Making higher education an important driving force in the national innovation system

Discussing at Group 2 on October 22, the National Assembly deputies of Ho Chi Minh City agreed to promulgate the Law on Higher Education (amended) to develop higher education into an important driving force in the national innovation system, a center for training high-quality human resources, a pioneer in scientific and technological activities and international integration.

The medical and health care sector should continue to be under the management of the Ministry of Health .

National Assembly Deputy Nguyen Tri Thuc speaks

Regarding the draft Law on Higher Education (amended), National Assembly Deputy Nguyen Tri Thuc emphasized the specificity of practical training; suggested that medical and healthcare schools should continue to be under the management of the Ministry of Health, and affirmed the necessity of officially recognizing specialized degrees (Specialist I, Specialist II, Resident Doctor) in the national degree system.

Delegate Nguyen Tri Thuc said that medical education has a high level of specificity and a long history. The system of specialized post-graduate training in the medical field, including resident physicians, specialist I and specialist II, has existed for more than 50 years, following the training model of France and many advanced countries in the world. The force of specialist I, specialist II and resident physicians currently accounts for 2/3 of the post-graduate workforce in the medical field.

The 2018 Law on Higher Education stipulates that the Government regulates the training levels for a number of specific specialized training fields and also recognizes specialized training for the medical sector. The 2019 Law on Education also stipulates that the Government promulgates a system of university education diplomas and regulates equivalent degrees for a number of specific specialized training fields.

In addition, the Government also issued Decree No. 42/2025 stipulating the functions, tasks, powers, and organizational structure of the Ministry of Health, which stipulates the management function of specialized training specific to the medical sector managed by the Ministry of Health.

Comparing with the draft Law, delegate Nguyen Tri Thuc found that there was no content expressing or mentioning the role of the Ministry of Health in being responsible for managing specialized training specific to the medical sector.

"So, it can be understood that this management task will be transferred to the Ministry of Education and Training? This is not reasonable in terms of expertise." Therefore, delegate Nguyen Tri Thuc proposed to keep the medical universities and schools in the health sector under the management of the Ministry of Health; at the same time, add a type of specialized training at the postgraduate level in the field of health care to Clause 1, Article 8 of the draft Law and "specialized training program in the field of health" to Clause 2, Article 8 of the draft Law.

The delegates also proposed to add regulations: The Minister of Health promulgates standards for specialized training programs, guides the development, review, evaluation and monitoring of implementation; The Minister of Health promulgates a statistical list of specialized training majors, regulates the process of developing, evaluating and promulgating specialized training majors, the process of approving, suspending and terminating specialized training majors...

National Assembly Deputy Le Van Kham speaks

National Assembly Deputy Le Van Kham said that postgraduate training in clinical medical sciences or applied medical sciences deserves its own degree system. Therefore, it is proposed to include medical specialized training content in the draft Law on Education (amended) to ensure the granting of a legitimate degree in the national education system.

There is a need to increase the maximum possible autonomy for universities with accountability.

Regarding university autonomy, some delegates stated that autonomy is understood as the right to proactively decide and be accountable for professional, academic, training, scientific research, international cooperation, organization and personnel activities.

National Assembly Deputy Vu Hai Quan speaks

Citing the provisions on autonomy in Clause 2, Article 3 of the draft Law, National Assembly Deputy Vu Hai Quan said that universities need to have autonomy in organizational and personnel matters. Accordingly, it is necessary to flexibly regulate the number of Vice Rectors at large universities. For example, schools with 40,000 students should not be limited to a maximum of three Vice Rectors like schools with 30,000 students.

"When schools are autonomous and do not use the state budget to pay salaries, and most of their revenue comes from tuition fees or other sources, schools need to decide on their own organization and personnel," delegate Vu Hai Quan emphasized.

Chairman of the Economic and Financial Committee Phan Van Mai speaks

Chairman of the Economic and Financial Committee Phan Van Mai suggested that it is necessary to increase the highest possible autonomy for universities and must be associated with accountability.

Regarding academic autonomy, the State gives more power to universities. In personnel autonomy, it is clear which personnel are under state management and which are under university management.

In financial autonomy, what a university receives from the budget must be implemented and subject to supervision.

National Assembly Deputy Tran Hoang Ngan speaks

Delegate Tran Hoang Ngan also proposed clearer regulations on the rights and responsibilities of higher education institutions, especially autonomy in human resources, finance and investment. There should be detailed decrees and regulations attached to the Law to avoid conflicts with other laws.

Source: https://daibieunhandan.vn/dua-giao-duc-dai-hoc-thanh-dong-luc-quan-trong-he-thong-doi-moi-sang-tao-quoc-gia-10392468.html