Delivering the opening remarks, Hoang Minh Son, President of Viet Nam National University, stated that the 14th National Congress of the Party is a significant political event of strategic importance in shaping the country’s future in the new era. The congress not only reviews 40 years of renewal (Doi Moi) and 35 years of implementing the 1991 Platform for National Construction during the Transition to Socialism, but it also sets out the vision and development strategy to 2045, aiming to make Viet Nam a developed, high-income nation. In this context, the draft documents of the 14th Congress present many important strategic directions.
According to Assoc.Prof. Dr. Hoang Minh Son, a particularly notable point in the draft documents is the strong emphasis on the role of education and training, science and technology, innovation, and human development, which have been identified as key drivers for enhancing competitiveness and promoting sustainable growth. These are also the fields in which Viet Nam National University, Ha Noi holds a pioneering mission and comparative advantages, thereby making substantial and practical contributions.
The President of VNU noted that the draft Political Report defines education and training as a strategic breakthrough — a foundation for improving the people’s intellectual level, developing human resources, fostering talent, and creating a high-quality workforce, especially highly qualified personnel for science and technology, innovation, digital transformation, and green transition. This calls for continued comprehensive reform and breakthroughs in education and training; the establishment of an open, modern, and globally integrated education system; the promotion of university autonomy; innovation in governance models; and the close linkage between higher education, the labour market, as well as local and national development needs.
As a leading higher education institution in Viet Nam, VNU can make profound contributions to developing renewal theories, shaping the value system of Vietnamese culture, and improving national institutions and policies in the new context.
At the conference, scientists and experts focused on key contents of the draft documents — particularly issues related to the development vision; new growth drivers; development of education, training, and science and technology; improving human resource quality; and the role of Vietnamese culture and people in sustainable development; along with many other important topics.
Evaluating the orientations in the draft documents, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Thi Huong from the University of Education (VNU) commented that the draft Political Report of the 14th Congress has set forth the policy to “build a modern and equitable national education system in the direction of standardisation, modernisation, democratisation, socialisation, and international integration.” This is a timely and strategic direction, reflecting the new vision of the Party in response to the country’s development demands in the era of the Fourth Industrial Revolution and deep international integration.
Presenting a paper on “Breakthrough Development in Science, Technology, Innovation, and National Digital Transformation,” Prof. Dr. Chu Duc Trinh, Rector of the University of Engineering and Technology (VNU), emphasised that Viet Nam room for development will remain limited if it does not rely on science and technology — a lesson learned from many nations around the world.
To progress firmly in the new era, Viet Nam must participate in high-value stages of the industrial chain, building an industrial system that becomes the core of the development ecosystem. Enterprises can only be sustainable if they secure a solid position in global supply chains.
Contributing ideas on institutional issues, the Regional Studies Research Group of the Institute of Vietnamese Studies and Development Sciences (VNU) stressed that the Party and State of Viet Nam should research and select a developmental and enabling state model to maximise institutional advantages and build the most effective governance and administration system for the country. The group noted that the two core factors ensuring the success of this model are: successful digital transformation, which forms the foundation for a modern national governance system; and (2) the training and development of a new generation of leaders and managers with core competencies in innovation and developmental leadership.
