Party Work Symposium: Discussing Many Key Issues

The conference was attended by Comrade Dinh Van Huong - Standing Committee Member of the Party Committee, Head of the Propaganda Department of Hanoi National University, and more than 80 Party members from the Party Committee and Party branches within the Party Committee of the University of Social Sciences and Humanities. The conference was chaired by Comrade Nguyen Van Kim - Standing Committee Member of the Party Committee of Hanoi National University, Secretary of the University's Party Committee, and Comrade Pham Quang Minh - Deputy Secretary of the University's Party Committee.

Comrade Nguyen Van Kim - Standing Committee Member of the Party Committee of Vietnam National University, Hanoi, Secretary of the Party Committee of the University, delivered the opening speech at the Conference.

On April 27, 2016, the University Party Committee issued Resolution No. 114-NQ/DU on the orientation and solutions for building a research university, aiming to unify understanding and determination among all Party members, civil servants, staff, and students of the University regarding the strategy for developing the University of Social Sciences and Humanities according to the research university model. Based on this, the Party Committee has drawn conclusions on key solutions to implement the above task.

Comrade Dinh Van Huong - Standing Committee Member of the Party Committee, Head of the Propaganda Department of Hanoi National University, delivered a speech at the Conference.

Positive shift in perception regarding the development of research universities.

Reporting on the implementation of the Resolution on behalf of the Professional Committee, Comrade Vu Van Quan emphasized that there has been a positive shift in awareness regarding the need to build the University of Social Sciences and Humanities towards a research-oriented university. This awareness has spread strongly from the leadership level within the Party Committee and the University down to the units and to the entire staff. The awareness of building a research university is reflected in the following basic points: scientific research must be the focus, training must aim for high quality, and there must be deep integration of activities with the international community.

Furthermore, a proactive, dynamic, and creative spirit in carrying out tasks has emerged in many units, research groups, and individuals. This is coupled with timely mechanisms and policies for staff, such as support for international publications, research paper publishing, and participation in overseas scientific conferences.

Comrade Vu Van Quan - Standing Committee Member, Head of the Party Committee's Professional Department: There has been a positive shift in awareness regarding the need to build the University according to the research university orientation.

The report also highlighted the outstanding achievements of the University's Party Committee: positive changes and transformations in the training model with the establishment of research and training institutes; a model of one unit but with multiple training disciplines, helping to save resources and create interconnectedness in research and training. The work of developing the staff showed encouraging signs when...The number of faculty members meeting academic standards and qualifications is increasing, demonstrating strong professional competence in research and training, and the ability to continue the legacy of previous generations. The university has experienced remarkable development and a steady increase in both the quantity and quality of programs, projects, research topics, and scientific tasks over the past years. International publications have increased significantly, and undergraduate training has seen positive changes, reflected in stable and growing enrollment each year; improved entrance quality; and the university is a reliable institution for students with attractive academic programs… Infrastructure has also seen significant improvements.

Leveraging the pivotal role of strong research groups.

Report assessing the implementation of Conclusion 188-KL/DU on"Promoting scientific research products in the context of building a modern research university"Presented by Comrade Dao Thanh Truong (Head of the Faculty of Management Science) at the Conference, the report shared information about the highlights of the University's research activities: the number of publications in the period 2015-2018 continuously increased each year, with domestic publications accounting for over 80%; publications in ISI and Scopus journals also increased nearly threefold. In 2017-2018, the University published 25 monographs and compiled 62 lectures and textbooks. The Social Sciences and Humanities Journal and the Policy and Management Journal, which were transferred to the University for management, have helped increase publication opportunities for research groups and researchers in the field of social sciences and humanities.

Comrade Dao Thanh Truong (Party Committee member, Deputy Secretary of the Party branch of the Faculty of Management Science): It is necessary to further promote the role of the Policy Advisory Council, thereby boosting proposals, recommendations, and policy advice on national-level issues.

Research results from projects at all levels have increased: in 2015, the University had 2 additional state-level projects, while in 2016, this increased to 11 state-level projects, including 8 national history projects. In 2017, there were 2 more state-level projects, and in 2018, there were 3 more state-level research tasks. In 2018-2019, the University's scientific staff will have 7 more component tasks under national-level projects. The number of international conferences, seminars, and strong research groups at the national university level has also increased.

To further strengthen and broaden the implementation of Conclusion 188-KL/DU in the future, the report proposes several solutions:

Firstly, further enhance the role of the University's Policy Advisory Council, thereby promoting scientific proposals, recommendations, and policy advice at the national level on social sciences and humanities issues to central agencies of the Party and State.

Secondly, strong research groups need to be placed in their proper positions. These research groups will be assigned functions and tasks, and must receive investment to develop a roadmap, guide research, and produce key scientific products.

Thirdly, it is time for the University to consider establishing interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary research groups to address major interdisciplinary problems, create products with high social significance, and clearly demonstrate the University's social responsibility as a leading research center in the social sciences and humanities in Vietnam.

Fourth, there are plans to strengthen the scientific journals and publications managed by the University to meet regional and international standards; to diversify funding sources, to be more closely linked with local communities and businesses, to promote the transfer of research results, and to establish new research organizations, entrepreneurship centers, and startups.

Building organizational structure and developing the team: adhering to the roadmap and achieving the set targets.

Next, the Conference heard a report presented by Comrade Ngo Thi Kieu Oanh (Member of the Standing Committee of the Party Committee, Head of the Personnel and Organization Department) on"Building organizational structure and developing staff in line with the research university orientation"According to Conclusion 169-KL/DU of the School's Party Committee, the report addresses three groups of issues: organizational structure, personnel work, and policies.

Comrade Ngo Thi Kieu Oanh (Member of the Standing Committee of the Party Committee, Head of the Party Committee's Inspection Committee, Head of the Personnel and Organization Department) assessed that the work of building organizational structure and developing the workforce closely followed the roadmap and plan set out in the conclusions and resolutions of the Party Committee. Although many noteworthy results have been achieved, this work still faces many challenges in the future.

Regarding organizational structureThe university has made significant adjustments to its training and research organizational model and structure; conducted a comprehensive review of all units within the university; and oriented some units towards a new model. Research centers have been restructured to integrate interdisciplinary research centers, adjusting functions or dissolving ineffective centers that are not aligned with the university's development direction. In particular, departments continue to be strengthened by linking each training specialization with the development of the department and inter-departmental collaboration. The administrative apparatus has been streamlined and made more efficient, emphasizing service and meeting the requirements of the university's research-oriented professional development.

Regarding personnel mattersThe university has clearly defined recruitment needs for each department and a roadmap from 2016-2020 as a basis for personnel allocation for each unit, while prioritizing investment in units and departments that are understaffed. Each year, the university recruits 7-8 lecturers through special procedures and signs contracts with an average of 16-17 lecturers, researchers, and other positions, but this number is still lower than the required rate. Recruiting highly qualified personnel remains challenging. The university also maintains a policy of not increasing the number of administrative staff, while demanding increasingly higher levels of specialization and professionalism from its specialists.

The training and development of staff has achieved many noteworthy results, with a rapid increase in both the quantity and quality of the workforce: the number of doctoral candidates defending their dissertations has increased dramatically in recent years, with an average of 22 staff members completing their dissertations each year. The percentage of lecturers meeting the doctoral standards reached 53.8% in 2015, 60.3% in 2017, and 62.4% by October 2018, closely adhering to the set target. For lecturers meeting the standards for Professor and Associate Professor titles, the percentages at the University were 26.9% (2015), 26.5% (2016), 26.9% (2017), and 29.1% (2018), respectively, compared to the target of 27.4%.

Regarding the policy issuesDespite the school's financial difficulties, investment in its staff is fundamentally a top priority. Policies for staff are consistently maintained and stable.

Proposing solutions for organizational structure building and staff development, the report addresses key upcoming tasks: closely adhering to the organizational structure development plan of units until 2020 as a basis for effectively utilizing resources within each unit; seriously implementing the policy of streamlining the organizational structure of departments; completing the review and restructuring of centers; reviewing and evaluating annual staff planning and closely monitoring the quantity and quality of staff to develop appropriate solutions; establishing a roadmap and plan for developing a group of leading experts and building a research culture; prioritizing the training and development of leadership and management staff within the planning scope; and strengthening the dissemination of the University's documents, policies, and legal documents to staff...

Towards university autonomy: the focus is on human resources.

Presenting solutions to promote training activities towards university autonomy in 2020, Mr. Hoang Anh Tuan (Vice Rector of the University) stated: the center of all activities and all development solutions and policies remains the human factor. To maximize the potential of the more than 500 staff members, decisive policies and appropriate mechanisms are needed to unleash professional capabilities, stimulate creativity, and motivate staff to contribute and remain committed to the University, thereby preventing brain drain – a problem currently facing public universities in Vietnam.

Comrade Hoang Anh Tuan - Member of the Party Committee, Vice Principal of the School

Regarding the structure of training fields and professions, given the current reality where the connection between fields and professions has become significantly blurred, Comrade Hoang Anh Tuan suggested that, in addition to investing in maintaining and developing basic training fields, the school should carefully study interdisciplinary and cross-disciplinary trends to form new training fields that meet the human resource needs of the rapidly unfolding Fourth Industrial Revolution.

Discussing how the university's management philosophy should be compatible with changing future workforce needs and the innovative trends of the global university ecosystem, the Vice Rector affirmed that today, research-oriented universities have essentially become the prevailing spirit, the foundation for development, and a "taken for granted" recognition in the world; instead, they are moving towards a model of universities linked to practical social development (entrepreneurship-driven universities). So, are we ready to consider new trends that could go beyond the research-oriented university model that many universities around the world are pursuing? For example: training orientation linked to the digital workforce market, regional and global integration; Scientific research in the context of the Fourth Industrial Revolution… Affirming the appropriate university management mindset is crucial, because it is on this basis that suitable mechanisms and solutions will be developed and implemented: from building new or adjusting training programs, organizing teaching, managing students, connecting with businesses and the market…

International integration in research and training: a large gap remains.

“There is still a significant gap between Vietnam’s education and training and that of universities in the region and internationally” – this was the statement of Comrade Pham Quang Minh (Permanent Deputy Secretary, Rector of the University) when presenting the report on “Promoting educational and training integration in the context of globalization” (Conclusion No. 300 of the Party Committee dated September 18, 2017).

The report highlights the shortcomings and differences in higher education in Vietnam compared to the rest of the world, ranging from curriculum, course content, and teaching methods to issues related to infrastructure and staff standards.

Comrade Pham Quang Minh (Permanent Deputy Secretary, Rector of the University): There is still a large gap between Vietnamese universities and the world in the process of integration.

"There is a term in the world today that is..."vascular- The shift emphasizes dynamism in human thinking, in curriculum, and in research and teaching methods. However, it seems that these issues in Vietnamese universities still remain largely "static," with little change.

Evaluating the results of implementing Conclusion No. 300-KL/DU, Comrade Pham Quang Minh stated that the awareness of the importance of promoting international integration has been greatly enhanced among the staff. Now, at the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, discussions can be heard everywhere about how to publish internationally and how to teach in English.

Regarding the Party Committee's goal of internationalizing 1-2 distinctive training programs, the University is currently developing a Vietnamese Studies program in English according to international standards, with enrollment planned for next year. The University is also developing an undergraduate program in Southeast Asian Studies and establishing a specialized department for International Development Studies (Faculty of International Studies) with its first cohort of students in 2018.

Within the university campus, one can see an increasing number of foreign experts, students, and volunteers coming to study and conduct research here. Foreign projects in which the university is a member, such as ENHANCE, have helped to enhance the capacity of the staff.

Regarding solutions to promote international integration in education and training, the report offers several suggestions: reforming training programs to keep them updated with the world; reviewing courses, reducing those that are far removed from specialization, and allowing students to choose to study modules in other disciplines, avoiding single-discipline and closed-off training; and strengthening internship and practical training activities for students, especially internships abroad…

The Party Committee of the University of Social Sciences and Humanities: For 9 consecutive years, it has been recognized as a clean, strong, and exemplary Party Committee of Vietnam National University, Hanoi.

After listening to the reports and discussions at the Party work symposium, on behalf of the Party Committee and the Standing Committee of VNU, Comrade Dinh Van Huong acknowledged and highly appreciated the Party work of the Party Committee of the University of Social Sciences and Humanities: "This is one of the Party Committees that works in an orderly, systematic, and serious manner, fully implementing the regulations of Party Committees at all levels."

Comrade Dinh Van Huong also shared his joy at the outstanding achievements of the University's Party Committee, demonstrated through the team of top-quality professors and associate professors in the country, through the prestigious medals of the Party and State, commendations from the Prime Minister, and other prestigious titles for units and individuals in 2018: “This is a typical product that proves the effective leadership of the University's Party Committee and the efforts of the entire staff. It is a great achievement of the University that needs to be recognized and highly appreciated.”

For nine consecutive years, the Party Committee of the University of Social Sciences and Humanities has been recognized as a clean, strong, and exemplary Party Committee within the Vietnam National University, Hanoi (VNU). In this regard, Comrade Nguyen Van Kim, Secretary of the University's Party Committee, requested that the VNU Party Committee and Board of Directors pay more attention to investing resources in the University's development at its new campus in Hoa Lac; and create conditions for the University's scientific staff to develop their capabilities by undertaking major scientific tasks for VNU and the country. Furthermore, in VNU's strategic planning and development of leadership personnel, the University's strong workforce, both in quantity and quality, will be a valuable resource, contributing effectively to VNU's overall development.