited.

Fourth, contribute to improving people's knowledge, training high-quality human resources, nurturing talents according to the Party's Resolution, effectively serving the three strategic breakthroughs.

Fifth, training is a pillar of VNU. The Prime Minister especially noted the need to pay attention to the issues of students, teachers, and schools, identifying learners as the center, schools as the foundation, and teachers as the driving force. Focus on training human resources in basic sciences - this is a traditional field of the school; training human resources for VNU and other universities.

Strengthening cooperation and joint ventures with localities, enterprises, organizations, etc. to train human resources not only at national but also international levels, focusing on foreign language and information technology training in the context of deep integration. Innovating enrollment work, focusing on output control. Adopting advanced training technologies.

Sixth, research work needs to focus on summarizing practices, serving major national programs and practical issues arising in the process of socio-economic development of the country.

The Prime Minister suggested a number of research issues such as national territorial sovereignty; building socialist democracy; policy advice on innovation, the 4th industrial revolution; building an advanced culture with strong national identity; regional cultural characteristics; policies and solutions for epidemic prevention, economic recovery and development; issues of resource depletion, population aging, climate change, circular economy, green economy, renewable energy; digital transformation; post-harvest technology, agricultural product branding, etc.

Seventh, regarding university autonomy, the position and role of VNU, the Prime Minister requested a summary of the practical implementation of the VNU model from 1993 to present, closely following the Party's guidelines and policies, based on legal regulations and practical situations to make specific proposals to competent authorities. The general spirit is to increase authority, increase decentralization, increase autonomy, flexibility, and increase investment to use public investment to lead private investment.

The important task that the Prime Minister noted is to focus on completing the project of building VNU in Hoa Lac with high determination, great efforts, drastic and effective actions with new thinking and ways of doing things. The Prime Minister emphasized the requirement to implement the project in the direction of a national university urban area, the construction can be divided into phases but the planning must have a long-term vision.

The Prime Minister suggested a “5 in 1” model in this university urban area: Talent training center; modern technology transfer research center; national and international innovation center; smart, modern university urban area; public-private partnership testing center and research training.