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Wednesday, 18 September 2019 10:09
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International cooperation contributes to elevating the position of the Ho Chi Minh National Academy of Politics

(LLCT) - Paper written for the International Scientific Seminar entitled “International cooperation and the development of the Ho Chi Minh National Academy of Politics” marking the 70th anniversary of the establishment of the Ho Chi Minh National Academy of Politics (HCMA).

1. The work of international cooperation contributes to the fulfillment of key political missions of the Academy

The Ho Chi Minh National Academy of Politics (HCMA) is the subordinate commission of the Party Central Executive Committee, and works under the direct, regular and comprehensive leadership and instruction of the Politburo and the Secretariat of the Party Central Executive Committee. It is the national center for training mid-level and high-ranking leaders, managers and cadres on political theoretical science, for the Party, the State and socio-political organizations. It is also the national center for studying Marxism, Leninism and Ho Chi Minh Thought, the lines, guidelines, policies and regulations of the Party and the State as well as political science, leadership and management science, catering for the teaching and learning, and providing scientific foundation in outlining the lines and guidelines of the Party and the State(1). The work of international cooperation of the Academy, therefore, always goes abreast and plays an important role, directly contributing to the successful execution of the key political tasks assigned by the Party and the Government while constantly elevating the position of the Academy in the international arena.

With a system of nearly 40 focal units and 5 affiliated academies, nearly 2,400 researchers and lecturers, the Academy annually trains tens of thousands of cadres at various levels, and international cooperation activities of the whole system always takes place with high intensity and vibrancy. The Academy system currently has partnerships with more than 60 countries and nearly 200 different international partners. Every year, the Academy organizes more than 300 international cooperation activities including exchanging expert missions and academic knowledge, seminars, workshops, conferences, conducting research and study abroad, conducting joint research, etc. of which there are on average nearly 80-100 outgoing delegations and 150-200 incoming delegations, 30-50 international seminars, workshops and conferences as well as dozens of statesmen, ambassadors and representatives of international organizations who come to the Academy for discussions or presentations. During more than 30 years of serving the cause of reform, the Academy has sent hundreds of scientists to study short and long-term courses abroad, hundreds of lecturers and researchers to attend scientific workshops and conferences abroad; dozens of international projects, programs and researches have been conducted in the units within the Academy; thousands of foreign leaders, mid-level and high-ranking managers from Laos, Cambodia, Mozambique, etc. have participated in long-, medium- and short-term training courses at the Academy.

The work of international cooperation in the context of Vietnam’s promotion of strong integration gains great advantages but also faces many difficulties and challenges, requiring that the organization and operation of international cooperation of the Academy be enhanced, perfected, profoundly specialized and professionalized with every passing day.

With the missions and goals to be achieved by 2030 and the vision to 2045, which is becoming the leading national center with high prestige in training, fostering leaders, mid-level and high-ranking managers towards being “modern, integrated, with leading prestige in Asia and the world” and based on five core values “Consistency - Innovation - Model - Serving - Development”, the Academy’s work of international cooperation on one hand makes an important contribution towards creating and deepening these visions, goals and values, but on the other, it needs to spread and express them more vividly and specifically in the international cooperation activities in the fields of scientific research, education, training and policy consultation.

2. The results and challenges of the work of international cooperation in the current situation

The work of international cooperation in the past years has achieved great results, contributing actively and significantly to the successful execution of the Academy’s political missions, especially in promoting the reform of the curriculum framework and training contents, the skills and methods in training management, the capacity for scientific research, providing policy consultation, the capacity to integrate and work in the international environment of the lecturers and researchers of the Academy; constantly spreading the Party’s viewpoints and policies on external relations, the achievements in the country’s reform and development as well as cultural values of the nation; and elevating the Academy’s position in the international arena as well. During its development process over the past time, the Academy has seen the contribution, expansion and development of the international cooperation activities. The formation of strong research groups and the introduction of several new majors, new research centers and institutes were the direct results from the Party and the State’s reform process, as well as the promotion of international cooperation in areas such as sociology, human rights, leadership and public policy, gender research, communication, international relations, etc.. Through international cooperation, hundreds of cadres of the Academy participated in short-term and long-term training courses abroad and have become prestigious experts, leaders and managers with qualifications and capacity for international integration. The direct beneficiaries of the results and achievements in international cooperation are the students who attend the courses ranging from intermediate or advanced political theory courses, refresher courses in accordance with the professional title standards, postgraduate training courses to courses for strategic planned cadres in the system of the Academy and political schools. International cooperation has also contributed significantly to improving the facilities and technical foundation for the system of lecture-rooms, equipment, documents and study materials of the Academy. At the same time, international cooperation has constantly increased the research and teaching capacity of the Academy’s cadres in the context of intensified international integration and development of the Academy and the country.

However, the work of international cooperation is not commensurate with the potential and requirements of the work of integration and development of the Academy in the new situation. International cooperation activities are increasing in both quantity and quality and going to the point, the forms of cooperation are increasingly diverse and rich, with different levels from simple to complex (ranging from receiving delegations coming to visit and have work sessions to exchanging academic knowledge, research and training activities, sharing knowledge, etc.), from bilateral to multilateral. In the context of the region and the work whose evolution is getting more complex with intertwined opportunities and challenges, the practice of reform, development and comprehensive international integration of the country have been making higher demands on the work of international cooperation.

In addition, the system of the Party’s regulations and legal norms governing the management of the work of external relations has been constantly renewed, setting tighter and more standard requirements while demanding consistent, effective and synchronous management. Meanwhile, the work of consistent, systematic and synchronous management of the Academy has not caught up with its practical requirements and demand for strong reform. The capacity, qualifications and skills of the international cooperation contingents within the Academy’s system, especially in the affiliated units, are limited and inadequate while the levels of specialization and professionalism are still not high and uneven among units within the system. Over the past years, the merger, dissolution and restructuring of the international cooperation units and contingents within the Academy have step-by-step improved and enhanced the quality and effectiveness of the work of international cooperation in the system, but also caused imminent difficulties and challenges for its professionalism and specialization.

3. Directions and solutions to improving the quality and effectiveness of international cooperation in conformity with the development strategy of the Academy

International cooperation activities, aiming to make efficient contributions towards improving the capacity for training and fostering cadres, scientific research and providing policy consultation of the Academy, require sound strategies and vision, specific action plan, and consistent and systematic management on the basis of promoting the activeness, initiative, creativeness and flexibility of the affiliated units as well as the whole system. Therefore, the work of international cooperation of the Academy in the coming time should give attention to the following focal points and directions:

First, focus on, expand and improve the quality and effectiveness of international cooperation on the basis of promoting the capacity and initiative of affiliated units within the Academy in order to approach and selectively take in the world’s achievements and good experiences in training and fostering high-ranking human resources as well as scientific research and policy consultation; improve the quality and effectiveness of training and fostering programs for international students; actively promote forms of joint training with prestigious institutions and universities in the world; regularly appoint the cadres of the Academy or create favorable conditions for them to attend training or refresher courses overseas.

Second, actively expand international partnerships. In addition to prioritizing cooperation with traditional and strategic partners, it is necessary to develop cooperation with new partners who are scientific agencies that manage and train high quality human resources in the region and around the world. It is also important to diversify the forms and methods of cooperation with foreign partners in line with international integration trends.

Third, adhere and closely link the contents of cooperative activities to the execution of key political tasks of the Academy; increase the exchange of missions, information and documents; coordinate in organizing workshops, projects and joint researches with international partners; invite more leading experts in the world to participate in researches and lectures at the Academy; appoint more experts of the Academy to give lectures and do research abroad.

Fourth, perfect the structure, organization, apparatus, functions and authority of units working in international cooperation within the Academy’s system towards being efficient, streamlined, professional and highly specialized; form strong international research groups at the Academy and the global knowledge sharing hub; strengthen decentralization and empower affiliated units within the Academy’s system, especially the ones of the National Academy, to build and organize international cooperation activities; plan the partners as well as areas of cooperation for units based on their characteristics and strengths.

Fifth, reinforce the leadership and instruction in international cooperation of the Party Committee and the Directorate of the Academy; maintain consistency in managing international cooperation activities; adhere to the Party’s guidelines, lines, resolutions, the State’s policies and regulations on international cooperation; thoroughly apply the Academy’s guidelines on international cooperation and develop international cooperation strategies and plans that adhere to the Academy’s development strategy until 2030 with vision to 2045.

Sixth, improve the capacity for providing consultation, building and implementing plans; increase professionalism, specialization and expertise of the cadres working in international cooperation within the entire system; focus on training, fostering and increasing professional knowledges and skill, especially the knowledge, skills and experience in translation, interpretation, diplomatic reception, etc., for the contingent of cadres working in international cooperation.

Seventh, perfect the regulations on the consistent and uniform management of the work of external relations within the Academy’s system; develop international cooperation strategies and perfect the regulations on the consistent and uniform management of the work of external relations based on the Party and the State’s new regulations on the work of external relations in the current situation; formulate and promulgate international cooperation strategies, integrate and link the international cooperation strategies with the strategies for recruiting, using, training and fostering cadres, the strategies for scientific research and the strategies for overall development of the Academy until 2030 with vision to 2045.

Eighth, increase the application of information technology and intelligent management to managing, administering and implementing international cooperation activities as well as connecting units within the Academy’s system and with political schools in the country; at the same time, increase the exchange and sharing of experiences in building and implementing international cooperation activities with domestic and foreign partners.

Along with the constant growth of the Academy, the international cooperation activities have been contributing significantly to training and fostering leaders and managers at all levels of Vietnam, as well as providing policy consultation for the Party Central Executive Committee, the Government and localities, constantly strengthening the capacity for international integration of the contingent of lecturers and researchers, thereby elevating the Academy’s position in the region and the world. The honorable achievements in the work of international cooperation over the past years have been partially a result of the increasingly deep, effective and essential cooperative relations with domestic and foreign partners, especially the embassies and international organizations. Together with the persistent efforts, dedication and responsibility of the contingent of cadres working in international cooperation of the Academy, as well as the sincere and friendly collaboration and assistance of international friends, over the past years, international cooperation activities have been contributing to the successful implementation of the noble cause entrusted by the Party and the State, “the key work of the Party’s radical works”, and also elevating the position and promoting the strong development of the Academy in line with its missions, vision and goals for the first half of the 21st century.

_______________________

l Appendix:

1. The Academy currently has cooperative relations with more than 200 international partners representing more than 60 countries and territories, including political organizations, political and ruling parties, bilateral and multilateral organizations, think tanks and academic institutions of countries in the region and the world.

2. The Academy has formal relations in the forms of commitments, agreements or memorandums of understanding on international cooperation with more than 30 countries including Laos, China, Cuba, Mexico, the Russian Federation, Japan, South Korea, the United States, the French Republic, Germany, England, Austria, Switzerland, Spain, Poland, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Sweden, Denmark, Finland, Norway, Israel, South Africa, Mozambique, etc..

3. Over the past 30 years, nearly 50 international research programs and projects have been conducted, including: “Translating the Marxist-Leninist classics from Vietnamese into Lao” project, “Translating the Complete Works of Ho Chi Minh from Vietnamese to Lao” project, “The socialist state ruled by law in Vietnam and the state governed by law in Laos” project between Vietnam and Laos, “Translating the Complete Works of Ho Chi Minh from Vietnamese to Russian” project, “Development Experience Exchange Partnership for Vietnam’s visions” (DEEP) project between Vietnam and South Korea, New Rural Research Program (Samuel Undong): Experience of Vietnam and South Korea, “Enhancing the capacity for research and teaching in human rights at the Ho Chi Minh National Academy of Politics” project between Vietnam and Australia, “Enhancing the capacity for policy communication” project between the Academy of Journalism and Communication with the University of Vienna (Austria), “Research and teaching in leadership and public policy” between the Academy and the University of Portland (USA), “Public policy and HIV/AIDS” between the Academy and Harvard University, Boston University (USA), “Enhancing the capacity of the Ho Chi Minh National Academy of Politics” between the Academy and JICA (Japan), between the Academy and KOICA (South Korea), “Women leadership and gender studies” between the Academy and UNDP, Aus4skills, “Knowledge sharing program” between the Academy and the World Bank, “Research on anti-corruption experience” between the Academy and the British Department for International Development, “National human rights agencies in the world” in coordination with Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA) and Lund University (Sweden), “Human rights education” with the Danish Institute for Human Rights, etc..

4. Universities, research institutes and think tanks include Harvard University, UC Berkeley, UC Davis, University of Southern California, Boston University, George Washington University, Indiana University, University of Portland, Brookings Institution, Heritage Foundation, CSIS, etc. (USA); University of Birmingham, University of Manchester, University of London, National School of Government (UK); University of New South Wales, Sydney, University of Melbourne, Australian National University (Australia); National Academy of Administration (India); Russian Academy of Sciences, Saint Petersburg State University (Russian Federation); National School of Administration - ENA (French Republic); Academy of Public Administration under the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan; Central Party School of the Communist Party of China, Peking University, Tsinghua University, Fudan University, Tianjin Administration Institute, Shanghai Administration Institute, Sichuan Administration Institute, etc. (China); Lao National Academy of Politics and Public Administration, Lao Academy of Social Sciences (Laos); University of Tokyo, Kyoto University, National Personnel Authority - NPA in Japan, Japan International Cooperation Agency - JICA, Japan International Cooperation Center - JICE (Japan); Yonsei University, Seoul National University, Sungkyunkwan University, Korea International Cooperation Agency - KOICA, National Human Resources Development Institute (South Korea); National University of Singapore, Nanyang Technological University (Singapore); Mahidol University, Chulalongkorn University, Royal Institute of Thailand (Thailand); etc..

Assoc. Prof., Dr. Nguyen Viet Thao

Vice President

Ho Chi Minh National Academy of Politics

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