General introduction

 General introduction

Hong Duc University was established under Decision No. 797/TTg dated September 24, 1997 of the Prime Minister through the amalgamation of three tertiary institutions: College of Education, College of Economics and Technique and Thanh Hoa Medical College. On January 17, 1998, Chairman of Provincial People's Committee issued Decision No. 138 QD/TC-UB on Hong Duc University’s organizational structure including: 10 faculties, 7 divisions, 2 boards, 3 centers and 3 departments;

            The Division of Training Management was formed with the mission: Assist the Rector in planning the training development strategy of the university; conduct training works; counsel the Board of Rector on the planning, quality of teaching and learning, examination and evaluation of training forms in line with prescribed regulations.

In response to the university’s work requirements, the Rector issued Decision No. 524/QĐ-ĐHHĐ dated August 4, 2005. Accordingly, the Division of Training Management is authorized to perfom the numerous functions: Assist the Rector in planning the training development strategy of the university; conduct training works, including: plans, programs, curricula, quality of teaching and learning, examination and evaluation of training forms in accordance with the current regulations. For the past 10 years since the establishment of the university, the Division has seen the big change in organizational structure, from 18 staff in 1997 (1 head, 2 deputy head, 15 staff); at present, the number of staff is reduced to 12 (the academic year 2007-2008). Deispte increased workload, reduced permanent staff, under the leadership of the Party Committee, the Board of Rector, the Division has always strived to accomplish all assigned tasks with outstanding results for the past 10 years:

1. The Division has actively advised the Board of Rector on the opening of 39 training specialties and joint training programs:

After one year of establishment, as a new development model in the higher education system across the country, for the development of the training scale and the implementation of the assigned tasks in response to the socio-economic needs of the province, society and learners, the Division has advised to gradually improve the training process and to develop new training specialties.

In 1997, the university only offered associate’s courses in economics, engineering, pedagogy and health. For the opening of bachelor’s courses since 1998, the Division has coordinated with the relevant units of the university in enhancing the competence, expertise and teamwork capabilities of staff/faculty; The Division has also learned experiences from other prestigious tertiary institutions in the country to carry out development strategies and to open new Bachelor’s courses.

In 1998, the first year of preparation for enrollment, the department advised and directed the development of the curriculum, syllabus, facilities and equipment. The university opened three new bachelor’s courses; by far, the bachelor’s degree training scope has significantly increased in terms of the number of students, lecturers and specialties, the profession structure in line with the training requirements, facilities/equipment, and cooperative potentials in reponse to training needs of the province, the society and learners.

As of 2002, the university has proposed MOET to expand the enrolment area to Thua Thien-Hue for non-pedagogical specialties.

As a result, from 1998 to 2007, the university has opened and cooperate with a nationwide network of universities to offer 39 full-time bachelor’s courses.

In the academic year 1998-1999, three new courses were opened: Math Education, Litterature Education, and Agriculture (Cultivation);

In the academic year 1999-2000, a new course in physics education was opened;

In the academic year 2000-2001, three new courses were opened: History Education, Aninal Husbandry-Veterinary Medicine and, Informatics;

In the academic year 2001-2002, three new courses were opened: Chemistry Education, Biology Education and English Education;

In the academic year 2002-2003, three new courses were opened: Plant Protection, Accounting, and Business Administration;

In the academic year 2003-2004, four new courses were opened: Geography Education, Primary Education, Aquaculture, Literature; Joint training programs including Electronics and Telecommunications (in cooperation with the University of Science and Technology), Biotechnology (in cooperation with the University of Agriculture I);

In the academic year 2004-2005, two new joint training programs include: agricultural product preservation and process (in cooperation with the University of Agriculture I), business administration (in cooperation with Vietnam Commercial University);

In the academic year 2005-2006, three new courses were opened: Preschool Education, History, Vietnamese Studies; 05 Joint Training Programs: Mechanical Engineering (University of Agriculture I), Forestry (University of Forestry), Bridge and Civil Engineering (National University of Civil Engineering), Electric System (Thai Nguyen University);

In the academic year 2006-2007, seven new courses were opened: Physics-Chemistry Education, Biology-Engineering; Math-Infomatics, Physics (Applied Physics), Sociology, Geography (Tourism Geography), Agronomy (Garden Engineering).

In the academic year 2007-2008, three new courses were opened: Psychology, Forestry, Finance and Banking (Enterprise Finance).

Preparing for enrollment in the acamdemic year 2008-2009, the Division in cooperation with relevant units formulated 5 new specialties (two university-level specialties: English language, Physical Education, 3 college-level specialties: Music Education, Electrical system, Cadastre)

2. The Division has actively advised the Board of Rector to diversify types of training:

Up to the academic year 2007-2008, the university has developed and expanded the forms of training (full-time, part-time, in-service) at different levels (Bachelor’s degree, associate’s degree, Vocational training, refresher courses)

In the academic year 2007-2008, the university trained 14,150 students, of which 7434 are full-time students (Bachelor’s course: 37 specialties and 5272 students; Associate’s courses: 17 specialties, 2054 students; vocational level: 108 students); 1446 in-service students (Bachelor’s course: 10 specialties and 1247 students; Associate’s courses: 02 specialties, 199 students;); 3803 part-time students (Bachelor’s course: 11 specialties and 3093 students; Associate’s courses: 6 specialties, 747 students); In addition, the university also cooperated with Vietnamese universities to offer 9 part-time university-level specialties with 1432 students.

Thanh Hoa province consists of 11 mountainous districts, in addition to enrolment and training in accordance with general criteria, the university is also authorized by the province and MOET to train students in response to human resource needs and economic structure transformation of high-land areas. The Board of Rector assigned the Division to conduct this mission. As of 2002, the university has trained a total of 548 students (of which 512 are eligible for undergraduate training; 23 eligible for vocational training); the academic year 2007-2008: 16 students were trained under the scholarship of local governments (Bachelor’s courses: 14, Associate’s courses: 2); 59 students were admitted to study in associate’s degree pedagogic courses: Math: 20 students, Chemistry: 19 students, Biology: 20 students..

In order to meet the needs for high-tech human resources, the university was assigned by the province to train talented IT staff under provincial projects, with the total number of 39 students of 3 courses (2000, 2001, 2002)

Since 2005, in addition to full-time and part-time training types, MOET has allowed the university to formulate associate’s degree training programs for some specialties: Preschool Education, Accounting, Primary Education; Associate’s degree holders are eligible to study Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Business Administration, Agronomy (Cultivation), Math Education, Literature Education, English Education or Primary School.

3. From the year 1997-1998 to the year 2007-2008, the training scale greatly developed to meet the needs of human resources not only for Thanh Hoa province but also for the neibouring provinces. Scale of training for 10 years are detailed as follows:

Over the past years, by implementing MOET policy, Resolution 40 of the 10^th session of National Assembly, the university assigned the Devision, in conjunction with relevant faculties and the Department of Education and Training to conduct the continuous refresher training, renovate high-school textbooks in accordance with assigned functions and tasks. In addition, the university has also bolstered the cultural and educational cooperation between the People's Committee of Thanh Hoa province and the Huaphanh province, Laos in training various-majored Lao students at different levels for Huaphanh provincinal socio-economic developement. In the year 2007-2008, there are 12 bachelor’s degree graduates, 35 graduates majoring in Vietnamese language and basic culture.

The university has proposed the province to implement the joint training programs in cooperation with a number of foreign universities in order to train undergraduate and postgraduate students at university and postgraduate levels, from 2006 to 2007, 53 postgraduate students were selected to study overseas under the sponsorship of the Thanh hoa provincial people’s committee.

In the academic year 2008-2009, the Division and other related units formulated 5 new training programs: Bachelor’s degrees in English and Physical Education, Associate’s degrees in Music-Teamwork, Power system and cadaster; Conduct the training need survey; develop the medium-term plan 2006-2010, 2010-2020; The training planning will be prioritized to open Agriculture-forestry-fishery specialties, IT and economics associated with the use and training of technical human resources for various sectors, geographic areas, industrial parks and economic components of the province and neighboring areas.

4. Developing training programs in previous years was assigned to the Division of Science Management and International Cooperation. From the academic year 2005-2006, the Division was assigned additional task to direct the goal setting and the training program development and to edit the detailed syllabus, materials for teaching, etc. The Division has also strengthened the coordination among units in perforing assigned tasks:

- In response to human resource training requirements for each sector/period in support of local socio-economic development needs, the Division has directed the units to set specific targets for some training courses; To ensure the improved quality of training, the Division has proposed a variety of comprehensive measures, renovating the content of training programs in a scientific, modern and feasible way.

- The curricula of new courses are formulated and implemented; after each academic year, the Division has advised relevant units to review and adjust them in accordance with training requirements and local reality.

By far, all training courses have full-course syllabus (module); each faculty and department has strived to review and compile teaching materials; Each lecturer is assigned to teach the modules prepared for lectures and references. From the actual teaching and training outcome, it can be seen that the objectives, contents and schedules of training programs have been designed to meet the actual socio-economic requirements. The criteria such as the amount of knowledge, educational level, professional skills and social practices have been integrated into the curriculum through disciplines and modules. This helps equip students with necessary knowledge and skills in preparation for their professtion after graduation.

The completion of the training program has ensured that graduates would can adapt to the socio-economic reality, assuming decent jobs at various institutions and economic components.

By implementing Decision No. 43/2007/QD-BGDDT, dated August 15, 2007 of the Ministry of Education and Training on Promulgating regulations on full-time undergraduate training under the credit system", The Division has counseled the Board of Rector on the implementation.

5. In order to direct the annual teaching work, the Division advised the Board of Rector to develop the draft teaching plan. After consulting the relevant Units’ proposals, the Division completes the master plan for the submission to the Rector for approval. In June of every year, the Division officially issues the teaching plan for the following year, which would serves as a basis for specialized units to draw up detailed plans for implementation; twice a year, the Division advises to conduct the inspection of the implementation of the plan and monthly evaluation; then counsels the Board of Rector to assess the situation and propose solutions to improving the quality of teaching and learning.

In order to improve the quality of training, the Division seriously directs: the regulations on enrolment, the regulations on organization of training,  study outcome examination and evaluation for graduation recognition; focus on the training process, each faculty, department, lecturers, teaching method innovation; Renovate the forms of professional training, practice and intership; advise the Board of Rector to promulgate regulations on professional management and teaching-learning standard management. For example, issuing the instructions on "strengthening the teaching quality management and improvement"; the campaign "Say no to negativity in examinations and achievement related diseases in education." the campaign "Say no to training in constrast to social needs." Particularly take a great care of the evaluation of the learners' results in accordance with the prescribed regulations; Improve the forms of examination and evaluation: Assignment, test, oral examination, presentation, etc.

The student's study results have been increased every year; in the year 2006-2007: full-time students’ results were classified as follows: Distinction: 33.5%, Merit: 49.6%, Pass: 15.6%, Fail: 1.3%; Graduation results: 94.3%.

6. In order to improve the work quality, making a great contribution to the training quality, the leaders and staff have participated in scientific research projects and development projects of the university, improving the works of plan implementation; teaching record management, teaching-learning standard management,etc. Some leaders of the Division take part in Sicence Council and be part of several scientific projects.

The Division formulates the process of: "Planning and implementation of teaching plans"; "Monitoring exam related activities, assessment for term passing and graduation recognition"; "Developing curricula"; Q. "Organizing Entrance Examination". These processes are guided to each staff in charge.

Organization of workshops: innovation of teaching methods; innovation of the direction of practice and intership; training management software and the implementation of the full-time undergraduate training under the credit system.

7. All staff of the Division is always aware of improving their expertise and skills by furthering their education. In 2000-2005, one staff studied a PhD; In 2005-2006: 1 staff attended the political course, 1 staff attended a education management course with outstanding results. In 2006, a new staff won a scholarship to study a post-graduate training program at a foreign university. In late 2006 and early 2007: 2 leaders studied a political course and a PhD respectively. Leaders and staff always adhere to the policies and laws of the state, the regulations of the university; have high moral qualities, solidarity and creativity in work to accomplish all assigned tasks.

8. The Division has actively participated in cultural movements, sports and charity activities organized by the university, taking a great care of both physical and mental life of staff.

The Division plays an important role in directing and organizing the implementation of the university's training activities; Assist the Rector in planning the training development strategy of the university; conduct training works, including: plans, programs, curricula, quality of teaching and learning, examination and evaluation of training forms in accordance with the current regulations;. As a result, the Division help the University implement the comprehensive development strategy in the right direction with great achievements in terms of expanded training scope, increased training specialties, diversified training forms and methods, the enhanced training quality and qualified students training for the provincial socio-economic development.

With such outstanding outcomes over the years, many individuals and collectives have obtained the range of great achievements:

- Every year, 2 - 5 staff (25% -45%) is recognized as grassroots-level emulation soldiers. In 2002, two were awarded the certificate of merit by the Prime Minister and by the provincial People's Committee respectively. By 2007, 11/12 staff were awarded medals for educational dedication. In the year 2006-2007: 4 staff were awarded the certificates of merit by the Education Union.

- For the past 10 years, the Division has always achieved the title "Excellent Labor Collective" at grassroots level. 1998-1999: Minister of Education and Training awarded the certificate of merit to the leaders and staff of the Division. The year of 2002 marks the 5th anniversary of the establishment, the Prime Minister awarded the merit certificate for the excellent achivements from 1999-2001. Branches are always clean and strong; additionally, in 2002, the Division was awarded the certificate of merit by the provincial Party Committee. Training management collective was also proposed by the Emulation Council to be awarded the certificate of merit by the prime minister on the occasion of 10^th anniversary of establishment.

To promote achievements in next years, all leaders and staff actively continue to counsel the Board of Rector on: performing training tasks, opening new training specialties, innovating the training forms, intensifying the renovation of the management works and conducting the campaigns. "Say no to negativity in examinations and achievement related diseases in education "; "Say no to training in contrast to social needs". . . contributing to the improvement of training quality in response to needs for human resources in Thanh Hoa province and the process of industrialization and modernization across the country.