Speaking at the Scientific Conference on Research Integrity recently organized by the Ministry of Science and Technology in coordination with the Ministry of Education and Training, many scientists emphasized the need to avoid taking advantage of integrity to bring each other down, slander, and hurt scientists.
Prof. Dr. Hoang Anh Tuan, Rector of the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Vietnam National University, Hanoi: "There needs to be a framework or an overarching regulation on academic integrity from the perspective of State management"Prof. Dr. Hoang Anh Tuan, Principal of the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Vietnam National University, Hanoi, shared that in 1995 - when he was still in university - there was a very good textbook on scientific research methods that mentioned the issue of integrity. However, the textbook's mention and implementation of academic integrity at that time were not compatible. By the time he started his career, many professors at that time also thought about the issue of academic integrity in a very simple, even somewhat "naive" way.
Professor Hoang Anh Tuan then studied abroad in the Netherlands - a country with a very high level of academic integrity and very clear regulations. But looking back at the 1980s and 1990s, regulations in the field of social sciences and humanities in the Netherlands or internationally were also very simple. "For example, my teacher's doctoral thesis was a collection of 9 chapters and those 9 chapters were 9 articles in very famous magazines," he recalled.
Recently, Professor Hoang Anh Tuan accidentally received an article of his that was translated into Chinese by a very famous magazine in Beijing, China - it was a translation without asking his opinion.
“That said, there are issues that perhaps need to be shared, recognized and put into context better. And it is important that we aim for what we want to build, forming an institution, framework or legal foundation associated with the cultural and educational foundation within it,” said Prof. Dr. Hoang Anh Tuan.
According to him, in the field of Social Sciences and Humanities, after debates, scientists have become highly aware of the issue of academic integrity. For the University of Social Sciences and Humanities in particular, academic integrity is set out in the school's regulations. This issue has not yet become an independent regulation, but is clearly integrated into the requirements for training and education.
For example, since 2017, the school has been scanning duplicates of doctoral theses, then expanding to master's theses and starting to scan products of scientists using school funding or articles in school journals.
Prof. Dr. Hoang Anh Tuan believes that there needs to be a framework or a comprehensive regulation on academic integrity from the perspective of State management. In particular, the role of the two Ministries of Science and Technology and Education and Training is very important, because there is the National Fund for Science and Technology Development and the State Council for Professor Titles, to which almost all educational and scientific institutions are involved. This is the fundamental basis, because in essence, to create academic integrity, in the end, it is still the scientific individuals and scientific organizations.
Speaking specifically about the field of Social Sciences and Humanities, Professor Dr. Hoang Anh Tuan emphasized that the field of Social Sciences and Humanities is often the most talked about or discussed most in the issue of academic integrity, but is also the field with the most problems.
“The problem is that, for example, some concepts are in the decrees and circulars related to scientific articles, and scientific articles are basically defined as journal articles. This is a definition that needs to be revised. In my opinion, a scientific article is a scientific product published in a journal or book or book chapter. If it is “framed” into a journal, scientists in the fields of Social Sciences and Humanities will be stuck,” he said.
Prof. Dr. Hoang Anh Tuan proposed that scientific articles used in the input and output conditions of the National Science and Technology Fund and the State Council for Professor Titles are scientific products published in international journals or book chapters. The classification ranking will be based on the Web of Science or the organization of the World Publishers Association.
Prof. Dr. Hoang Anh Tuan, Rector of the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Vietnam National University, Hanoi
Associate Professor, Dr. Nguyen Tai Dong, Director of the Institute of Philosophy: "Scientific integrity today is very sophisticated and complicated"
Associate Professor, Dr. Nguyen Tai Dong, Director of the Institute of Philosophy, believes that among all professions, research and training are the ones that require the highest integrity.
“Why is that? Because it is clear that the research and training sector has no power and no money, but we pursue knowledge, wisdom and truth. Truth itself is a value, if we do not protect this, there will be no more science,” he said.
Associate Professor Dr. Nguyen Tai Dong believes that Vietnam is not a “desert” in terms of scientific integrity. We have many regulations reflected in laws, decrees, regulations of the Ministry of Science and Technology, the Ministry of Education and Training as well as many schools and journals. The only thing is that we do not have a comprehensive regulation and now need a common legal framework.
Associate Professor, Dr. Nguyen Tai Dong, Director of the Institute of Philosophy
The Director of the Institute of Philosophy emphasized that scientific integrity is very sophisticated and complex today. Therefore, our requirement is to have a comprehensive framework.
Associate Professor Dr. Nguyen Tai Dong agrees with the opinion that: law is the minimum morality and morality is the maximum law. It is necessary to unify laws and regulations; it is necessary to research, identify, and build major principles, universal regulations, and a set of common indicators or criteria for scientific integrity. This is mandatory.
In addition, it is necessary to build a number of pioneering units to accompany and lead, similar to the State Council of Professors and the National Fund for Science and Technology Development.
Associate Professor, Dr. Nguyen Tai Dong acknowledged that the pioneering and leading effects on scientific integrity are very large. Therefore, the two National Universities, two Academies, the Ministry of Science and Technology, and the Ministry of Education and Training need to promote a number of leading units, research institutes, universities, and leading journals to set an example.
Associate Professor Dr. Nguyen Tai Dong also suggested that when talking about scientific integrity and academic integrity, we must consider specific historical factors, in accordance with Vietnam's historical conditions. Scientific integrity and academic integrity are a form of consciousness, which must be based on a socio-economic foundation and a certain historical and cultural context. There should be regulations in accordance with international practices, what is required to be done will be done, but there are things that need further research and calculation.
“In particular, it is necessary to communicate and guide public opinion to avoid the situation of denouncing scientists in the name of protecting integrity, turning integrity work into an opportunity to criticize teachers and scientists - who are the poorest, most shameless and most honest people,” Associate Professor Dr. Nguyen Tai Dong emphasized.
Prof. Dr. Nguyen Xuan Hung, Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology (HUTECH): “Doing scientific research is really difficult”
Discussing the issue of integrity, Prof. Dr. Nguyen Xuan Hung, Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology (HUTECH) said: “In 2006, when I was doing my PhD in the West, after 3 months of working, my supervisor “wide-eyed” and “blushed” and asked: “What planet are you from?”, because I had not been properly educated in scientific research methods. After 15 years, my students still have to face this story. Doing scientific research is really difficult.”
Through this, Prof. Dr. Nguyen Xuan Hung expressed his hope that universities will further promote the subject of scientific research methods. “I myself teach graduate courses on scientific research methods, but the number of classes is very small, and there are certain limitations,” he said.
According to Prof. Dr. Nguyen Xuan Hung, Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology issued a code of integrity in April 2023. However, to implement this code, teachers face many difficulties, because lecturers at the master's level of the school have to do many different jobs. "Through this story, I also hope that we can share and love with teachers," Prof. Dr. Nguyen Xuan Hung expressed.
Prof. Dr. Nguyen Xuan Hung proposed that the Ministry of Science and Technology and the Ministry of Education and Training will soon have a common, clear set of rules on integrity. From this set of rules, schools will refer to it to build their own set of rules and implement it. Over time, there will be a monitoring and post-audit process, from which specific sanctions will be issued. This will take time.
Regarding scientific research methods, he said that up to now, we still have many difficulties in scientific research methods. "My students and staff in our lab almost have to be retrained in scientific research methods," he said.
Prof. Dr. Nguyen Xuan Hung acknowledged that pursuing a research career is a very difficult choice. Therefore, he hopes that scientists will have a true love for research, and that the community can share with scientists, in addition to making frank contributions.
