The scientific conference attracted scientists and managers from functional agencies of Hanoi National University, domestic universities and research institutes, specialized agencies in localities (Nam Dinh, Hai Phong) and many students and postgraduates. Among nearly 50 reports by scientists from many research and training agencies nationwide, the conference discussed a number of reports on theoretical basis, domestic and international experience in local governance and development; current practices of local governance and development in Vietnam.
Prof. Dr. Vu Minh Giang - Chairman of the Science and Training Council, VNU chaired the workshop
Dr. Pham Duc Anh - Deputy Director in charge, Institute of Vietnamese Studies and Development, VNU The term "Local governance" appeared in the world around the 60s of the last century, associated with the decentralization process in many countries around the world and has become increasingly popular since the 1990s.
In Vietnam, national governance or local governance are still quite new approaches. The documents of the 13th National Party Congress (2021) define the goal: "innovating national governance towards modernity and efficiency". The socio-economic development strategy for the period 2021 - 2030 emphasizes "innovating national governance towards modernity, especially development management and social management". The Resolution of the 13th National Party Congress also affirms the policy of "innovating national governance towards modernity and effective competition". This is the first time that the term "national governance" has been officially used in Party documents. At the same time, one of the outstanding new points of the 13th Congress document is to emphasize the requirement to increase people's participation in national and local governance in order to realize the viewpoint that "people are the center and the subject of the renovation, construction and protection of the Fatherland; all policies and strategies must truly originate from the lives, aspirations, rights and legitimate interests of the people, taking the happiness and prosperity of the people as the goal to strive for".
It can be affirmed that the Resolution of the 13th National Party Congress is an important political foundation and orientation to continue to improve and enhance the quality of organization and operation of local governments, meeting the requirements of national development in the new situation. The context of national renewal and increasingly deep international integration, the impacts of globalization and the Fourth Industrial Revolution are posing many opportunities as well as challenges in national and local governance in Vietnam.
Associate Professor, Dr. Nguyen Van Suu - Head of Anthropology Department, University of Social Sciences and Humanities, VNU
In his presentation titled “Local development in Vietnam: Approaches, practices and policy recommendations”, Associate Professor Dr. Nguyen Van Suu - Head of the Faculty of Anthropology, University of Social Sciences and Humanities, VNU emphasized that local development is one of the levels of social development (international, national, local). Local development plans need to pay attention to the local context, thoroughly analyze the capabilities and limitations of the locality; pay attention to local needs, initiatives on the participation and collaboration of people, communities and local authorities in the development process. According to Associate Professor Dr. Nguyen Van Suu, each locality is a separate development space, so there needs to be a development approach suitable to the context of each locality.
Associate Professor Dr. Nguyen Van Suu proposed three methods of local development, including encouraging development from below, with the locality as the center; selectively using development from above, implying the recommendation of a state-led development model; and combined development. The scientist from the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, VNU recommends that local development should be interdisciplinary, exploiting the advantages of combined development, harmonizing the interests of the people and the government in the process of economic, cultural and social development.
Prof. Dr. People's Teacher Nguyen Van Khanh - former Principal of the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, VNU, Hanoi, presented three important aspects of local development.
Contributing his opinion at the workshop, Prof. Dr. People's Teacher Nguyen Van Khanh - former Principal of the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, VNU, a leading expert on modern Vietnamese history, presented three important aspects of local development. According to Professor Nguyen Van Khanh, it is necessary to develop a plan and mobilize all resources for development in a specific locality. To have a correct plan, it is necessary to be aware of the conditions, economic, social and cultural characteristics of that locality. Local development policies must be consistent with national development policies, and there must be a strategy for local linkages and regional linkage expansion.
Associate Professor, Dr. Vu Van Quan - Head of the Department of History, University of Social Sciences and Humanities, VNU said that in local development and governance, it is necessary to identify the characteristics of each locality in terms of economy and culture to have appropriate development strategies.
Associate Professor, Dr. Vu Van Quan - Head of History Department, University of Social Sciences and Humanities, VNU
Workshop on local governance and development attracts many prestigious scientists to participate in the discussion The contributions of scientists from the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, VNU, brought to the workshop new and comprehensive perspectives on local governance and development, contributing to the completion of theoretical and practical foundations and policy recommendations for this specialized field.
Realizing the importance of the specialized field of local governance from an interdisciplinary approach, according to Associate Professor, Dr. Nguyen Anh Tuan - Head of Training Department, Hanoi National University has soon had a policy to open a Master's training program on Local Governance, developed and organized by the Institute of VNH and Development Science.
The content of the Master of Local Administration Program is built on three basic knowledge blocks, including: Knowledge block on administrative science, public administration; Knowledge block on local studies, regional studies, Vietnam studies; Knowledge block on management tools and methods (institutions, policies, technology platforms, etc.).
