On the afternoon of June 30, 2023, the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, VNU, had a working session with the delegation of the Committee for Culture and Education, the Office of the National Assembly on the implementation of policies and laws in doctoral training at VNU-USSH. The monitoring program on doctoral training of the Committee for Culture and Education aims to record practices and listen to recommendations, proposals, supplements and amendments to appropriate policies and laws, in order to improve the quality of doctoral training nationwide.
At the meeting, on behalf of the Committee on Culture and Education, the Office of the National Assembly was attended by Dr. Nguyen Thi Mai Hoa - Vice Chairwoman of the Committee on Culture and Education and the Standing Committee members: Associate Professor, Dr. Do Chi Nghia, Associate Professor, Dr. Bui Hoai Son, Dr. Nguyen Thi Mai Thoa.
On the side of the Ministry of Education and Training, there was the participation of Ms. Nguyen Thi Thuy - Deputy Director of the Department of Higher Education.
On behalf of the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, VNU, there was the participation of Prof. Dr. Hoang Anh Tuan - Rector of the school, Vice Rectors: Assoc. Prof. Dr. Lai Quoc Khanh, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Dang Thi Thu Huong, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Dao Thanh Truong and all leaders of Faculties/Institutes/Centers, and functional departments of the school.
Strictly and scientifically implement policies and laws in doctoral training at VNU-USSH
In the current educational context, the quality of doctoral training is still a hot topic, always attracting public attention, especially in the period when the education system is promoting international integration of the entire education sector today. Currently, there are many opinions assessing the quality of doctoral training in Vietnam as still low. The school has implemented many solutions to ensure the quality of doctoral training, ensuring to provide society with truly talented people, meeting quality requirements, contributing to promoting the development of the economy - society.
With the development goal of the University by 2025 to become a leading university in the country in social sciences and humanities on par with prestigious universities in the region, effectively serving the cause of industrialization and modernization of the country, along with organizing doctoral training according to the process, strict inspection and supervision of functional units, supporting scientific research activities for PhD students, a team of dedicated and highly specialized lecturers become prerequisites to ensure the quality of doctoral training at the University of Social Sciences and Humanities.
Reporting on the implementation of policies and laws on doctoral training at VNU-USSH, Vice President Dang Thi Thu Huong said that the University of Social Sciences and Humanities is a member school of the Vietnam National University, Hanoi, so all doctoral training activities are carried out in accordance with the regulations, rules and guidance documents of VNU. Based on the regulations of the Vietnam National University, Hanoi, the University of Social Sciences and Humanities issues specific guidance documents on the organization of implementation and decentralization of management between the Faculty/Department under the University and the University. All guidance documents are made public on the University's website to ensure transparency and facilitate research for learners.
The opening of doctoral training majors and specialties (implementation process, inspection and assessment of quality assurance conditions, etc.) is implemented synchronously and consistently in accordance with current regulations of Hanoi National University.
Based on the admission guidelines of Hanoi National University, the University of Social Sciences and Humanities develops admission quotas for each training major. Every year (twice a year), the University of Social Sciences and Humanities announces admissions on the official admissions website of the University; organizes the review of applications and professional assessment of candidates in accordance with regulations. With
31 doctoral training majorsof the school, candidates must meet all criteria regarding health, experience, seniority, foreign languages, expertise, etc.; in which there are some majors that in recent years have attracted more candidates than other majors, such as International Relations, Political Science, Tourism Studies, Journalism, Psychology, etc. Besides, there are some majors that are not really attractive to candidates such as Han Nom, Archaeology, Anthropology, History and Historical Materials, etc.
The process of assessing, appraising, checking the quality of training activities and thesis quality, recognizing degrees and granting doctoral degrees at VNU-USSH has also been implemented very closely. The University of Social Sciences and Humanities is responsible for inspecting and examining the organization of doctoral training activities of specialized training units under the University; and is subject to inspection, supervision and supervision by Hanoi National University and competent authorities according to current regulations. The appraisal of doctoral thesis quality is conducted by Hanoi National University every 2 months (with about 15% of the total number of theses successfully defended/year). The appraisal process is based on the principle of random appraisal, probability or when there are complaints and denunciations. The appraisal process and handling of appraisal results are carried out according to the current postgraduate training regulations at Hanoi National University.
The University of Social Sciences and Humanities, VNU has many policies to support and invest in graduate students.At the meeting, Prof. Dr. Hoang Anh Tuan affirmed that the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, VNU always puts learners in general and doctoral students in particular at the center of training and scientific research activities. The school does not set revenue targets for doctoral students but uses all tuition fees to invest in learning and research activities of doctoral students.
Rector, Prof. Dr. Hoang Anh Tuan affirmed that the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, VNU always puts learners in general and doctoral students in particular at the center of training and scientific research activities.
Sharing about the policies to support PhD students, Associate Professor, Dr. Dao Thanh Truong emphasized that VNU-USSH has had many policies to support and invest practically in PhD students to promote the internationalization of their scientific research activities. The school has implemented financial investment programs for international publications, research groups of PhD students and students, internationalized publishing activities with scientific journals in English, and organized annual scientific conferences attracting hundreds of research works of PhD students.
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Dao Thanh Truong - Vice Rector of the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, VNU, emphasized many support and investment policies of the school for PhD students associated with international scientific research.
Also at the meeting, Associate Professor, Dr. Dang Thi Thu Huong said that each doctoral training major of VNU-USSH is built on different characteristics, in order to ensure good quality of output standards. In particular, doctoral training activities are always closely linked to scientific research work. Therefore, in addition to organizing the teaching of modules, organizing the evaluation of outlines and topics related to doctoral theses of doctoral students, specialized training units under the University are also responsible for creating conditions for doctoral students to complete many activities that best serve the learning process. Doctoral students are allowed to participate in professional activities, participate in domestic and international scientific conferences and seminars; assist in undergraduate and master's teaching or guide practice, internships, and graduation theses; participate in training support... In addition, PhD students are also able to participate in the school's scientific research topics, receive guidance on developing research plans, organizing and publishing research works related to the thesis in specialized journals under the guidance of the supervisor.
In recent years, the number of PhD students enrolled at VNU-USSH has always been at the top among the member schools of the Vietnam National University, Hanoi. It can be said that the University of Social Sciences and Humanities is the destination of many candidates applying for doctoral training in social sciences and humanities from all over the country and abroad, attracting candidates who wish to become real, serious, methodical, and highly qualified scientific researchers.
Contribute solutions and recommendations on policies and laws to improve the quality of doctoral training.
Representatives of the University of Social Sciences and Humanities have proposed many recommendations and proposals based on the school's training practices at the doctoral level. That is the need for a stable training management policy. In the past 5 years, the Ministry of Education and Training has twice adjusted the regulations on doctoral training by Circular 08/2017/TT-BGDDT dated April 4, 2017 on promulgating the Regulations on admission and training at doctoral level of the Minister of Education and Training, Circular 18/2021/TT-BGDDT dated June 28, 2021 on promulgating the Regulations on admission and training at doctoral level of the Minister of Education and Training. These two Circulars have different regulations on the output standards of PhD students. This leads to certain difficulties in the training organization process as well as public opinion which is quite sensitive to the topic of training quality. On that basis, the University of Social Sciences and Humanities recommends that the promulgation of new regulations on doctoral training by the Ministry of Education and Training should have inheritance and development, with a roadmap suitable to the social context.
The School also recommends tightening the work of ensuring the quality of doctoral training. This is the highest level of training in the country's education system, ensuring the quality of training at this level is extremely necessary, especially in the context of deep international integration as it is today. However, in reality, through the reflection of press agencies, media as well as public opinion, there are still training institutions that have not met this requirement. In order to create a serious academic environment, to make the value of the highest level of education truly meaningful, to ensure healthy competition between doctoral training institutions in the context of strong autonomy, the Ministry of Education and Training needs to have a more effective and substantive quality control policy.
Dr. Nguyen Thi Mai Hoa - Vice Chairwoman of the Committee on Culture and Education, Office of the National Assembly highly appreciated the scientific policy recommendations of the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, VNU.
Associate Professor, Dr. Do Chi Nghia - Standing member of the Committee on Culture and Education, Office of the National Assembly gave his opinion at the working session.
Associate Professor, Dr. Bui Hoai Son - Standing member of the Committee on Culture and Education, Office of the National Assembly emphasized the need for schools to innovate quickly to adapt to the era of technology 4.0.
Appreciating the achievements of the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, VNU, as well as the academic and training reputation of the school in nearly 80 years of development from the General University, Dr. Nguyen Thi Mai Hoa - Vice Chairwoman of the Committee on Culture and Education, Office of the National Assembly said, VNU-USSH has always been a "red address" for many students, trainees, and PhD students. The brand of the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, VNU, is the pride of many generations of learners. The comments and recommendations of the school are extremely scientific, making practical contributions to supplementing and amending appropriate policies and laws, aiming to improve the quality of doctoral training nationwide.
Some photos at the working session between the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, VNU and the Committee on Culture and Education, Office of the National Assembly:
