Meeting of the Standing Committee of the Trade Union of Cluster 5 Schools

The 2013 Annual Conference of the Standing Committee of the Cluster of Trade Unions of 5 Universities (Hanoi University of Science and Technology, National Economics University, University of Natural Sciences, University of Social Sciences and Humanities, and Hanoi University of Civil Engineering) took place from April 4th to 7th, 2013 in Buon Ma Thuot city, Dak Lak province, with the theme: “25 Years of the Cluster of Trade Unions of 5 Universities – Looking Back and Developing”.This year's conference was hosted by the University of Technology with the participation of nearly 40 delegates, including members of the Standing Committee and the Women's Committee of the University's Trade Union. Also in attendance were representatives from the Party Committee and the Board of Directors of the five universities. Our delegation consisted of six members, led by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Dang Xuan Khang - Chairman of the University's Trade Union. Assoc. Prof. Dr. Pham Quang Minh – Vice Rector, representing the Party Committee and the Board of Directors, attended and spoke at the conference. With the aim of reviewing achievements and outlining future directions, the conference discussed the host university's report on the history and important results of the Cluster of 5 Universities' Trade Unions over the past 25 years, while also suggesting new directions for greater effectiveness in the future. The conference also heard presentations and discussions focusing on important issues such as:

• Develop regulations on workplace culture in universities;
• The issue of improving the qualifications of female staff and faculty members in universities;
• Trade unions play a role in building, training, and developing a team of young cadres.
• Trade unions in the reform of higher education management;
• Enhancing the role of trade unions in credit-based training methods.

In addition to attending the conference, the delegation also visited and worked with the leaders of Tay Nguyen University and its Trade Union, participated in a gong performance with the Ede ethnic people, visited the Dak Lak Museum, and visited Buon Don. The conference concluded successfully and left a deep impression of the legendary Central Highlands region on the participating delegates.