VNU: Conference on student work in credit-based training

On May 6, 2008, VNU held a conference on student affairs in credit-based training. Associate Professor, Dr. Pham Trong Quat - Vice President of VNU - chaired the conference.

Training according to the credit system is one of the major policies of VNU in the period of 2007-2015 to improve quality and integrate internationally. To implement this policy, VNU has identified solutions and a roadmap for organizing credit-based training. It is implemented in 2 phases: Phase I - Applying positive factors of the credit-based training method suitable to current conditions; Phase II - Completely and thoroughly applying credit-based training at VNU. After one semester (semester I of the 2007-2008 school year) applying positive factors of the credit-based training method, VNU has achieved certain results as well as remaining difficulties and problems. One of the tasks directly related to the implementation of this conversion is student affairs.

Based on the theory and practice, experience of domestic and foreign universities, and specific conditions of VNU, Associate Professor Le Duc Ngoc (Center for Training Quality Assurance and Educational Development Research) and Associate Professor Nguyen Van Nha (Head of Training Department) brought to the conference two reports "Student work in the credit system" and "Student work through the lens of training". Although different in approach, both authors affirmed that: Student work is extremely important, full of hardships and difficulties; closely related to training work, especially when implementing the conversion to the credit training method; requiring innovation to improve quality and international integration...

With a sense of responsibility and openness, the delegates contributed many ideas to further promote the quality of training as well as the development of student affairs. Many issues were discussed such as: Specific criteria and solutions in student management suitable for credit-based training; it is necessary to identify a number of appropriate solutions to be implemented at certain stages in the conversion roadmap; have a coordination mechanism between training units and service units; choose a method of organizing student management (by class, by major or by course); expand cooperation with businesses to create job opportunities and internship locations for students after graduation; establish a focal point for student counseling (on subject selection, learning methods, scientific research, document collection, career guidance)...

In his concluding remarks, Vice President Pham Trong Quat highly appreciated the significance of this seminar as well as the results achieved in the first semester of the 2007-2008 school year when applying the positive elements of the credit-based training method. The Vice President also emphasized the particularly important role of student affairs and the need to innovate this work accordingly: VNU needs to develop and promulgate Student Affairs Regulations and related guidance documents; Understand and use training management and student management software proficiently; Design and issue student cards; Coordinate with the Youth Union to organize student collective activities; Coordinate with academic advisors to help students choose and register for suitable study schedules...