VietNamNet Bridge – The Government says it will lift standards to tackle the shortage of qualified university lecturers. Tien Phong (Pioneer) newspaper spoke to Ha Noi National University director Mai Trong Nhuan about the issue.

Universities carry out at least three functions, including training, scientific research and transfer of knowledge to society.

The second group includes doctors and professors trained in former Eastern European countries several decades ago. They often find it difficult to keep pace with change and today’s teaching methods.

The third group consists mainly of former students who remain at universities to teach new students. Their training is generally incomplete.

Why has the shortage of qualified lecturers been left unsolved for so long?

The quality of lecturers is often determined by the way they are used. A university that merely wants lecturers to achieve certain criteria will insist they adopt a given level of ability.

Universities need to find new ways of seeking and hiring lectures and offering training and good salaries. Administrative details such as family background are the last things universities should be interested in.

Universities carry out at least three functions, including training, scientific research and transfer of knowledge to society. Universities in Viet Nam have failed to achieve this, making lecturers simply carry out the function of teaching by dictating their compiled lessons for students to take notes.

Who wants to become a highly trained lecturer on low levels of pay? There is a widening gap in salaries paid by foreign and local businesses and those paid by universities.

Qualified teachers should be paid according to their abilities. It is easy to understand why lecturers want to work for private companies for VND10 million a month rather than be paid VND2 million at a university.

How has a decision for National University lecturers to be paid more been implemented?

The university is waiting for final approval. The policy is good because it will help retain talented people at the university.

The faculty of international studies already pays between VND150 million and VND200 million a year for doctors who use advanced techniques and foreign languages in their teaching.

As far as I know, the project will be expanded nationwide.

How is it possible to give students advanced training if lecturers are poorly trained or in short supply?

It is definitely not easy. The Ministry of Education and Training has therefore already worked out criteria for selecting suitable universities.

What needs to be done to overcome the lack of qualified teachers at universities?

It is the responsibility of the State to work out policies on using human resources. And it is the job of rectors to create a democratic working environment that respects intelligentsia.

Another important thing is university management. It is necessary to approach things on a larger scale and set regulations for modern universities. The secret is to strengthen the self-control and responsibilities of universities.

The Ministry of Education and Training needs to work out criteria and hand it to universities.

What conditions are needed to keep talented people at universities?

They need an open, fair, democratic working environment where they are held in high esteem and paid satisfactorily.

Five years ago, to keep a lecturer standing at a class, an income of VND8 million would need to be ensured for his family of four. That figure has now increased to VND20 million.

(Source: Viet Nam News)