Celebrating the 10th Anniversary of the School of Government - Outstanding Contributions to the Public Sector in the South of the Country

04 Mar, 2024

On February 24, 2024, University of Economics Ho Chi Minh City (UEH) solemnly held the 10th Anniversary of the School of Government. This was an event marking the 10 years of formation and development of the School of Government, overcoming many difficulties and challenges and becoming one of the strong units with many great strides in training and scientific research in the public sector in Vietnam.

The 10^th Anniversary of the School of Government welcomed the participation of Prof.Dr. Nguyen Dong Phong - Party Committee Secretary, Chairman of the University Council; Prof.Dr. Su Dinh Thanh - University Director; Assoc.Prof.Dr. Bui Quang Hung - Deputy Director of the University; Dr. Dinh Cong Khai - Deputy Director of the University; Assoc.Prof.Dr. Pham Khanh Nam - Principal of UEH College of Economics, Law and Government; Assoc.Prof.Dr. Trinh Thuy Anh - Vice Principal of UEH College of Technology and Design; Dr. Thai Kim Phung - Vice Principal of UEH College of Technology and Design; Dr. Nguyen Thien Duy - Chairman of UEH Union; Ms Nguyen Thi Thi Lieu - Standing Deputy Director of Vinh Long Campus; leaders and lecturers of schools and departments; local leaders; and generations of alumni, students, and learners of the School of Government.

Overview of the anniversary

The School of Government was officially established on February 27, 2014 with a vision towards a prosperous and sustainable Vietnam through good governance and excellent leadership. The School of Government currently carries out three important missions: (1) Improving policy planning and implementation capacity in the public sector in an effective, sustainable, and equitable manner; (2) Promoting good governance and leadership excellence in the public sector; and (3) Impacting to change the attitudes and behaviors of officials and civil servants towards service and integrity.

Dr. Nguyen Van Du - Deputy Dean of the School of Government, representing the Faculty's Leadership Board - delivering a speech summarizing the 10-year journey of operation

The 10-year journey of training human resources for public policy and public management for the country

The School of Government provides 5 bachelor's and master's programs including Bachelor in Public Management, Integrated dual-degree program in Public Management - Law and Local Management, Master in Public Management, Executive Master of Public Management, and Executive Master of Public Policy.

The outstanding quality of public management programs at the School of Government is reflected in the results of more than 20 years of cooperation between UEH and Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University, under the Fulbright Economics Teaching Program; concurrently, always updating new theories and emerging issues in the public sector from public management programs of world’s leading schools - Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy and School of Government, Portland State University, etc., with adjustments to suit the characteristics of Vietnam. Moreover, the School always innovates and updates programs in the direction of further improving good governance capacity and excellent leadership in the public sector to create change agents through innovation and sustainable development towards serving the community and national prosperity.

In addition, the School of Government has built and operated the program Executive Master of Public Policy to improve policy-making capacity for localities in the direction of regional integration, particularly focusing on innovating in-depth growth models that integrate innovation and digital transformation, and applying science and technology, with sustainable development approaches such as circular and green economy, renewable energy, climate change adaptation, etc. to serve the implementation of Resolution No. 13-NQ/TW of the Politburo on development of the Mekong Delta; Resolution 24-NQ/TW for the Southeast Region, Resolution 23-NQ/TW for the Central Highlands, and South Central Coast. The teaching method in the program is situational, focusing on the application of theories and international experiences in solving local problems in the direction of regional and inter-regional links.

During the past 10 years, the School has successfully trained more than 1,000 students. Many generations of students, after completing their program and acquiring in-depth knowledge of public policy and public management, have become leaders and managers who actively contribute to the economic - society development of localities in particular and the country in general.

In addition to recruiting and training students at UEH, the School has coordinated and trained human resources for localities listed as Binh Dinh, Khanh Hoa, Dak Nong, Ba Ria-Vung Tau, Ho Chi Minh City, Long An, Vinh Long, Can Tho, Kien Giang, Ca Mau and so on to meet the needs of planning and implementing socio-economic development policies for localities. the School of Government has successfully trained not only human resources in the domestic public sector but also 23 students from Laos and Cambodia.

Efforts to collaborate locally, promoting real-life experiences

With the specific characteristic of training human resources for the public sector, in recent times, the School of Government has organized many practical programs, helping students have the opportunity to apply the knowledge they have learned into practice: Learning the clam farming model in the form of co-ownership; Learning and developing community tourism models in Thua Duc commune, Binh Dai district, Ben Tre province; Learning climate change adaptation livelihood models in the Mekong Delta; Learning about high-tech agriculture in Cu Chi; Combining with alumni in the Volunteer and Community Connection Program, organizing medical examination and sponsoring 100 health insurance cards in Dak Lak. These activities have created opportunities for learners and students to apply the knowledge they have learned into practice, contributing many values to the development of localities.

International cooperation, training global citizens

Aiming to train global citizens according to international standards, the School of Government has signed cooperation agreements with leading universities in the world, including the University of Portland (USA) and Khon Kaen University (Thailand). Within the framework of these cooperations, many activities including exchange of lecturers and students, seminars, discussions, and projects, etc. have been organized: Discussion on organizational models to improve service quality in the public sector; Orienting and developing mixed methods research; Seminars to exchange practical experiences at Social Security Center in Thu Duc City on social welfare issues; Discussion on public sector engagement in research and development (R&D) and innovation, etc

Notably, within the framework of the project "Strengthening provincial capacity" in cooperation between the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and the University of Economics Ho Chi Minh City, the School of Government has implemented successfully many activities such as researching agricultural product markets in Dong Thap province; developing short-term training courses on innovation leadership, digital transformation in the public sector, collaborative government; incorporating gender and social inclusion issues into 5 subjects; organizing the workshop "Evaluation of MEL Quality Testing System"; organizing a workshop on "Building a constructive government to strengthen economic management capacity for provinces in new contexts"; organizing training on "Teaching methods for adults".

Scientific research efforts contributing to sustainable development

Along with training, scientific research is also an important field invested in and developed by the School of Government. With much effort, the School’s lecturers have conducted many scientific research projects at all levels in public management, public policy, urban governance, health management, sustainable development, and digital economy.

The School has organized many conferences on "Effective Leadership and Management of Government Operations"; "Digital Transformation in the Public Sector"; "Contemporary Issues of Gender Equality and Social Integration in Vietnam", which gathered a large number of experts and scholars to participate in discussions. In particular, in 2019, the School successfully organized the 6th international conference on "Management and leadership in the public sector", attracting more than 100 scholars from the United States, Australia, China, Japan, and Thailand, etc. with more than 44 articles selected for presentation.

A solid foundation for the next development journey

It can be affirmed that the results achieved by the School of Government in the past 10 years are extremely important to carry out the mission of University of Economics Ho Chi Minh City in training high-quality human resources for the public sector to promote sustainable development in Vietnam in the context of the 4.0 Industrial Revolution and global economic integration. These achievements are the great efforts of the School of Government under the direction of its leaders, the support of departments, and the enthusiasm and dedication of many generations of lecturers at UEH, in addition to the trust of localities in UEH's training quality and research capacity to solve local development challenges, and most of all, the joint contribution of alumni in carrying out the mission of serving the community, spreading knowledge, and connecting localities.

Dr. Dinh Cong Khai - Deputy Director of the University of Economics Ho Chi Minh City - shared: “The University of Economics Ho Chi Minh City always perseveres with a new approach to connecting universities and research centers with the public sector in localities to find the shortest, fastest and most effective development models, paths, initiatives and solutions to promote socio-economic development for localities. Therefore, the University of Economics Ho Chi Minh City in general and the School of Government in particular, with internal resources and an international cooperation network of more than 100 countries, are eager to promote cooperation and local cohesion by providing qualified training programs, updating knowledge appropriate to the times and providing critical policy advice to localities to promote socio-economic development. UEH will always join hands and coordinate with localities to carry out the mission of connecting the community and serving a prosperous Vietnam."

Dr. Dinh Cong Khai - Deputy Director of UEH

Mr. Dang Minh Thong - Vice Chairman of Ba Ria - Vung Tau Provincial People's Committee, former student of the School of Government - representing the locality and delivering a congratulatory speech

Ms. Vu Thi My Ngoc - Vice Chairwoman of District 3 People's Committee - sharing her feelings on behalf of alumni of the School of Government

In recognition of the results that theSchool of Government has achieved in the past 10 years, UEH awarded Decision No. 550/QD-DHKT-QTNNL on rewarding collectives and individuals who have made contributions to the development of the School of Government, UEH College of Economics, Law, and Government

Prof.Dr. Nguyen Dong Phong awarding certificates of merit to the School of Government

Prof.Dr. Su Dinh Thanh awarding certificates of merit to outstanding individuals

Assoc.Prof.Dr. Bui Quang Hung sending bouquets of flowers to the lecturers of the School of Government

Dr. Dinh Cong Khai sending bouquets of flowers to the teachers and lecturers of the School of Government

The 10-year journey of formation and development has affirmed the School of Government’s stature, position, and positive contributions to training and developing high-quality human resources in the public sector for the development of the country. Continuing this journey, the School of Government will constantly improve the quality of training and scientific research to train excellent managers and leaders who are always committed to serving the sustainable development and prosperity of Vietnam.

Additional photos regarding the anniversary: