Mr. Bui Xuan Hai - Principal of Hai Phong University - said that there is currently almost no two-level university model in the world, meaning there are no "univesities in universities".
The above opinion was raised at the policy consultation on the development of the Law on Higher Education (amended) held on May 14 at Hanoi University of Science and Technology.
Mr. Bui Xuan Hai added: "When we talked to some foreign experts, we did not know how to explain the "University in university" model that is currently in place in the country."
Sharing the same view, Mr. Vu Hoang Linh - Chairman of the Board of the University of Natural Sciences, Vietnam National University, Hanoi - expressed his opinion: "When they came, I introduced them as universities, and above me was another university. Overseas students do not understand how Vietnamese higher education is when there are universities in universities. We have to explain the university above as an umbrella."
Responding to the above opinions, Deputy Minister of Education and Training Hoang Minh Son affirmed that this is not a matter of abandoning national and regional universities. These units are managed by the state, have their own missions and positions.
Deputy Minister Hoang Minh Son added: "Here, we are discussing internal governance, not the issue of abolishing national and regional universities. We have to see how to improve that model."
However, it is necessary to clearly analyze what mission and position do national and regional universities have?
Next, it is necessary to prove what has been done to develop Vietnamese higher education since the national university model was born (1995 - 1996) until now, what does this level support universities for?
It is necessary to organize a workshop, so that universities and experts can frankly express their views on whether or not to continue the national and regional university model?
In addition, it is necessary to survey and collect opinions from university principals to be objective in evaluating the national and regional university model. Is it a "double-trend" or not, is it a "b train" or not?
The right to abolish or maintain national and regional universities needs to be evaluated and analyzed objectively, scientifically, and transparently, not just the personal will of the leaders of the Ministry of Education and Training.
The revolution of streamlining the apparatus is being vigorously implemented - ministries, branches, and Party committees are still merged, provinces are also merged, and district-level schools are abolished nationwide - then national and regional universities must also consider abolishing them if they do not operate effectively.
