Directive No. 18/VHTT on the application and development of information technology in the cultural and information industry activities

DIRECTIVE

On the application and development of information technology in the activities of the Ministry of Culture and Information

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The purpose of developing information technology (IT) in the Ministry of Culture and Information is to utilize IT effectively to exploit domestic and international information resources for state management tasks, improve productivity and quality of products of public institutions and businesses, integrate information resources to meet research needs and information exploitation requirements of units both within and outside the sector, domestically and internationally.

I. SITUATION OF IT DEVELOPMENT IN THE MINISTRY OF CULTURE AND INFORMATION

1. Legal basis for IT development

On August 4, 1993, the Prime Minister issued Resolution No. 49/CP of the Government on the development of IT in the country during the 1990s.

On April 11, 1994, the Ministry of Science, Technology, and Environment issued Circular guiding the implementation of Government Resolution No. 49/CP.

On April 7, 1995, the Prime Minister issued Decision No. 211/TTg approving the IT program for the overall plan until 2000.

On June 12, 1995, the Minister of Culture and Information issued Decision No. 2142/TC-QD establishing the Steering Committee for IT Development under the Ministry of Culture and Information.

On June 22, 1995, the National Program Steering Committee issued Circular No. 83/BCĐ-KHTC guiding the implementation of the national IT program.

2. Situation of IT development in the Ministry of Culture and Information.

Due to the requirements of management, research, and production, depending on the characteristics of units within the sector, the application of IT has been implemented in various forms and has achieved some significant results. However, due to spontaneous development, there still exist many limitations. These issues can be summarized as follows:

a. Some achievements made

The Ministry has equipped computers and established email communication networks reaching all Departments. A portion of administrative work and document processing at the Ministry and Departments is conducted using computers. Through the email network, documents, reports, and news from the Ministry to Departments, between Departments and the Ministry, and among Departments have met part of the modern communication needs.

The National Library, with foreign sponsorship and the Ministry's budget, has equipped computers and connected to provincial libraries' networks. Through the library network system, it can connect to international libraries due to the integration and use of international library network standards and software. Provincial libraries are currently establishing electronic catalogs to facilitate readers' quick searches. A notable example is the Ho Chi Minh City Library.

In some production and business units, IT has been invested in industrial processes, increasing productivity and product quality to some extent. Particularly in the printing industry, due to the transfer of modern IT, some printing products can now compete with foreign products.

Some economic and social information is being integrated and exploited to serve the needs of enterprises, social organizations, and individuals. Notably, the DATABANK Center of the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Culture and Information.

b. Limitations that need to be addressed

The application of IT is concentrated in cities, large units, production and business units, and partially in central agencies. Most units at provincial culture and information departments and public institutions have not effectively applied IT.

Personnel working on IT throughout the sector, especially at provincial culture and information departments, are insufficient, uneven in qualifications, and have not been prioritized for training and development.

Due to the lack of computer networks, the efficiency of individual computers remains low, unable to apply large-scale software such as automation systems, information management systems, leading to information loss and dispersion.

The Ministry lacks a research and development center to absorb experiences from domestic and foreign sectors, resulting in a trial-and-error approach in development. There are no research projects, scientific topics, or scientific seminars discussing IT development for specific cultural and information issues. This is also the cause of spontaneous and inconsistent development across units nationwide.

Given this situation, the entire sector must pay attention to promoting IT development in all aspects: management, production, services, research and development, to avoid falling behind other sectors, enhance the effective management and exploitation of information resources, and integrate into the national process of "socializing information."

II. DIRECTION FOR IT DEVELOPMENT IN THE MINISTRY OF CULTURE AND INFORMATION

1. General direction

Developing IT in the Ministry of Culture and Information must clearly define the distinctive role of management and production. Applying IT in the sector aims to improve the efficiency and quality of management work, cultural and artistic products. IT serves to facilitate and accelerate cultural exchange and dissemination, with the goal of eliminating "cultural white spots" on multimedia communication devices.

Many sectors in the country have developed earlier, so IT development in units within the sector must learn from these sectors to avoid technological stagnation. Technology transfer must ensure modernity and suitability for each unit's specialized work.

IT development in the sector must keep pace and surpass key areas, particularly in the field of internet service. Based on this, the Ministry will have the capacity to manage various types of information on the network, especially international sources when the Internet and other international networks enter Vietnam.

2. Target for building and developing IT 1996-2000

Establishing a sector-wide network system where units build their own networks. The Ministry will integrate and link these networks to form a nationwide coverage network.

Promptly integrate information management systems into industry management activities to enhance the management capacity of the Ministry as well as units within the industry. Integrate new generated information, refresh stored information, establish specialized databases, upload information onto networks, and create other information products to serve the exploitation and research needs of units and individuals both within and outside the industry.

Integrate with the national network serving state management tasks of the Government as well as all related sectors.

Connect with international information network sources for the purpose of managing and controlling information on the network, transmitting a portion of cultural information, using the international network to promote Vietnamese culture to countries around the world, and selectively absorb the finest elements of culture, science, and technology from other nations.

Establish a data exploitation service network, search and information transmission services to contribute to promoting the information cause of the Ministry.

III. CONTENTS OF INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT IN THE CULTURAL AND INFORMATION INDUSTRY

1. INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY FOR MANAGEMENT TASKS

Information technology serves state management tasks aimed at providing comprehensive information to meet management requirements within the industry. Attention should be given to document management, personnel, finance, materials, etc., as well as the implementation of plans within the industry. Information technology for these tasks includes: computer networks, office automation software, administrative information management systems, comprehensive economic information systems...

2. INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY FOR PUBLIC SERVICE UNITS

Public service units consist of various blocks. Each block has different requirements for information technology application, thus the application of information technology is entirely different, except for management tasks. It is necessary to pay attention to applying information technology to protect and promote national cultural heritage.

The Museum and Library block currently stores a large volume of information, so the application of information technology must focus on building databases, utility programs, and information products to serve search and information transmission tasks.

The Theatre and Art Ensemble block needs to apply information technology for equipment control, sound and light design, program performance design, stage design...

In addition to using information technology for scientific research, the Institute block needs to study and propose scientific methods to standardize and effectively apply information technology to research topics, while applying information technology to investigation, long-term storage, and exploitation of cultural and artistic assets.

3. INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY FOR PRODUCTION UNITS

Increasing productivity, product quality, and reducing production costs are the main goals of applying information technology in production units. Production units need to develop optimal plans for investment direction, technology importation, and information technology applications vary among individual units.

The Printing Industry needs to apply information technology for layout, image processing, printing plate making, storage, and production process control.

The Photography Industry needs to apply information technology in photography and image processing stages.

The Press and Publishing Industry requires information technology for editing, news retrieval, verification, distribution... Emphasis should be placed on managing the distribution of news, newspapers, magazines, books, and other types of information on developing computer networks.

The Film Industry needs to quickly apply information technology in animation production, image and sound integration techniques, and in constructing three-dimensional movie theaters...

4. INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY FOR ARTISTIC WORKS

Current information technology fully meets the needs for artistic research and creation. To effectively serve artistic creation, it is first necessary to build databases on music, theatre, film, art works, and creative processes using information technology.

Information technology is applied in the dissemination of national cultural excellence and Vietnamese arts abroad, and in selective research and introduction of artistic schools from around the world.

5. INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY IN TRAINING

For educational institutions under the Ministry, it is necessary to quickly equip and integrate information technology into training programs to ensure that future cultural and information sector officials have sufficient IT application capabilities. Adjust and establish IT training procedures in specialized cultural schools based on equipping new IT devices in schools (avoiding outdated equipment in training facilities), and training in software usage for practical application.

Strengthen IT training, for university level programs, training must ensure requirements such as the ability to use office software, and specialized software exploitation...

6. INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY IN SOCIAL INFORMATION SERVICES

Establish a cultural service network to promote Vietnamese culture to organizations and individuals both domestically and internationally. Through computer networks, introduce the cultures of countries around the world. Establishing a service network based on the industry's network will accelerate the popularization of "information culture".

Create information products on CD-ROMs and other technical media for wide domestic and international distribution.

7. INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY IN NATIONAL INFORMATION EXCHANGE AND PROTECTION POLICIES

The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism collaborates with the Ministry of Home Affairs and the Ministry of Justice to study and promulgate policies on information exchange and protection. Domestic information exchanges with international organizations must follow international practices but primarily meet actual needs. Legalize ownership rights and confidentiality of information for social organizations and individuals.

8. INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY IN RESEARCH AND IMPLEMENTATION

Research on information technology aims to absorb knowledge about technology and implementation experiences from other countries regarding cultural management and sectoral management. Adopt technology, establish procedures, and train staff within the Ministry and throughout the industry.

Organize scientific seminars to evaluate and draw lessons from the transfer of information technology at units that have successfully applied information technology. Coordinate with the Ministry of Science and Technology and Environment and the Steering Committee for Information Technology Development during research, construction, and implementation of development projects.

IV. MEASURES FOR DEVELOPING INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY IN THE CULTURE AND INFORMATION INDUSTRY SECTOR

1. Unified management of the deployment of information technology within the Ministry

Managing the development of information technology is an extremely necessary and urgent task. Avoid spontaneous redevelopment which causes organizational difficulties, financial waste, and technological obsolescence.

The development of information technology within the Ministry must be under the control of the Ministry, directly by the Steering Committee for Information Technology Development of the Ministry, and below that by the Information Technology Center under the Ministry's Office.

Development projects for information technology must either be tested by the Information Technology Steering Committee and the Information Technology Center or proposed for implementation by the Center.

2. Establishing information flow, standardizing information from the Ministry to units

Re-establish information flow going to and from the Ministry. Digitize documents when transmitting, processing, and storing. Categorize state management information, internal industry information, economic and social information, service information, etc.

Standardize software for generating information, document formats, voucher templates, management methods, and communication procedures.

Quickly update and manage current emerging information. Build databases for information exploitation by units and individuals within and outside the sector.

All development projects for information technology must be submitted to the Ministry before implementation, as most projects of subsequent units can receive technological support from preceding units, thereby reducing investment capital and risks when applying information technology.

Currently, the Departments of Culture and Information do not have the capability for information technology (except the Department of Culture and Information of Ho Chi Minh City), so these Departments need to quickly develop plans for training staff and investing in basic equipment to be able to accept modern technological support from external sources.

3. Protecting copyright for domestic and foreign information technology products.

The Legal Affairs Department and the Copyright Agency will coordinate with the Ministry of Science and Technology and Environment to institutionalize the Ordinance on Protection of Copyright and other regulatory documents issued by the Government for the field of information technology development. Coordinate with organizations that have registered copyrights to prevent software copying. First, all software used within the Ministry must purchase usage rights.

Units within the Ministry need to develop plans for their software requirements to facilitate easy and convenient software purchases. Avoid purchasing outdated or unsuitable software for the unit.

4. Taking advantage of assistance in capital, technical expertise, technology, and investment

Coordinate with the National Steering Committee for Information Technology and the Ministry of Science and Technology and Environment during technology transfer, addressing capital issues prioritized by the Government for sectors such as Health, Education, Culture, etc.

Coordinate with domestic organizations advanced in information technology to shorten the development process of information technology for the Ministry.

Quickly adopt modern information technology from abroad with the technical, training, and financial assistance of international organizations.

V. IMPLEMENTATION

The Ministry assigns the Steering Committee for the Information Technology Program to lead and review investment projects in information technology according to the spirit of Resolution 49/CP and the overall plan for 1996-2000 approved by the Prime Minister.

The Organization Department will coordinate with Departments, Bureaus, and units within the Ministry to develop human resource plans to serve the development of information technology. Each unit must have IT staff.

The Planning and Finance Department will allocate annual budgets for information technology development, receiving funding from both domestic and foreign organizations.

The Legal Affairs Department will coordinate with relevant units to institutionalize legal regulations on information technology development issues.

The Information Technology Center (ITC) will develop an overall development plan for 1996-2000; build, manage, and implement projects for the Ministry's foundational information network and subsequent projects; establish industry databases; and coordinate with units within the industry to implement information technology projects.

Departments of Culture and Information will develop their own information technology development plans and submit information technology development projects to the Ministry.

Heads of subordinate units and Directors of Provincial and Municipal Departments of Culture and Information are responsible for directing their units to implement this Directive.