Planning of training fields and specializations – A direction for the development of Vietnam National University, Hanoi.

On this occasion, we interviewed Professor Dr. Nguyen Dinh Duc, Head of the Training Department, Vietnam National University, Hanoi.

ButSir/MadamProf. Dr. Nguyen Dinh DucWhat does Decision 4033 mean for?Vietnam National University, Hanoi in general and its units in particular.training within Vietnam National University, Hanoiprivate?

Recognizing the importance of career orientation in training, since 2014, Vietnam National University, Hanoi (VNU) has developed and issued the Training Program and Specialization Planning for the period 2014-2020. To continue providing orientation for the next five years, the Director of VNU signed Decision No. 4033 promulgating the List of Training Programs and Specializations planned for the period 2021-2025.
Decision 4033 was issued not only to fulfill the Prime Minister's requirement in the Regulations on the organization and operation of the Vietnam National University and its member higher education institutions that "the Director of the Vietnam National University is responsible for approving the development plan for training majors and specializations within the entire Vietnam National University," but also because of the driving force behind the development of Vietnam National University and its training units.
Planning for training majors and specializations helps to minimize overlap and duplication between training programs within VNU, avoiding the risk of scattered investment and inefficient use of training resources within VNU; creating interconnectedness within the same unit and between units within VNU to maximize the strengths of each unit and the overall strength of VNU;
This planning also helps VNU explore and develop pilot, unique, and pioneering training programs and specializations that bear the VNU brand.
For Vietnam National University, Hanoi in general and its training units in particular, the process of developing and approving training program and specialization plans is an opportunity for units to review and clearly define strategies, plans, and roadmaps for the development of training programs for each stage. This allows them to proactively and strategically invest in and develop human resources, finances, facilities, international cooperation, and other quality assurance conditions.
Therefore, the planning of training programs and specializations essentially provides direction for the development of the units and VNU in the coming period.
According to this plan, with the current number of programs and the planned number of programs, by 2025, Vietnam National University, Hanoi will have a total of 572 training programs of all types, including 192 undergraduate programs, 225 master's programs and 155 doctoral programs.

Compared to the current training programs, this catalog includes many new fields. Specifically, there are 67 planned undergraduate programs, 118 master's programs, and 55 doctoral programs.
Specifically, there are 58 pilot undergraduate programs, 102 pilot master's programs, and 43 pilot doctoral programs. These pilot programs are those not yet listed in the catalog of training programs and specializations issued by the Ministry of Education and Training and have already been assigned codes. These pilot programs are a unique feature of Vietnam National University, Hanoi's training.
In previous phases, many pilot programs were subsequently included in the State's catalog and implemented nationwide, receiving high praise and recognition, such as Master's and Doctoral degrees in Educational Measurement and Evaluation, Engineering in Construction and Transportation Technology, Automation and Information Technology, Aerospace Technology; Bachelor's degrees in Data Science, Energy Engineering, Materials and Nanocomponents, Non-traditional Security, Climate Change, etc. These pilot programs and specializations are the result of research and international integration, demonstrating the pioneering leadership of Vietnam National University, Hanoi (VNU).

Each field and specialization has a specific role and function in the dialectical development of the economy and society. In the coming period, up to 2025, perhaps no field will truly "disappear." However, with the rapid development of science and technology, artificial intelligence, and the Fourth Industrial Revolution, along with the changes and increases in both human requirements and needs, many scientific fields are becoming increasingly interdisciplinary and cross-disciplinary, even blurring the boundaries of some fields. This is accompanied by the need for flexible innovation in many training programs: it may involve interweaving, transformation, division, or integration.
This "adaptability," as well as the maturation of strong research groups at VNU, provides opportunities and a foundation for the creation of new interdisciplinary and cross-sectoral training programs. This will lead to the restructuring of units and the development of VNU's scientific and technological workforce and potential in the future.
Several new fields/specializations will soon appear at Vietnam National University, Hanoi (VNU), such as: Artificial Intelligence, Technology Management and Innovation, Energy Management and Sustainable Development, Logistics, Industrial Design and Multimedia, Urban and Smart Building Management, Financial Technology and Digital Business, etc. Engineering and technology fields, and those related to the workforce needs of the 4.0 industrial revolution, account for a significant proportion of the new fields planned for VNU in the near future.

Previously, academic programs were closely tied to students' future careers, with each field corresponding to one or a few professions. Today, with the rapid development of science and technology and the demands of the Fourth Industrial Revolution, many major changes are predicted in how people live and work. STEM education, adaptability and integration, vision, innovation and entrepreneurship, linked to sustainable development, along with foreign languages ​​and soft skills, are crucial keys to individual success and the evaluation of the success of higher education.
The development model of universities has also changed; previously, the focus was on advanced research universities, but today, research, innovation, and digital transformation are the three pillars that constitute a university in the era of the Fourth Industrial Revolution.
Therefore, in the coming period, there will be changes not only in the list of professions, but also in the structure of programs, the form of training management organization, as well as the foundation of knowledge, skills, and output standards. Naturally, this will also lead to fundamental and comprehensive innovation in the content and methods of entrance examinations, and from there, it will bring many career opportunities and future prospects for students, as well as opportunities for higher education institutions.
Therefore, in my opinion, the STEM and liberal arts education philosophy will likely be the most suitable philosophy for education in the future. Accordingly, learners will not only be equipped with in-depth knowledge in one field but also acquire interdisciplinary knowledge and skills to adapt to various work environments, giving them the opportunity to work in a globally integrated environment.
With this trend, interdisciplinary and cross-sectoral training programs will likely be the choice of many students. In addition, engineering and technology fields will also develop strongly to meet the human resource needs of the Fourth Industrial Revolution.
The list of majors and specializations planned by Vietnam National University, Hanoi for the period 2021-2025 has anticipated and clearly demonstrated the aforementioned trend. If we include interdisciplinary majors and specializations, as well as those belonging to the engineering and technology sector, this group accounts for approximately 60% of the list.
Vietnam National University, Hanoi (VNU), once known primarily for its strength in basic sciences, has undergone a dramatic transformation. Building upon its foundation in these fields, its engineering and technology disciplines have surpassed others, such as computer science and mechanical engineering, which have now become comparable to mathematics and physics, ranking among the top 500-600 in the QS rankings.
Recently, in October 2021, the fields of Computer Science and Engineering at Vietnam National University, Hanoi (VNU) were ranked 601-800 in the prestigious THE WUR world rankings. In 2021, the number of international publications in the field of Engineering was also the highest among all fields, accounting for over 10% of VNU's international ISI/Scoppus publications.

Planning for training majors and specializations is not only significant for Vietnam National University, Hanoi (VNU) and its member and affiliated units, but also for society in general and for future VNU students in particular.
With this planning map, the Government and state management agencies will have more information for managing, directing, and guiding the development of training and research activities nationwide, contributing to the development and orientation of both the higher education strategy and the national science and technology development strategy.
For prospective students, this provides an overview of the academic structure of Vietnam National University, Hanoi over the next five years, enabling them to choose the most suitable major for their future.