Conference on Contributing Opinions to the Draft Documents of the 14th National Congress: Promoting the Intellect and Responsibility of Scientists at Vietnam National University, Hanoi

This is an activity of particularly significant political and academic importance, demonstrating the sense of responsibility, intellect, and dedication of the intellectuals and scientists of Vietnam National University, Hanoi in participating in the planning of the country's development direction in the new period.
The conference was chaired by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Hoang Minh Son (Director of Vietnam National University, Hanoi) and Prof. Dr. Phung Huu Phu (Chairman of the Science and Training Council of the University of Social Sciences and Humanities). Also attending the conference were Assoc. Prof. Dr. Pham Van Linh (Vice Chairman of the Central Theoretical Council), along with representatives from central ministries and agencies, the Hanoi City Party Committee, leaders of Vietnam National University, Hanoi, and numerous scientists from various fields.
Vietnam National University, Hanoi - a major intellectual center contributing to the vision of national development.
In his opening remarks, the Director of Vietnam National University, Hanoi (VNU), Hoang Minh Son, emphasized the special importance of contributing to the Draft Document of the 14th National Congress, considering it an opportunity for VNU's intellectuals to directly participate in the process of establishing a long-term vision for the country. Associate Professor Hoang Minh Son stated that the 14th National Congress is a turning point as it summarizes 40 years of reform, 35 years of implementing the Party's Platform, and sets the goal of making Vietnam a developed, high-income country by 2045. In the context of intense strategic competition and technological transformation, the document requires strong innovative thinking and strategic foresight. As the leading higher education institution in the country, Vietnam National University, Hanoi (VNU-Hanoi) has the responsibility to take the lead in implementing these major orientations. VNU-Hanoi will continue to develop an advanced research university model; build an innovation ecosystem, centers of excellence, and science and technology incubators; promote comprehensive digital transformation in training and management; and make strong contributions to discovering and nurturing talent, training a high-quality workforce of intellectuals, experts, scientists, and managers for the country.
Furthermore, with its strengths in basic sciences, social sciences and humanities, and interdisciplinary fields, Vietnam National University, Hanoi can make profound contributions to the development of innovation theories, the building of Vietnamese cultural values, the proposal of sustainable socio-economic development models, and the improvement of national institutions and policies in the new context.
A multi-faceted, scientific perspective and feedback from Vietnam National University, Hanoi.
The conference to provide feedback on the draft documents to be submitted to the 14th National Congress of the Party was held in a democratic, responsible, scientific, and constructive spirit. Scientists and experts focused their discussions on key contents of the draft documents, particularly issues related to the development vision, new growth drivers, the development of education and training and science and technology, the development of high-quality human resources, and the role of Vietnamese culture and people in the sustainable development of the country. Professor Vu Minh Giang (Chairman of the Science and Training Council of Vietnam National University, Hanoi) assessed that the draft document was meticulously prepared, consistently reflecting the viewpoint that considers people as the center of development - a great idea repeatedly emphasized by General Secretary To Lam. According to the Professor, culture is not just a field but must be seen as an "inexhaustible resource," capable of transforming national values ​​into national competitiveness; therefore, the role of culture needs to be further emphasized in the overall development model.
From the perspective of heritage and sustainable development, Professor Nguyen Quang Ngoc (Vice President of the Vietnam Historical Science Association) believes that cultural heritage is the core of national identity. He emphasized that Hanoi has many conditions to transform its heritage into a driving force for green development and cultural tourism if it has a well-planned strategy linked to preservation. Regarding science and technology, Professor Chu Duc Trinh (Rector of the University of Technology) particularly emphasized the need to remove institutional bottlenecks so that science and technology can truly become a pillar of development. Based on practical surveys of businesses, the Professor pointed out the situation of "not being able to spend investment money on science and technology" due to an unfavorable mechanism, causing Vietnam to miss many opportunities in the context of FDI increasing investment in R&D in Vietnam. He suggested creating stronger incentives for businesses, promoting R&D, commercializing products, and digital transformation as a new production method, in order to improve productivity and national competitiveness.
In the field of natural sciences, Associate Professor Tran Quoc Binh (Vice Rector of the University of Natural Sciences) suggested that the document should emphasize the spirit of Resolution 71 on elite training, strengthening autonomy and sensitivity in opening strategic fields such as quantum science and meteorology.
Regarding the growth and economic model, Associate Professor Dr. Le Trung Thanh (Rector of the University of Economics) proposed that the document should clearly quantify strategic objectives, such as the proportion of the digital economy, the knowledge economy, or investment in R&D by 2030. He noted that the central role of businesses in innovation must be established, including supporting Vietnamese businesses to invest abroad, and considering high-quality human resources as a breakthrough in the new growth model.
Concluding the conference, Professor Phung Huu Phu highly appreciated the quality of the contributions from professors and experts, considering them heartfelt opinions that directly addressed the most core issues of the Draft Document. He emphasized the richness and diversity of the viewpoints, clearly demonstrating the academic identity and strategic thinking capacity of the intellectual staff of Vietnam National University, Hanoi. The contributions not only focused on major orientations in politics, economics and institutions, education and training, culture and society, resources and environment, and foreign affairs and security, but also offered very specific recommendations with scientific basis and high practical value. Outstanding contributions of scientists from the University of Social Sciences and Humanities.
At the conference, scientists from the University of Social Sciences and Humanities exchanged and contributed many important ideas, helping to refine the social and humanities issues in the Party's 14th Congress documents.
Regarding the role of the people as the main actors, Professor Hoang Anh Tuan, the school's Rector, stated that the document mentions the concept of "democracy" 30 times and "great unity" 11 times, indicating that these are very important ideological pillars. The professor argued that to promote genuine democracy, it is necessary to build a convenient and trustworthy coordination mechanism so that the people can participate in the entire process of "the people know, the people discuss, the people do, the people inspect." Democracy must be linked with responsibility and discipline.Professor Nguyen Tuan Anh (Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Social Sciences and Humanities) focused on clarifying the issue of sustainable social development management, ensuring social progress and equity, and caring for the people's lives. The professor emphasized the need to shift from "social management" to "social development governance," mobilizing multiple stakeholders to participate in the process of identifying and resolving social issues, while simultaneously enhancing transparency and efficiency in management.Professor Lai Quoc Khanh (Vice Rector of the University of Social Sciences and Humanities) proposed four key areas of focus to improve the content of building a rule of law state in the draft document. These include: the nature and objectives of the socialist rule of law state in Vietnam; building a rule of law state in the digital age, operating on the foundation of digital data, digital technology, and digital thinking; building a society governed by the rule of law, with the supremacy of law in all aspects of social life; and building a culture of rule of law and public service ethics, suggesting the inclusion of a rule of law culture criterion in the evaluation of officials. Professor Lai Quoc Khanh emphasized that the concept of a rule of law state must take the people as the subjects of power and proposed adding the content of a "digital rule of law state" to adapt to digital transformation.Presenting a paper on promoting the comprehensive building and rectification of a clean and strong Party, Associate Professor Dr. Nguyen Quang Lieu (Principal of the High School for Social Sciences and Humanities) contributed ideas on improving the leadership capacity, governing capacity, and fighting strength of the Party; and also suggested clarifying the evidence of "breakthroughs" and "outstanding results" in Party building work to increase the persuasiveness of the document. The University of Social Sciences and Humanities will coordinate with the Office of Vietnam National University, Hanoi to compile, refine, and prepare the official feedback report to be submitted to the Subcommittee on Documents for the 14th Party Congress.