Responding to COVID-19: Vietnam National University, Hanoi aims for 100% online training.

This information was provided by the Head of the Training Department of VNU Hanoi at the VNU Hanoi Online Training Conference 2021, which took place this morning, June 3, 2021.

The conference was chaired by the Vice Rector of Vietnam National University, Hanoi, Nguyen Hoang Hai.

Attending the conference online were representatives of the leadership in charge of training from member and affiliated units of VNU, and representatives of the leadership of the Office and functional departments of VNU.

At the conference, the Head of Training at Vietnam National University, Hanoi, Nguyen Dinh Duc, stated that by the end of May 2021, 94% of the courses in 11 training units across Vietnam National University, Hanoi, were taught online, with 7 out of 11 training units teaching 100% of their courses online.

Online training at Vietnam National University, Hanoi is being implemented through the following forms: e-learning, blended learning, teaching activities using electronic learning materials, and organizing training on online training systems.

The Head of the Training Department of Vietnam National University, Hanoi, assessed that member and affiliated training units have proactively deployed computer labs at their schools, ready for distance learning activities. Most training units reported that students registered to meet the minimum number of credits required for a semester according to the current regulations on university training. In addition, the legal framework for distance learning and continuing education has been largely completed, and the digital learning resource library has been strengthened.

Head of Training Department Nguyen Dinh Duc also requested that units strengthen training and professional development for management staff on distance learning, online training, and the application of IT in training; provide training and professional development on managing online training in a technology-driven environment; ensure that teaching and learning activities are not interrupted due to the prolonged pandemic; and promptly report difficulties and shortcomings to receive support and solutions during implementation.

According to Nghiêm Xuân Huy, Director of the Institute for Educational Quality Assurance, the Vietnam National University, Hanoi (VNU) recently developed a Learning Management System (LMS) with the goal of integrating teaching and learning data with VNU's unified data repository. This aims to organize online teaching and learning activities using a blended learning approach at VNU's units, contributing to improving the quality and innovating teaching activities.

The integrated LMS software is compatible with the training management system of VNU and its affiliated units to ensure that information on training programs, courses, classes, lecturers, and students is synchronized and consistent. Simultaneously, it connects with the Information and Library Center to utilize and supplement digital learning resources provided by VNU.

At the conference, leaders of member and affiliated training units of Vietnam National University, Hanoi, raised several issues that remain unresolved in the implementation of online training, such as: lack of methods for testing and evaluating students during the learning process; specialized courses still requiring in-person learning; and the impact on learning quality due to limited direct interaction…

According to Vice Director Pham Bao Son, there are four groups of issues related to digital transformation at Vietnam National University, Hanoi (VNU): training management software, learning resource management software, online learning system (LMS), and video conferencing software systems (Google Meeting, Microsoft Teams, Zoom Meeting, etc.). Vice Director Pham Bao Son suggested that all units should standardize the use of training management software to ensure consistency and uniformity throughout VNU, thereby improving efficiency and controlling the quality of online teaching and learning.

Concluding the conference, the Permanent Vice Director of Vietnam National University, Hanoi, Nguyen Hoang Hai, stated that it is necessary to establish regulations for 100% online training in the current pandemic situation, instead of the current regulation which limits the maximum of 30% of programs to online training.

Regarding the issue of checking and evaluating the quality of student learning, the Standing Vice Director of VNU requested that a mechanism be established to monitor the training and examination process to ensure the quality of training and the outcomes of students. Units can introduce various forms of testing and evaluation, but they need to report specifically to VNU for supervision and quality assurance.

Regarding the online format for defending graduation theses, dissertations, and doctoral theses, Deputy Director Nguyen Hoang Hai instructed that units allow undergraduate and postgraduate students to defend their graduation theses and master's theses online; foreign doctoral students are allowed to defend their doctoral dissertations entirely online, while Vietnamese doctoral students are allowed to defend their dissertations partially online at the institutional level, and defend dissertations at the Vietnam National University, Hanoi in person. In addition, for doctoral students who, due to the impact of the pandemic, cannot defend their dissertations in person, they may also defend their dissertations online.