When can students at Vietnam National University, Hanoi (VNU) return to school?

To obtain more information about the return of undergraduate and postgraduate students, we spoke with Assoc. Prof. Dr. Dinh Van Huong - Head of the Political and Student Affairs Department, Standing Member of the Steering Committee for Covid-19 Prevention and Control of Vietnam National University, Hanoi.
 

- Professor Dinh Van Huong, some major universities such as the Vietnam National University Ho Chi Minh City, Da Nang University, Hue University, and others have already announced their reopening schedules. What are the plans of the Vietnam National University, Hanoi regarding this matter?
The Covid-19 outbreak has resurfaced, with its epicenter in Hai Duong and Quang Ninh provinces, and has spread to many localities, including Hanoi. As of today, Hanoi has 35 positive cases.
Vietnam National University, Hanoi (VNU) is located in Hanoi and is very close to areas with complex outbreaks. Many VNU students come from provinces, cities, and localities with outbreaks and surrounding areas, places with a high potential risk of disease transmission.
In this context, Vietnam National University, Hanoi (VNU) has been cautious and thoughtful in its decisions regarding the return of students to the university. Over the past period, VNU has strictly implemented the directives of the Government, the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Education and Training, and the city of Hanoi.
With the current situation of good disease control, Vietnam National University, Hanoi will closely follow the practical context of Hanoi and may allow undergraduate and postgraduate students to return to in-person classes from March 15, 2021.

- Recently, the Hanoi Department of Education and Training issued document No. 571/SGDDT-CTTT dated February 27, 2021, allowing students to return to school from March 2, 2021, and withinsession cMarch 1st/2021Comrade Chu Xuan Dung, Vice Chairman of the People's Committee and Head of the Steering Committee for Covid-19 prevention and control of Hanoi city.student conclusionSchools will resume from March 8, 2021.. NHow do you understand these points, sir?
It is true that on February 27, 2021, the Hanoi Department of Education and Training issued document No. 571/SGDDT-CTTT allowing students to return to school from March 2, 2021.

The document states: “Students and trainees at all levels of education, including preschool, primary, secondary, and high school, continuing education; foreign language centers, computer centers, cultural and skills training centers; short-term training and refresher courses with foreign investment; and preschools in the area will resume classes according to the plan from March 2nd, 2021 (Tuesday).”

Therefore, students of junior high and high schools affiliated with member universities of Vietnam National University, Hanoi, must comply with this decision and the guidelines on epidemic prevention and control issued by the Hanoi Department of Education and Training and other relevant competent authorities.

In fact, the high schools of Vietnam National University, Hanoi have students from epidemic areas, so these schools have been very conscious of epidemic prevention and control, developing specific plans in coordination with families and students to strictly implement the guidelines of all levels and sectors, ensuring learning conditions in accordance with the regulations of the health sector.

During the afternoon session on March 1, 2021, Mr. Chu Xuan Dung, Vice Chairman of the Hanoi People's Committee and Head of the Hanoi City Steering Committee for COVID-19 Prevention and Control, chaired an online meeting with departments, agencies, districts, towns, communes, and wards regarding COVID-19 prevention and control work in the area. The meeting concluded that "students and trainees of vocational schools will return to school from March 8, 2021." These are students and trainees of colleges and vocational schools managed by Hanoi City.

Students from Vietnam National University, Hanoi are among the group of students recommended by the city of Hanoi to return to school starting March 15th.
Therefore, with a sense of responsibility, caution, and experience in disease prevention and control, Hanoi proposed a roadmap with three milestones: March 2nd, 2021, March 8th, 2021, and March 15th, 2021, in order to avoid a large concentration of students at schools at the same time.

In general, universities in Hanoi are also implementing online learning, but have not yet announced a specific date for in-person classes.
 

The disinfectant solution was formulated by a team of scientists from the University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Vietnam National University, Hanoi.

- Recently, some training units of Vietnam National University, Hanoi have announced their own specific class schedules. What are your thoughts on this?
Vietnam National University, Hanoi (VNU) has consistently directed its units to implement COVID-19 prevention and control activities. VNU has issued official documents No. 180/VNU-CT&CTHSSV dated January 28, 2021, No. 447/VNU-DT dated February 19, 2021, and No. 506/VNU-CT&CTHSSV dated February 26, 2021.

The general message of these documents is that undergraduate and postgraduate students of Vietnam National University, Hanoi will study online from February 17, 2021, until further notice.
Recently, the University of Foreign Languages ​​issued a notice informing students of all programs, postgraduate students, and doctoral candidates to continue online learning from March 1st, 2021 to March 7th, 2021. This can be interpreted as meaning that after March 7th, 2021, students of this University may either attend in-person classes or wait for further notice. We advise students of the University of Foreign Languages ​​to understand the "wait for further notice" option from the Vietnam National University, Hanoi and the University of Foreign Languages.

On March 2nd, the University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Vietnam National University, Hanoi, announced that students would begin studying theory and professional practice from March 8th, 2021. Other students will follow the schedules of their respective member universities. The university has clearly defined student schedules and timelines, tailored to the specific characteristics of a healthcare training institution with professional and social responsibilities, assisting and supporting other units in the fight against the Covid-19 pandemic.

- What is your overall assessment of the Vietnam National University, Hanoi's COVID-19 prevention and control efforts over the past period?
I believe that Vietnam National University, Hanoi and its affiliated units have implemented the directives of the Government, the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Education and Training, and the city of Hanoi very seriously, decisively, and responsibly.

The Steering Committee for COVID-19 Prevention and Control of Vietnam National University, Hanoi (VNU) has provided unified, coordinated, timely, and appropriate guidance in this area. VNU's units have implemented specific and practical solutions and measures, initially achieving good results and ensuring normal and basically stable operations within VNU.

During this latest resurgence of Covid-19, Vietnam National University, Hanoi (VNU) had three students who were F1 contacts, having contracted the virus from friends and family. Consequently, hundreds of people became F2 and F3 contacts. However, thanks to the coordinated efforts of the health sector and various units within VNU, to date, no cases have become F0 contacts, and all F2 and F3 contacts have returned to normal health. This is a fortunate and happy outcome for VNU staff, lecturers, and students.

To date, nearly 50,000 students and over 4,000 staff members of Vietnam National University, Hanoi (VNU) continue to strictly implement the directives of the Government and the guidance of the health sector and Hanoi city, ensuring the normal operation of VNU under the new conditions, making an important contribution to the overall success of Hanoi and the country in the fight against Covid-19.

On behalf of the Standing Committee of the Steering Committee for COVID-19 Prevention and Control of Vietnam National University, Hanoi, I would like to express my sincere gratitude to the leadership of Vietnam National University, Hanoi for their timely guidance, and to the leaders of all units and all staff, students, and pupils of Vietnam National University, Hanoi for their serious, diligent, and dedicated efforts in preventing and controlling the epidemic. I am confident that this work will continue to be effective and successful in the future.