Directive No. 49/2006/CT-BGDĐT on key tasks for higher education in the 2006-2007 academic year

DIRECTIVE OF THE MINISTER OF EDUCATION AND TRAINING

On Key Tasks of Higher Education

for the 2006-2007 Academic Year

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Pursuant to Resolution No. 14/2005/NQ-CP dated November 2, 2005 of the Government on Comprehensive and Fundamental Reform of Higher Education in Vietnam for the Period 2006-2020, the Minister of Education and Training issues directives on key tasks of higher education for the 2006-2007 academic year as follows:

1. Continue to reform higher education curricula, content, and teaching methods, with particular emphasis on improving the quality of doctoral training.

- Heads of units under the Ministry, within their authority, shall be responsible for directing the compilation and submission to the Minister for promulgation of framework programs. Based on these framework programs, universities shall develop and implement their own training programs.

- Universities shall organize the compilation, translation, and publication of textbooks sufficient for all subjects. Implement collaboration among universities to exploit open-source materials and other resources for teaching, learning, and scientific research, and technology transfer.

- Universities tasked with piloting advanced training programs shall implement them according to plans and regulations governing such tasks.

- Universities shall reform teaching and learning methods towards positivity, with the principle of "teaching how to learn, promoting students' initiative." End the practice of "reading-copying" in university lectures this academic year. Utilize information and communication technologies and modern teaching tools in the teaching and learning process. Increase research, self-study, and discussion time for students under the guidance and support of lecturers.

- Prepare conditions for implementing credit-based training: Heads of relevant units shall organize the drafting and submission to the Minister for promulgation of regulations on regular undergraduate and college training under the credit system; universities shall prepare physical facilities, faculty members, and specific regulations to implement training under the credit system.

- Educational institutions must pay special attention to organizing and managing training activities to improve quality in selecting doctoral candidates (NCS), guiding NCS to carry out thesis topics, and evaluating thesis levels. Based on the expected issuance of the Doctoral Training Regulations in January 2007, each educational institution shall develop doctoral training regulations according to its requirements and characteristics.

2. Build and enhance the quality of the faculty and management staff in higher education. Strengthen organizational and managerial work in schools.

- This is a core task to fundamentally and comprehensively improve training quality. Educational management agencies and universities shall organize the implementation of the following tasks according to their functions and responsibilities:

- Develop and implement planning and standardization of the faculty and management staff in higher education, ensuring adequate numbers, meeting moral and professional standards, having high expertise, modern teaching and management styles, and reaching job qualification standards as prescribed.

- Prioritize the selection of individuals with doctoral, master's degrees, or excellent or good bachelor's degrees to supplement the faculty. Reform recruitment procedures and methods to ensure competitiveness, objectivity, and fairness.

- Establish evaluation regulations and procedures for faculty and management staff in higher education to review reappointment or dismissal. Universities shall plan to review specific individuals for continued employment contracts with fixed or indefinite terms or termination of employment contracts. Emphasize the evaluation and classification of faculty through managers, colleagues, and students.

- Universities shall have detailed plans for the training and upgrading of the professional qualifications of faculty and key management staff. Strive to achieve 100% of theoretical lecturers at universities having master's degrees or higher by 2010.

- Universities shall strictly adhere to the University Charter, establish organizational and operational regulations, and form a Board of Trustees.

3. Develop and perfect the examination and quality assurance system in higher education. Continue to reform examinations, inspections, and evaluations; strengthen quality assurance activities. Enhance self-inspection and auditing activities.

Educational management agencies and universities shall organize the implementation of the following tasks according to their functions and responsibilities:

- Continue to build and perfect the examination and quality assurance systems in universities and colleges; encourage service units to participate in quality assurance activities. At the same time, intensify the training and upgrading of staff involved in examinations and quality assurance.

- Plan to pilot question banks in areas with favorable conditions to develop test questions and exams that promote students' independent thinking and creativity, encouraging lecturers to innovate teaching methods.

- By the end of 2007, the Ministry will complete the basic legal framework for quality assurance in higher education.

- Develop annual plans for quality assurance of universities and colleges, initially ranking them into groups. Public universities must lead in self-assessment and hiring external quality assurance services.

- Organize the pilot phase of quality assurance for 20 universities on schedule. Based on this, complete the project on quality assurance for universities and colleges.

- Each university and college must immediately develop plans for self-assessment this academic year (with important criteria such as training programs, faculty and management staff, infrastructure...). Moving forward, universities and colleges should establish quality assurance mechanisms and conduct periodic self-assessments.

- Develop inspection and supervision plans closely aligned with the annual tasks to effectively implement the autonomy and social responsibility of educational institutions.

4. Construct and upgrade physical facilities for training towards standardization and modernization.

- Higher education institutions need to focus on building physical facilities for teaching and research; initially ensuring workspaces for professors and associate professors; striving to provide all teachers with workspaces by 2010.

- Schools should diversify financial sources, fully exploit resources from scientific research and technology transfer activities, services and consulting, international cooperation and foreign investment to invest in constructing physical facilities, classrooms, and equipment for training and school management. Eliminate the situation of renting classrooms and gradually reduce evening classes for full-time programs.

- Institutions should expand and upgrade their internet networks and websites, build and fully utilize electronic library systems. Develop management software and install equipment to serve training, scientific research, and technology implementation.

- Educational management agencies and schools should organize the implementation of Decree No. 43/2006/NĐ-CP dated April 25, 2006, of the Government on the rights of self-management and self-responsibility for organizational structure, staffing, and finance for public service units and Decree No. 53/2006/NĐ-CP dated May 25, 2006, of the Government on policies to encourage the development of non-public service providers. By 2006-2007, all schools must issue internal expenditure regulations consistent with these provisions.

5. Ensure the quality and timely completion of projects.

- Schools participating in the University Education Project I need to urgently complete contracts to ensure the project's conclusion in December 2006.

- Schools prepare necessary conditions to participate in University Education Project II and the Project to strengthen scientific and technological resources. Plan preparations for faculty members to join the "Training Scientific Personnel at Foreign Institutions Using State Budget" Program (Program 322) and other overseas scholarship training programs.

- Schools must conduct transparent and open implementation of projects and programs, especially in bidding and procurement of equipment. Strictly adhere to reporting and auditing procedures.

6. Enhance the quality and effectiveness of scientific and technological activities; strengthen international cooperation in higher education, actively exchange experiences and academic knowledge.

- Schools should have plans and measures to increase revenue from scientific research, technology transfer, production, services, and consulting by 2% to 3% annually.

- Schools, together with the Ministry of Education and Training, develop plans to allocate 1% of the state budget for universities to carry out scientific research tasks according to the Higher Education Reform Program for the period 2006-2020. Amend Circular No. 45/2001/TTLT/BTC-BKHCNMT on guidelines for income and expenditure in scientific research.

- International cooperation activities of schools should focus on exchanging experiences in training, management, scientific research, and technology implementation. Launch joint training programs with reputable partners.

- Schools need to create favorable conditions for teachers and school administrators to participate in exchanges regarding content, programs, textbooks, and management experience with advanced universities in developed countries in the region and worldwide.

- Prepare conditions to implement international cooperation in higher education when the country joins the World Trade Organization (WTO).

7. Strengthen student affairs; resolutely combat negative practices in examinations and the tendency towards achievement in higher education.

- Organize regular dialogues with students, promote the central role of students in teaching and learning activities; organize and effectively conduct student movement activities.

- In October 2006, the Youth Union and the Trade Union will proactively organize two discussion sessions for students and lecturers at all universities and colleges about combating negative practices in study and exams, and issue a joint statement at each institution.

- Units should review the criteria for commendation and rewards, propose adjustments; promote democracy, enhance responsibility and honesty in reporting and evaluating the implementation of competition indicators.

- Develop plans to implement the Government's action program on the enforcement of the Law on Thrift and Combating Wastefulness; the Law on Anti-Corruption.

8. Schedule of major activities in the 2006-2007 academic year:

In order to effectively implement this Directive, the Heads of higher education institutions shall be responsible for performing their functions and tasks assigned:

- Advising the Party Committee and Leadership of the direct superior supervisory agency to seek guidance from various levels of leadership, cooperation and assistance from departments, sectors, and mass organizations to complete the academic year's tasks.

- Elaborating and disseminating the contents and spirit of the Directive to all members and implementing it within their units.

The Heads of units under the Ministry of Education and Training shall strictly implement this Directive; guide, inspect, and urge higher education institutions to fulfill the assigned tasks; promptly receive reports, reflect situations, and propose measures for guidance to resolve issues arising during implementation.

This Directive shall take effect fifteen days after its publication in the Official Gazette and shall be disseminated and implemented by all officials, civil servants, and employees in higher education management agencies and higher education institutions./.