Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Thien Nhan yesterday called for concerted effort to expand the advanced undergraduate training programs offered by several universities over the last five years. The advanced training program offers high-achieving students the opportunity to learn their subjects in English, with syllabi developed in co-operation with foreign universities. Students of the program have better chances to study abroad, get jobs and also enroll directly for post-graduate courses without the stipulated two-year employment record required for other courses. The Deputy PM asked the Ministry of Education and Training and relevant authorities to find solutions for issues involving scholarships, research, loans, student exchange with foreign universities, and visiting professorships. At a review meeting with the management board, lecturers and students of the HCM City University of Science, Nhan lauded efforts made by the university over the last four years to improve its advanced training program. The result was it had become one of five best universities in implementing the program, he said.
After attending lessons held for freshmen and second year students and talking with them later, the Deputy PM said he was impressed with their confidence and their English skills. He praised the students for proposing innovative solutions and their desire to further develop the program. More scholarships and research opportunities as well as student exchange arrangements with foreign universities were necessary to increase the effectiveness of advanced training programs and benefit it to more students, Nhan said. The option of low interest loans to help poor students with a good academic track record pay the relatively higher fees should be made available, the Deputy PM said. Noting that the program's graduates were highly evaluated by employers and more than 80 per cent achieved good results, the HCM City University of Science should now offer the advanced training program in software technology, he said. The university currently offers the program only in computer science. Nhan also suggested that the university share its experiences with other universities that have not been able to do with the program.
He said this would not only ensure stable development of the program, it would also improve the quality of tertiary education in general.
If universities with the advanced training program have good achievements and enough resources including funds, the education ministry would create conditions for them to continue the advanced training program the post-graduate level, he said. Since 2006, 35 advanced training programs have been offered by 23 universities in the fields of technology, economics, health science, natural sciences, agriculture and environmental science. (Vietnam News Apr 6)
