Conference to review trade union activities in the first semester of the 2017-2018 academic year.

Overview of the conference

As of January 2018, the university had 580 union members, of which 60.86% were lecturers with doctoral degrees and 26.9% held professorships or associate professorships. The past semester saw many notable achievements in the university's trade union activities. The 30th Congress of the University's Trade Union, held at the end of March 2017, was a success. The new Executive Committee of the University's Trade Union, consisting of 15 members, quickly implemented action programs according to the Congress's resolutions, with the spirit of "Innovation - Democracy - Unity - Responsibility". At the 5th Congress of the Vietnam National University, Hanoi Trade Union, two members from the University of Social Sciences and Humanities were elected to the Executive Committee of the Vietnam National University, Hanoi Trade Union for the 2017-2022 term.

The school's trade union activities during the 2017-2018 academic year will focus on the following main tasks:

Firstly, continue to effectively implement the Resolution of the 14th Congress of the Vietnam Education Trade Union, the Resolution of the 27th Congress of the University Party Committee, the Resolution of the 30th Congress of the University Trade Union, and the 5th Resolution of the Trade Union of Vietnam National University, Hanoi.

Secondly, to care for the well-being and represent and protect the legitimate rights and interests of teachers and workers; to promote patriotic emulation movements and campaigns within the sector, within VNU and the School.

Thirdly, to promote and encourage union members to participate in reforming management practices, developing the teaching staff and educational management personnel; reforming the content and methods of union activities; developing union membership; providing professional training for union officials; building a strong union organization, contributing to the fulfillment of the political tasks of the sector, VNU, and the University in the 2017-2018 academic year.

Professor Pham Quang Minh delivered the opening remarks at the conference, acknowledging the achievements and practical contributions of the University's Trade Union activities in the past period.

Here are some encouraging results achieved by the school's labor union during the past semester:

1. Effectively carry out the task of caring for the lives and representing and protecting the legitimate rights and interests of the staff and employees; implement the system of visiting and supporting union members in difficult circumstances; participate in councils for reviewing emulation and reward, ensuring timely and early salary increases for staff, and provide input on adjusting internal spending regulations.

2. Launch patriotic emulation movements and large-scale social campaigns among cadres, teachers, and workers.

3. Improve the quality of staff and the effectiveness of trade union activities at all levels; build a strong trade union organization; organize professional training on trade union work for trade union officials for the 2017-2022 term; organize seminars; fully participate in training courses organized by higher-level trade unions.

4. Inspection work is given regular attention; the Standing Committee of the Trade Union provides good guidance for the activities of the People's Inspection Committee.

5. Public finances must be transparent, open, and used economically and efficiently.

Dr. Ngo Thi Kieu Oanh (Head of the Personnel and Organization Department, President of the University's Trade Union) presented the summary of trade union activities.

For the first time, the University's Trade Union organized a "Beautiful Photo Contest for Female Union Members" on Facebook. The contest not only attracted 110 female union members and 400 forum members but also spread widely to the University's overall activities. This was a breath of fresh air, bringing joy and laughter, and celebrating the simple yet refined beauty, sparkling intelligence, and loving hearts of the female staff.

The seminar "Innovation and Creativity in Teaching and Research" was attended by 120 staff members, with 3 presentations and 5 contributions from 21 departmental trade unions. For the first time, a survey report from a student's perspective was presented, providing feedback from learners and supplementing objective assessments of the teaching and research innovations of the university's faculty.

The trade union official training conference is a combination of training and event organization. This is an innovative approach being implemented for the first time. The trade union launched a competition titled "New Ideas for Trade Union Activities" and implemented it immediately within the training program. Within a short time of its launch, 15 activity ideas were proposed, and the organizing committee awarded 5 first prizes and 4 promising prizes to the best ideas.

The school-wide sports exchange event celebrating Vietnamese Teachers' Day was a great success. The atmosphere was vibrant throughout the campus with competitions in football, badminton, tug-of-war, and table tennis. Eighteen teams with over 300 athletes, including faculty and students, participated.

In addition, the Conference also listened to contributions from trade union officials, representatives of the Party branch committees, and leaders of various units to adjust and resolve difficulties, and to propose recommendations to improve trade union activities in the future.

The conference acknowledged the outstanding achievements, creating significant quantitative and qualitative shifts in trade union activities. It is evident that the activities over the past period have had a positive impact, changing perceptions of the role of the trade union within the university. Innovation, creativity, democracy, and responsibility have permeated trade union activities, fostering enthusiasm, contributing to improved work efficiency, and strengthening the bond between faculty, staff, and the university as a whole.