Comments on the Draft Development Strategy of VNU

The draft Development Strategy of VNU to 2025, with a vision to 2035, clearly states that the mission of VNU is to “train high-quality human resources, nurture talents, conduct basic scientific research and develop multidisciplinary and multi-field integrated technology, transfer knowledge to serve the country's development; pioneer in innovation in education and training in Vietnam”. By 2025, VNU will “become a multidisciplinary and multi-field research university center that meets the basic criteria of an advanced research university in the region and Asia, including a number of majors/fields that meet international standards”.

The core values ​​are identified as: "Encouraging and nurturing talent - Pioneering innovation - Responsibility - Unity in diversity". Action slogan: "Reaching the peak based on knowledge".

In the development goals until 2025, the Draft clearly states specific goals in the following aspects: human resource training - scientific research and development of cutting-edge technology - integration and internationalization.

The draft also presents basic solutions related to developing a team of highly qualified staff; improving the effectiveness of development cooperation; modernizing facilities; innovating university governance; and increasing financial resources.

At the conference, delegates assessed that the draft was carefully and seriously constructed, demonstrating the high determination of VNU leaders to quickly develop VNU quickly and strongly, becoming a leading university in the region and moving towards international standards. This is also an opportunity for member units to review their current conditions, clearly define their goals and outline a roadmap for their unit's development in relation to the development goals of VNU.

Besides, the delegates also shared and contributed many opinions on the Draft as well as the development path of VNU in the future.

Prof. Dr. Nguyen Van Khanh (Rector of the University of Social Sciences and Humanities) said that there should be a more accurate assessment of the position, role and contribution of Social Sciences and Humanities in the development strategy of VNU. Regarding the application of quantified development indicators such as ISI article index, staff, etc., it is necessary to pay attention to the specificity of Social Sciences and Humanities compared to other scientific fields.

Associate Professor, Dr. Vu Van Quan (Head of the History Department) emphasized that developing a team of highly qualified staff must be considered a key solution for development goals. To do that, it is necessary to have a specific survey on the current status of the staff in terms of age, qualifications, research fields, etc., thereby identifying the subjects to focus on and prioritize investment, rather than spreading investment.

Prof. Dr. Phung Huu Phu (Head of the Department of Political Science) noted: the development strategy of VNU must be placed in the specific and practical conditions of the country, and must be a part of the strategy for building, developing and protecting the country in the coming period. The goals and tasks of VNU must be closely linked to the requirements and goals of national development, and must not be separated from the process of fundamental and comprehensive innovation of Vietnamese education according to Resolution 8 of the Central Committee. In addition, VNU needs to clarify what its comparative advantages are, how to position and establish its own position in the network of universities in the country, the region and the world? To become a top university center, VNU also needs to identify itself as a place where talents converge, creating all favorable conditions to maximize individual creativity.

In addition, some other opinions said that the Draft Development Strategy of VNU needs to: be more action-oriented; more unified and synchronous in mission - goals - solutions; promote academic freedom in the university environment; pay more attention to the material facilities as the foundation for building a modern university; further enhance the autonomy of member units; have solutions to show concern and further promote the role of teachers in universities...