Prof. Dr. Nguyen Van Khanh: Building IPAM to become the leading research unit in policy science in Vietnam

Prof. Dr. Nguyen Van Khanh - Director of the Institute of Policy and Management, former Rector of the University of Social Sciences and Humanities

- Professor, how has IPAM developed to reach its current position?

In 2002, the University of Social Sciences and Humanities was the first partner of the Rosa Luxemburg Foundation in Vietnam. At that time, the Sociology of Environment and Development Research Program chaired by Associate Professor, Dr. Vu Cao Dam was assigned to directly implement this cooperation activity. The first joint research project between the two sides was in the field of policy. German and Vietnamese experts initially aimed to carry out projects to help improve policy analysis capacity in the community, first of all in legislative and executive agencies of Vietnam. This is a field of science that is not new in the world but is still quite new in Vietnam. Practice also shows that policy makers in central and local agencies in Vietnam are mostly "amateurs" and have not received formal training in this field. This is a rather large gap in policy making that German and Vietnamese experts have seen.

The meeting between German experts and experts from the University of Social Sciences and Humanities has brought about interesting and useful joint activities for both sides. The Rosa Luxemburg Institute has created conditions for delegations of Vietnamese experts and leaders to come to Germany in the early years to study and research experiences in policy analysis skills, especially those of the Left Party of the Federal Republic of Germany. Policy dialogues, discussions and policy workshops were organized around topics such as: the values ​​of democratic socialism, the interaction between policy and culture, Left-wing theories in modern social life, and very specific issues in science and education policy in the transition from a centralized command economy to a market economy...

It can be said that the enthusiasm of German friends and the dedication of Vietnamese scientists have helped to form documents, reference books, textbooks and theoretical systems on policy science at the University of Social Sciences and Humanities. Training activities in the field of policy science and management have also been strongly developed by IPAM. IPAM has become the first model of a policy research institute in a university. Now, when mentioning the field of policy research and management, people remember IPAM, formerly CEPSTA, as a pioneering and prestigious research unit of the University of Social Sciences and Humanities and in Vietnam.

It should also be added that the cooperation between a Vietnamese university and an international foundation like Rosa Luxemburg has lasted for 15 years - a sustainable and long-term cooperative relationship, even rare. Normally, the life cycle of such a cooperative activity is usually only 3-5 years. But with IPAM, this cooperation started from a specific research direction in policy science, and has now increasingly expanded to many new research directions and gone into depth. We still have many new research ideas and joint cooperation projects together in the present and the future. Therefore, it can be said that the cooperation with Rosa Luxemburg is a special, long-term, traditional and truly effective cooperative relationship, bringing many values ​​to both sides.

A training course on policy analysis skills organized by IPAM locally

Image of a training course for lecturers organized by IPAM and Rosa Luxemburg with the participation of foreign experts at the University of Social Sciences and Humanities.

- What are the most outstanding marks of IPAM in the field of research and training? policy and management sir?

Despite its young age, IPAM has achieved a lot thanks to its 15-year cooperation with Rosa Luxemburg.

In the field of training, IPAM has organized more than 40 training courses for policy officials in all provinces and localities nationwide, from the South to the North, not only in big cities such as Hanoi, Hai Phong, Ho Chi Minh City but also in southern provinces such as Bac Lieu, Can Tho... The content of these courses is diversified, from policy analysis skills, policy planning, policy evaluation, policy criticism, to planning skills, skills in analyzing legal documents... These courses are designed to be closely linked to the reality of policy dialogue in localities and are warmly received due to the practical effectiveness they bring to localities.

In particular, from 2009-2012, IPAM was ordered by the National Assembly Office to open policy training courses for experts from the National Assembly Office, the Government Office, the President's Office, and the Party Central Committee Office. IPAM also undertook to provide documents on policy analysis skills for the 13th and 14th National Assembly deputies. This is one of IPAM's most outstanding achievements, directly contributing to the practice of policy making in Vietnam.

Together with the Faculty of Management Science of the University, IPAM contributes to building the content of long-term training programs on Policy in the major of Science and Technology Management at Master and Doctoral levels, and Master level in Public Policy. These are all pioneering training programs in Vietnam that IPAM participates in building and will participate in implementing training.

In terms of research, IPAM has made an important contribution to forming a research school on policy science at the University of Social Sciences and Humanities on the basis of a system of textbooks and research documents on policy science and specific policy areas such as science and education policy; science and technology and innovation policy; regional development policy; decision theory serving research and training work...

Another valuable research direction of IPAM and Rosa Lucxembourg is on the development models of countries, the role of the State and the participation in the policy-making process of civil society organizations and businesses.Left Theoretical Alternatives Projecthas expanded opportunities for exchange and access to development theories through seminars and workshops with experts from African and Latin American countries such as Algeria, Cuba, Venezuela...

Going one step further are the academic cooperation activities between the two sides on issues of science and education policy: development philosophy, paradoxes of science and education in contemporary Vietnamese society... The education project has carried out research on the need for soft skills training for students... In 2017, within the framework of cooperation between the two sides, the Seminar on "Science and Education Policy…” with the participation of National Assembly Deputies, leaders of committees under the National Assembly, leaders of the Ministry of Science and Technology raised issues of discussion on philosophy and current issues of public interest in the field of science and education in Vietnam at the present stage.

Another milestone that needs to be mentioned is that IPAM has formed a research group that is recognized by VNU as a strong research group at VNU level. Most recently, IPAM proposed and was approved by VNU to develop into a key research center at VNU level - the first and only unit of the University to have such special recognition.

Signing ceremony of cooperation agreement and book donation to the Institute of Legislative Studies of the National Assembly

IPAM and the University of Social Sciences and Humanities donate books on policy analysis and planning to the National Assembly Library

- How does IPAM position itself in comparison with other policy science research units in Vietnam, Professor?

The birth of IPAM with the combination of training subsystem and research subsystem is a modelThink tanktypical in the field of policy and management. The Institute's slogan is "Ideas - Awareness - Innovation" with the desire to go from new ideas about policy research to lead to changes in thinking and awareness in the policy field, ultimately promoting positive changes in policy practice in Vietnam.

IPAM is a model of a research institute in a university, implementing both research activities as a foundation and thereby promoting activities in the field of training, bringing university lecture halls closer to policy-making agencies. IPAM focuses on policy science in relation to the field of political science and focuses more on policy areas in science and education. This is different from some other policy research units of the Ministry of Science and Technology or some other agencies in the cultural sector.

In terms of organizational structure, IPAM operates under an autonomous mechanism with a streamlined and compact staff. The Institute does not depend on State project sources but proactively seeks sources of topics and projects from outside. Although the human resources are not large, thanks to building a very wide cooperation network with policy experts in external units, the Institute has still implemented and completed many major scientific tasks well. From the perspective of development models, IPAM deserves to be an effective model and needs to be replicated in universities, especially in the context of university autonomy becoming a trend and an inevitable requirement in Vietnam.

IPAM has organized many large international conferences, with the participation of domestic and foreign experts and managers, addressing many major issues in policy making and management in Vietnam.

- What development goals has the Institute's leadership set for IPAM in the future, Professor?

The establishment of IPAM itself is an achievement, a good output of the cooperative relationship between the University of Social Sciences and Humanities and the Rosa Luxemburg Foundation. It is the crystallization of scientific and humanistic values; efforts for the goal of developing scientific fields of policy science; expanding the international academic exchange forum on policy and development, contributing to strengthening the cooperative relationship between Vietnam and the Federal Republic of Germany.

IPAM wishes to continue its sustainable partnership with the Rosa Luxemburg Foundation in the direction of expanding the understanding and policy analysis skills among different social groups in Vietnam. In the coming period, IPAM wishes to, through the support of domestic and international partners, first of all Rosa Luxemburg, continue to expand the dissemination of knowledge and skills to policy makers in public agencies, members of socio-political organizations and young lecturers.

We hope to build IPAM into a leading research unit in Vietnam on policy and management. IPAM will promote international publications and international cooperation to bring the voice of Vietnamese scientists to world forums in the field of policy. In the long term, we expect IPAM to develop into a leading institute/center/school on policy science, with the same position and prestige as the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy of the National University of Singapore...

Some publications of IPAM. IPAM has built a system of documents, textbooks, and reference books as a foundation for forming a research direction on policy science and management at the University of Social Sciences and Humanities.

- On the occasion of the 15th anniversary of cooperation between the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, specifically IPAM, and the Rosa Luxemburg Foundation, could you share your thoughts?

I would like to share my joy and gratitude to our traditional partner, the Rosa Luxemburg Foundation, and scientists from the Federal Republic of Germany for their enthusiastic, sincere and effective support for IPAM and the University of Social Sciences and Humanities over the past 15 years. It is the persistent scientific spirit and the dedication to creating valuable changes in policy practice in Vietnam of scientists from both sides that have brought about tremendous achievements, of which the presence of IPAM is the clearest proof.

I also sincerely appreciate the contributions of previous scientists such as Associate Professor, Dr. Vu Cao Dam - the scientist who has contributed to the first activities of the cooperation project and trained excellent successors, capable of continuing and developing the achievements of the previous generation to a new level. The success of IPAM is also thanks to the team of young staff with capacity and passion for science, always dynamic and devoted to the common goals of the Institute. In addition, the direction and facilitation of the school's leaders and the cooperation and support of partners outside the school, especially units under the Ministry of Science and Technology, have helped us to increasingly develop our research and training activities, effectively contributing to the socio-economic development of the country.

Thank you, Professor.