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SUMMARY REPORT FOR THE YEAR 2024-2025 OF THE HIGH AGRICULTURAL TECHNOLOGY RESEARCH INSTITUTE FOR MEKONG DELTA
Prof. Dr. NGUYEN THI LANG
Dear delegates and colleagues,
In 2025, the Prime Minister signed Decision No. 2711/QĐ-TTg approving the National Strategy for the Development of the Intellectual Workforce during the Period of Accelerating Industrialization and Modernization of the Country until 2030, with a Vision to 2045 (hereinafter referred to as the Strategy).
To achieve the above objectives, the Strategy proposes five main groups of solutions: (1) Institutions and governance; (2) Human resource development and building an ecosystem for the development of the intellectual workforce (including training and capacity building for intellectuals; promoting lifelong learning culture among intellectuals; creating research and working environments to develop the intellectual workforce; promoting cooperation between enterprises and research institutes/universities); (3) Proper utilization, remuneration, and honoring of intellectuals; (4) Globalization of intellectuals – helping Vietnamese intellectuals reach out to the world and bringing global intellectuals to Vietnam; (5) Measurement and evaluation of the effectiveness of intellectual workforce development.
Group of Solutions 1: Institutions and Governance
This is an essential requirement when developing policies that must comply with national and local institutions and legal frameworks. Of particular importance is securing funding for research projects and topics for scientists.
Group of Solutions 2: Training and Capacity Building for Intellectuals
Training human resources is the top priority in long-term development strategies to meet the demands of agricultural production in the new era. Many leading experts have retired, and there are not yet sufficient replacements. To ensure equitable access and quality education for all, the government must increase investment in education, both in budget allocation and policy implementation. It is essential that educational programs be adjusted to integrate competencies relevant to future job markets, particularly for researchers. To effectively meet labor market needs, improve teaching programs, and create favorable conditions for employment of capable graduates, a strong alliance between the public and private sectors must be established through cooperative partnerships and joint initiatives.
Lifelong learning has emerged as a fundamental principle in modern education, reinforcing the idea that education is not limited to classrooms or early life stages but is a continuous process that develops throughout a person’s lifetime. This includes the multidimensional nature of lifelong learning and its critical role in promoting personal development, career advancement, and societal transformation. Starting with a conceptual framework based on human agency and socio-cultural context, it covers the benefits of lifelong learning for students and educators, its impact on society, and its historical foundations. Strategies for fostering a lifelong learning environment include policy reforms, technology integration, and institutional evaluation mechanisms. The shift toward learner-centered, flexible, and inclusive education models is supported by community engagement and digital innovation. Systemic changes in assessment, pedagogy, and policy are needed to effectively build a sustainable culture of lifelong learning.
Group of Solutions 3: Proper Utilization, Remuneration, and Honoring of Intellectuals
This is a crucial aspect because respecting, remunerating, and honoring intellectuals means that society, organizations, or the State properly recognize the role, value, and contributions of the intellectual workforce while providing appropriate material and spiritual conditions so they can focus on creativity and dedication. This includes seriously listening to and adopting scientific opinions; evaluating capabilities and research outputs based on quality rather than formality; ensuring academic freedom and respecting differences in scientific thinking. Where intellectuals are properly valued, development is rapid and sustainable; conversely, failure to do so leads to backwardness and waste of intellectual resources. If not respected and appropriately remunerated, intellectuals may leave the public sector or move to better environments. When recognized and their rights protected, intellectuals can focus on research, dare to think, act, and innovate. Scientific opinions only realize their value when listened to and applied; respecting intellectuals helps make policies and development models more aligned with reality. This requires salary, bonus, and allowance regimes commensurate with qualifications and work performance; investment in working conditions (laboratories, equipment, data, research funding); opportunities for development (advanced training, international cooperation, career advancement); and policies to attract and retain talent, especially in science and technology. In summary, respecting and remunerating intellectuals is not only for their individual benefit but for the long-term interests of society and national development. This is a wise and important solution that, I believe, every intellectual cares deeply about.
Group of Solutions 4: Globalization of Intellectuals
Globalization of intellectuals refers to the process by which knowledge, skills, and human creativity are connected, shared, and circulated across national borders. Thanks to digital technology, the internet, and international cooperation, intellectuals can study, research, and work in a global space, quickly accessing the latest scientific and technological achievements. This process creates opportunities to enhance national competitiveness and innovation while requiring intellectuals to continuously learn, adapt, and contribute global knowledge linked to solving practical national issues. I personally had the opportunity to study and work for 10 years in advanced countries, which greatly improved my expertise during my time as a scientist. Therefore, the government should encourage Vietnamese intellectuals to work and exchange internationally. This would enhance the life skills of scientific cadres, provide research funding, and help build connections with many international colleagues.
Group of Solutions 5: Developing Clear Evaluation Criteria
Evaluation should not be based solely on degrees but on outputs and real-world impact of individual contributions: professional competence (qualifications, updated knowledge), research/application outcomes (publications, inventions, practical models, new varieties, copyrights, etc.), innovation capacity, contributions to the collective, community, and locality, professional ethics, and sense of responsibility. Evaluation should be based on work results: linking individual goals with organizational goals; assessing specific products (projects, reports, models, processes, applied solutions) with clear timelines. Evaluation results should be linked to salary/bonuses, promotions, and assignment of major tasks. Use evaluation to identify further training and development needs. Evaluation should not be for “ranking” but for developing intellectuals. Measuring and evaluating the intellectual workforce must be based on practical results and impact, not just degrees or seniority. Clear criteria need to be established, tied to work objectives, with multidimensional, transparent, and evidence-based evaluation applied. Evaluation outcomes must be linked to remuneration, utilization, and training to maximize the potential and contributions of the intellectual workforce in the future.
In the coming year, HATRI will continue to provide numerous research products and evidence for policy formulation, build partnerships, and strengthen the necessary capacities to accelerate progress toward achieving sustainable development goals for rice, peanuts, sweet potatoes, mangoes, seedless lemons, Phyllanthus urinaria (dâu hạ châu), soybeans, and citrus crops, ...
