Workshop “Policy and Management Training, Research and Management in Vietnam: Achievements and Prospects”

Attending the workshop were Dr. Pham Tat Thang (Deputy Chairman of the National Assembly's Committee on Culture, Youth and Children), Prof. Dr. Nguyen Van Kim (Party Secretary, Vice Rector of the University of Social Sciences and Humanities), Prof. Dr. Nguyen Van Khanh (Director of the Institute of Policy and Management), Assoc. Prof. Dr. Dao Thanh Truong (Head of the Faculty of Management Science). The workshop also had the participation of scientists from universities and research institutes, managers and business leaders.

The papers address theoretical and practical issues of training, policy research and management in Vietnam; summarize and evaluate the achievements and limitations facing those working in policy and management research and teaching, especially in the context of the 4.0 Industrial Revolution with challenges of narrowing the development gap through digital achievements.

Speaking at the workshop, Prof. Dr. Nguyen Van Kim highly appreciated the achievements that the Faculty of Management Science has achieved in training and research in the field of policy and management over the past 15 years. With the advancement of science and technology, economic, political and cultural fluctuations, the globalization process as well as the challenges of climate change and sustainable development have continuously posed new tasks for research and training in policy and management. That context makes the need for a team of competent, qualified managers, leaders and policy makers who are systematically trained in knowledge and skills in the field of policy and management science increasingly urgent. This reality requires further promoting the role of prestigious domestic training and research units on policy and management such as the Faculty of Management Science and the Institute of Policy and Management under the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, VNU.

Prof. Dr. Nguyen Van Kim speaks at the conference

At the opening session, Associate Professor Dr. Dao Thanh Truong presented a report on “Policy and management training and research at the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, VNU: Achievements and prospects”. The report reviewed important milestones in research and training in the field of policy and management at the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, pointed out barriers and mentioned development orientations for the period 2017-2020.

In 2002, the Faculty of Management Science was established on the basis of inheriting the practice of undergraduate training in Social Management since 1995 and postgraduate training in Science and Technology Management since 1999 at the University of Social Sciences and Humanities. Currently, the Faculty trains standard and high-level bachelors in Management Science in the main majors: Social Policy, Science and Technology Management, Human Resources Management, Intellectual Property Management. The Faculty also trains Masters in Research-oriented Science and Technology Management, Masters in Application-oriented Science and Technology Management, Masters in Management Science, Masters in Public Policy, and PhDs in Science and Technology Management.

The Faculty organizes many prestigious short-term training programs for subjects such as training courses on Policy Analysis and Planning Skills, Policy Assessment and Evaluation Skills, Leadership and Management Skills, etc.

Regarding scientific research, the Faculty has 01 strong research group at VNU level; published 07 international articles, 99 articles published in journals with ISSN index; implemented 13 international projects; published 30 monographs, 09 translated documents, accepted 14 lectures, implemented 29 topics at all levels; organized 40 domestic seminars, 35 international seminars and 60 seminars.

The Faculty of Management Sciences cooperates closely with the National Assembly Office in activities such as: organizing short-term training courses for National Assembly deputies and local policy-making officials; conducting rapid research on socio-economic policy fields to meet the information needs of National Assembly deputies; providing information to the National Assembly Library, etc.

The report also mentioned the limitations: scientific research activities are not widespread among the staff, the quality and quantity of scientific publications are not as expected, foreign language barriers among the staff, lack of uniqueness in training programs, low content of knowledge and skills in the program, low initiative of students in studying and finding jobs, unclear participation of students and PhD students in research and training activities in the faculty; difficulties in enrollment due to competition from other units...

To overcome the above shortcomings, Associate Professor, Dr. Dao Thanh Truong proposed a number of key solutions such as: promoting the important role of specialized departments as the core in training and research of the Faculty; building and updating research directions associated with the training expertise of each department; building a plan to train young lecturers in professional knowledge and foreign languages; adjusting the curriculum framework towards linking with businesses and enhancing knowledge of skills; promoting communication activities; building and developing a fund to support scientific research activities and scientific publications of lecturers; diversifying training programs, building creative startup clubs, etc.

Prof. Dr. Nguyen Van Khanh speaks at the conference

At the workshop, delegates focused on discussing many specific contents:

- Policy and management fields in the scientific classification system.

- Identify philosophies in training and research on policies and management of Vietnam in different periods.

- Analyze and evaluate achievements and shortcomings in training and research on policy and management in Vietnam.

- Experience in training and research on policy and management in countries and lessons for Vietnam.

- Opportunities and challenges in training and research on policy and management today in the context of the 4th Industrial Revolution.

- Identify current trends in training and research in policy and management.

- Links in training and research on policy and management in Vietnam today.

- Solutions to take advantage of opportunities and overcome difficulties in training and research on policy and management in the context of international integration.