The Government decided to have two national universities under the Ministry of Education and Training.

The Prime Minister signed Decision 1723/QD-TTg, stipulating that two national universities are under the Ministry of Education and Training, ending the recent controversy on this topic.

Today, August 12, the Prime Minister signed Decision No. 1723/QD-TTg promulgating the list of public service units under the Ministry of Education and Training. With this decision, the two national universities in Hanoi are under the Ministry of Education and Training, ending the month-long controversy over the related topic.

Hanoi National University Administration Building in Cau Giay Ward, Hanoi

PHOTO: VNU

According to Decision 1723, the Ministry of Education and Training has 65 public service units under its management, including 41 higher education institutions. Topping the list are Hanoi National University and Ho Chi Minh City National University.

To implement the decision, the Minister of Education and Training reviews and arranges affiliated public service units according to the public service unit arrangement plan approved by competent authorities and current regulations.

As for the two national universities, they are organized and operate according to the provisions of the current Law on Higher Education, according to Decree No. 201/2025/ND-CP newly issued on July 11.

There are two new higher education institutions that have been added by the Government to the list of public service units under the Ministry of Education and Training: Nam Dinh University of Technical Education and Vinh University of Technical Education, both of which were formerly under the former Ministry of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs.

For a month now, since the Government issued Decree No. 201/2025/ND-CP stipulating the functions, tasks and powers of national universities, public opinion has been debating whether the two national universities are independent agencies, under the Government, or under the Ministry of Education and Training.

Many opinions say that Decree 201 only assigns the state management authority on university education expertise with 2 national universities to the Ministry of Education and Training, but the 2 national universities do not belong to the Ministry of Education and Training like other universities such as Hanoi University of Science and Technology, Danang University, Hue University, Thai Nguyen University, etc.

However, with Decision 1723, the two national universities are public service units under the Ministry of Education and Training, although Decree 201 of the Government has given national universities more autonomy than other higher education institutions.

See the full list of 64 public service units under the Ministry of Education and Training here.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/chinh-phu-quyet-dinh-2-dai-hoc-quoc-gia-truc-thuoc-bo-gd-dt-185250812201546311.htm