Is abolishing the councils of member universities of national and regional universities a 'step backward in university autonomy'?

Many opinions say that the fact that member schools of national universities and regional universities do not have school councils is a step backward in university autonomy.

University representatives discuss the issue of abolishing university councils at member universities - Photo: MG

"Not having a school council will reduce the autonomy of member universities of national universities and regional universities. This is a step back from the present. The school council does not cause any costs to the university, it only benefits the school, so why remove it?

"It is necessary to remove this Article 13 clause from the draft Law on Higher Education" - Associate Professor, Dr. Doan Thi Phuong Diep, University of Economics and Law (Ho Chi Minh City National University), frankly stated her opinion.

Going against the policy of university autonomy

On the afternoon of July 10, the Ho Chi Minh City Law Newspaper organized a discussion on "Keeping or abolishing the school councils of 2 levels". At this discussion, not only Ms. Diep but also 8/8 member schools, Ho Chi Minh City National University, University of Law ( Hue University) did not agree to abolish the school councils of member schools.

According to the draft revised Law on Higher Education 2025, Article 13 stipulates: "Higher education institutions under the Ministry of National Defense, the Ministry of Public Security and member universities of national universities and regional universities shall not organize university councils". Accordingly, decisions related to member universities will be decided by the national university and regional university councils.

"Imposing a governance model without a school council on member schools means depriving them of core autonomy in organizational management. Article 13 goes against the 2018 Law on Higher Education (amended) and Central Resolutions 19 and 29, which emphasize the need for universities to have comprehensive autonomy in organizational structure, finance, personnel and academics" - Prof. Dr. Le Minh Phuong, Chairman of the University Council of Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology, National University, stated his opinion.

Prof. Dr. Le Minh Phuong, chairman of the university council of the University of Technology, Ho Chi Minh City National University, said that abolishing the university council would deprive member universities of their autonomy - Photo: MG

Mr. Phuong emphasized: The whole world is moving towards a model of decentralization and university autonomy, but we are going against it, making international integration difficult. Article 13 destroys this model, which could cause Vietnamese universities to fall behind in terms of academic governance.

"While non-national and regional universities have school councils, member schools are not given this right. This can cause unfairness, discrimination, reduce trust and cause conflicts throughout the entire university education system," Mr. Phuong added.

Similarly, Mr. Vu Duc Lung, Chairman of the University Council of Information Technology (Ho Chi Minh City National University), said that if we want to develop according to international trends, we must have autonomy, and if we want autonomy, we must have a school council. In the Party's resolutions and documents, there is no document that shows the direction to eliminate the school council.

"If it is a university, it must be treated equally. All universities, if they are autonomous, must have a university council. Without a university council, they cannot be autonomous," Mr. Lung said.

Many shortcomings

Associate Professor, Dr. Doan Thi Phuong Diep, University of Economics and Law (Ho Chi Minh City National University), said that Article 13 should be removed from the draft amendment to the Law on Higher Education 2025 - Photo: MG

Associate Professor Dr. Le Tuan Loc, chairman of the university council of the University of Economics and Law (Ho Chi Minh City National University), also said that eliminating the council of member schools leads to risks, delays in decisions, and an enlarged apparatus in the university council.

As someone who participated in the drafting of the 2018 revised Law on Higher Education, Dr. Nguyen Thi Kim Phung, former Director of the Department of Higher Education, Ministry of Education and Training, said that in the current draft, the role of the school council seems to be greatly reduced. Particularly for member schools of national universities and regional universities, which are schools with capacity, they must be as autonomous as independent schools outside or must be more autonomous, worthy of their autonomous capacity.

"Why reduce the role and position of member schools like this?" - Ms. Phung expressed her opinion.

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Source: https://tuoitre.vn/bo-hoi-dong-truong-thanh-vien-dai-hoc-quoc-gia-dai-hoc-vung-la-buoc-lui-ve-tu-chu-dai-hoc-20250710184836672.htm