THÁI NGUYÊN — Thái Nguyên University may be one of the major higher education institution in the country but it still needs to make robust commitments to further improve its already solid performance.

State Vice President Đặng Thị Ngọc Thịnh made the remark as she was at the celebration held at the university to mark 36 years of the Việt Nam Teachers’ Day, November 20, 1982 – November 20, 2018 - an occasion held every year to celebrate the profession that holds a critical role in shaping the future generations of the country.

Vice President Thịnh told the university it should be looking at advancing its scientific research, aiming towards having more practical results and initiatives, as well as fostering international collaboration to learn the best practices and experience from countries with developed education sectors.

On behalf of the State President, Vice President Thịnh bestowed the second-class Labour Order for the university’s rector, Professor Phạm Hồng Quang, and two third-class Labour Orders to Dr Trần Thị Việt Trung from the university’s publishing house and Nguyễn Vũ Phương, director of the Thái Nguyên University of Medicine and Pharmacy.

Vice President Thịnh noted that as a public university, Thái Nguyên has received State funding to invest in its infrastructure and operations, in addition to many incentives and support, therefore the university’s board of directors, teachers and staff “must be fully aware of their responsibilities to the development of the education sector and the country.”

The university was also urged to ramp up its progress towards financial autonomy and boost academic performance, contributing to the national industrialisation and modernisation.

The Vice President also awarded 30 scholarships for Vietnamese and international students.

Being one of the three regional universities and among the five major multidisciplinary universities in the country, Thái Nguyên is a research and training centre for the entire northern midlands and mountainous region.

Established 20 years ago, the university is primarily made up of ethnic minority students, in addition to nearly 1,000 foreign students from 12 countries.

The Thái Nguyên University comprises 27 units, including seven accredited colleges, a campus in Lào Cai Province, one junior college and two faculties.

It currently offers 135 undergraduate majors, 58 master programmes and 32 doctoral programmes.

HCM City Party Secretary Nguyễn Thiện Nhân presented flower and gifts to Professor Than Thị Tươi, former rector of HCM University of Science and Technology. — VNA/VNS Photo Thu Hoài

Much treasured

On Sunday in Hà Nội, the Ministry of Education and Training and the Việt Nam Television (VTV) jointly held Thay lời tri ân (Gestures of appreciation) event to bring recognition to 183 dedicated teachers from across the country who have overcome hardship to excel in their profession.

The event was held at Văn Miếu (Temple of Literature), which hosts the Imperial Academy, said to be the first university in the Việt Nam.

Speaking at the event, Minister of Education and Training Phùng Xuân Nhạ said 2018 is the fifth year since the implementation of the Resolution 29 by the Party Central Committee on comprehensive education reforms.

A teacher at Pacheo Primary School in Y Tý Commune, Bát Xát District, the northern mountainous province of Lào Cai. — VNS Photo Việt Thanh

Despite multiple challenges, the national education system has continually expanded in terms of both quantity and quality, Minister Nhạ said, adding that a paradigm shift has been taking place, moving from the traditional knowledge acquisition methods to focusing on developing learners’ capacity.

Minister Nhạ stressed that “no matter where and when, teaching is always held in high esteem,” and the teachers present here tonight are models representing all teachers in the country, with whole-hearted devotion to the growth of their students.

To commemorate the Teachers’ Day, HCM City Party Secretary Nguyễn Thiện Nhân on Monnday led a delegation of the city’s authorities to visit and pay tributes to a number of noted teachers in the city, including Trần Hồng Quân, former education minister and president of the Việt Nam Association of Universities and Colleges, and Professor Than Thị Tươi, former rector of HCM University of Science and Technology.

Stressing the city always place high priority on education, Party Secretary Nhân said HCM City is crafting a roadmap to make secondary education free, as well as building an ‘innovation city’ in downtown districts to connect and harness the resource of universities and high-tech zones to aid the city’s development. — VNS