University-wide meeting, March 2022: Professionalizing university administration.

Professor Hoang Anh Tuan (Rector of the University) chaired the conference.

At the conference, delegates listened to the report on the work performed in February 2022 and the key tasks for March 2022. In February (which was also the first month after the Lunar New Year), the COVID-19 pandemic situation was complex, significantly affecting the health of the university's staff, lecturers, and students. However, immediately after the Tet holiday, all staff and lecturers of the university promptly began implementing and completing a large volume of work across all areas of activity.

Mr. Nguyen Van Thuy (Head of Administration and General Affairs Department) presented.

Accordingly, in February, the school implemented many activities in four key areas: Party work, organization, and associations; training, student affairs, and quality assurance; scientific research, cooperation, and development; and administration, facilities, finance, and information technology.

Some typical activities include: Developing a plan to implement Project 395-DA/DU of the Standing Committee of the Party Committee of VNU on consolidating and enhancing leadership capacity and organizational implementation of tasks of the University's Party Committee; strengthening epidemic prevention work, preparing conditions for lecturers and students to return to school for in-person learning, as well as ensuring IT infrastructure to serve online teaching and learning; organizing health check-ups for students returning to in-person learning; providing accommodation support for students with COVID-19; opening training courses for staff and specialists in the University; preparing for undergraduate and postgraduate admissions in 2022; reviewing the system of facilities and equipment serving teaching and learning in both online and in-person forms, etc.

Regarding scientific research, cooperation, and development: Vice Rector Assoc. Prof. Dr. Dao Thanh Truong emphasized that the key tasks for March and 2022 are to actively innovate in scientific research activities; strengthen the connection between training units and businesses and localities to both increase financial resources for scientific research and improve the feasibility and effectiveness of research. In addition, he stressed the importance of increasing support for international publications by the University's lecturers and students.

Associate Professor Dr. Dao Thanh Truong (Vice Rector of the University) delivered a speech.

Regarding undergraduate and postgraduate admissions: Associate Professor Dr. Dang Thi Thu Huong - Vice Rector of the University - emphasized the changes in the admissions regulations of Vietnam National University, Hanoi regarding postgraduate admission methods; and some notes on undergraduate admissions for the 7 training programs whose tuition fees are based on the technical and economic norms according to Decree 81. Therefore, to ensure effective and high-quality admissions in 2022 and achieve the set targets, departments, faculties, and affiliated units need to develop admission and knowledge training plans that are appropriate and well-adapted to the current situation.

Associate Professor Dr. Dang Thi Thu Huong (Vice Rector of the University) gave a speech.

Concluding the conference, Principal Hoang Anh Tuan emphasized several key areas that need to be focused on:

• Continue to implement the review and supplementation of planning at units in a streamlined and efficient manner, creating conditions for staff to fully utilize their capabilities; continue to implement recruitment groups and professional training courses.
• Successfully prepared and organized the congresses of mass organizations as planned.
• Organize teaching and learning activities, as well as internships and graduation programs, in accordance with current guidelines on flexible adaptation to the pandemic; strongly promote the spirit of innovation in student recruitment, training, and support at all levels; and strengthen support and care for students, both materially and spiritually, not only during the pandemic but also in the long term.
• Successfully defended the proposals for tuition fee collection based on economic and technical standards for 7 training programs, in order to launch enrollment in 2022.
• Complete the school evaluation activities and implement the quality assurance plans for the programs according to the revised plan.
• Implement international cooperation for young staff and postgraduate students in 2022 as planned.
• Complete the financial arrangements for 2021; ensure the necessary infrastructure and information technology platform for blended learning activities (both in-person and online) amidst the complex and unpredictable developments of the pandemic.

Professor Hoang Anh Tuan also emphasized that the breakthrough to successfully complete the above tasks is to innovate university governance. This work needs to be carried out thoroughly and effectively in all stages and specific areas of work. This should focus on several major areas: reviewing and proposing adjustments to the organization and management of administrative activities and personnel placement towards a professional, integrated, and efficient approach; reviewing the organization and management of postgraduate training, merging overly narrow or specialized majors that are difficult to recruit students for; promoting the philosophy of human resource mobility and strengthening professional training; and adjusting and enhancing student support in the most effective and practical way, etc.