Vietnamese university lecturers will be awarded cash tens of times their base salary when they have articles published in prestigious foreign journals, starting next month, according to a decree recently promulgated by the government. Decree No. 99/2014/N?-CP, which was issued on October 25, prescribes that those professors who have their works released in reputable international scientific journals under Science Citation Index, Science Citation Index Expanded, and Institute for Scientific Information will be presented with as much as VND34 million ($1,600) – about 30 times their base salary. The fiat will take effect on December 15, the Ministry of Justice says on its website. According to the decree issued to encourage scientific and technological work in higher education, such professors will also have 50% of the fee to register their works’ copyright covered by the state budget if their papers meet further Vietnamese grading requirements. Moreover, tenured professors who have their papers published in international journals will be allowed to establish research groups and get their operation funded by the government. They will also be provided with funds to attend local and international workshops and seminars but the number of overseas events they participate in must not exceed two per year, the decree says. (Tuoitrenews.vn Nov 3)
