Achieving the goals of Resolution No. 71-NQ/TW requires determination, resources, and breakthrough approaches.

Identify barriers

Specifically, the target by 2030 set out in Resolution No. 71-NQ/TW is that Vietnam will have at least 8 higher education institutions in the top 200 in Asia, at least 1 institution in the top 100 in the world in some fields; by 2035, at least 2 institutions in the top 100 in the world; by 2045, at least 5 institutions in the top 100 in the world.

In the current context, MSc. Nguyen Vinh San - a member of the VNUR university ranking research team - commented that this goal is not impossible but is also very challenging to achieve.

MSc. Nguyen Vinh San explained that currently, Vietnam has a number of schools in the world's top 500 and Asia's top 200 according to QS and THE (2 National Universities, Duy Tan University, Ton Duc Thang University). However, the number is still small, the rankings are not stable and most of them are only in the 801-1,000 group in the world or 301-500 in Asia.

To rise from the current ranking to the top 200 in Asia and the top 100 in the world, comprehensive and synchronous changes and huge investments from universities and the State are needed.

Vietnamese universities have advantages in terms of development speed, new support policies from the Party and State, and the trend of increasingly deep international integration; but our starting point is still low.

Sharing specific difficulties that Vietnamese higher education faces when it wants to achieve the goal of reaching world rankings, MSc. Nguyen Vinh San presented four groups: finance and facilities; human resources; university administration; academic culture and integration.

Regarding finance and facilities: Prestigious international rankings (QS, THE, ARWU) all highly appreciate the criteria of international publications, citations, research and investment in R&D. Meanwhile, budget expenditure for higher education and scientific research in Vietnam is still limited, only about 0.4-0.5% of GDP, much lower than countries with top 100 universities in the world. Laboratory infrastructure, electronic libraries, and research data are still lacking and not synchronized.

Regarding human resources: The proportion of lecturers with doctoral degrees is still low compared to international standards; income and remuneration mechanisms are not attractive enough to attract domestic and foreign talents; foreign language proficiency and international publication capacity are still limited, leading to the quantity and quality of international articles not being strong enough.

Regarding university governance: University autonomy is still in its infancy, with many constraints on finance, organization, and personnel; the governance mechanism has not kept up with international standards (the university council operates in a formal manner, lacking real autonomy); there is no clear long-term strategy to participate in international rankings, and many schools are not yet ready to publicly disclose data.

Regarding academic culture and integration: International publication culture and scientific research spirit have not really spread widely; international cooperation has developed but is not sustainable, lacking deep connections in research, co-guidance, and co-publication; international standard training programs, dual degrees, and student exchanges are not competitive enough.

Requires very high political determination, specific resources, and breakthrough approaches.

MSc. Nguyen Vinh San said that the goal is only feasible when there is a very high political determination accompanied by specific resources and breakthrough methods. Specifically, to realize the goal of Resolution No. 71-NQ/TW, the education sector needs to synchronously deploy the following solutions:

First, focus on investment and system stratification. Select about 10 key national universities (Hanoi National University, Ho Chi Minh City National University, Hanoi University of Science and Technology, Da Nang University, Hue University, Can Tho University, Ton Duc Thang University, Ho Chi Minh City University of Economics, National Economics University, some strong private schools...) to focus investment, create mechanisms and avoid spreading investment; establish specific mechanisms on finance, personnel, and organization for this group of schools.

Second, improve the quality of the team. It is necessary to rapidly increase the proportion of lecturers with doctoral degrees (priority given to sending them to study at top universities in the world); expand the program to attract international scholars to teach and conduct long-term research in Vietnam; improve income and working environment to attract and retain talent.

Third, promote international research and publication. Accordingly, build a national research fund to support publication in ISI/Scopus journals; develop interdisciplinary laboratories and excellent research centers; build a mechanism to link research with businesses and practical applications; reduce/exempt taxes for businesses when investing in research, cooperating with universities and research institutes...

Fourth, innovate governance and autonomy by removing administrative barriers in university autonomy, scientific research and business cooperation; make operational data transparent, be ready to participate in international rankings; apply digital technology in university governance.

Fifth, strong internationalization by expanding joint training programs with top 200 schools in the world; encouraging long-term exchanges of lecturers and students; attracting international students at key schools.

“The goal set by Resolution No. 71-NQ/TW is quite high in the current context but necessary, reflecting the aspirations of Vietnam's education system to rise and integrate. Whether the goal is feasible or not depends on political determination, breakthroughs in governance, financial investment, and especially changes in academic culture in each university,” said Master Nguyen Vinh San.

Source: https://giaoducthoidai.vn/dat-muc-tieu-nghi-quyet-so-71-nqtw-can-quyet-tam-nguon-luc-cach-lam-dot-pha-post747596.html