Apr 21,2023

TRAINING ACTIVITIES OF THE LAST 10 YEARS OF 

NAM CAN THO UNIVERSITY

Dr. Nguyen Van Quang

Party Committee Secretary, Rector of Nam Can Tho University

SUMMARY

Nam Can Tho University, in its ten years of establishment and development, has affirmed its initial position as a place to train high-quality human resources in accordance with social requirements and international integration; it is a place with a culturally friendly, and human environment, suitable for the intellectual economy; it is a reliable place for scientific research and technology transfer to meet social needs. It ensures the interests of learners, teachers, schools, and society; it has spacious and modern facilities to fully meet teaching and learning needs; and businesses are closely associated with each discipline. All of this is reflected in the ten-year establishment and development of the University. 

1. INTRODUCTION

Nam Can Tho University (DNC) was established under Decision No. 230/QD-TTg dated January 25, 2013, by the Prime Minister and was authorized by the Ministry of Education and Training to conduct training activities under Decision No. 1335/QD-BGDDT on April 12, 2013. Up to now, having been in operation for ten years, the DNC has achieved excellent results in the fields of training, science and technology activities, facilities, enterprises in the university, international relations, economic activities, student union activities, and social activities, among others. It has gradually integrated education and training in Southeast Asia and the world. To celebrate the 10th anniversary of the establishment of the DNC, let us look back at the journey of formation, construction, and development of the collective of the DNC’s staff, lecturers, and employees.

In terms of vision, the DNC strives to become an advanced training institution with international integration, meeting the requirements of industrialization and modernization of the country, and striving to become one of the most successful universities, meeting the national standards of quality accreditation according to the Ministry of Education and Training of Vietnam.

The DNC initially affirmed that all activities related to the formation and development of the university have shown sustainability, from the organizational structure to the management staff, the teaching staff, and the facilities—modern equipment, practical laboratories, an electronic library, computer room, textbooks, teaching and learning materials, etc. Serving all learning and training processes, innovation, and scientific research for about 20,000 students and trainees studying at the University and over 6,500 graduates providing human resources for Can Tho city and the Mekong Delta region. Over the past time, lecturers and students of the DNC have overcome many difficulties and challenges. The university's pedagogical team has always believed in and been proud of the mission and pioneering role of a Vietnamese university that, step by step, offers quality, achievements, and an advanced academic environment to young Vietnamese to be able to integrate and be professionally brave in their lives.

2. DEVELOPMENT OF TRAINING SPECIALIZATION, CODES, AND ADMISSION COMBINATION

Recognizing the role of training career orientation, since 2013 the DNC has developed the progress and process of opening training codes in the period of 2013 - 2025.

According to this plan, with the number of existing programs and the number of planned programs, by 2025, there will be 55 training programs, of which there are 40 training programs at the university level, 10 training programs at the master’s level, and 05 doctoral training programs. The training disciplines and majors at the DNC up to 2022 were as follows:

Table 1. List of university-level training majors until 2022

(Source: Academic Affairs Department of Nam Can Tho University)

Table 2. List of training majors at the Master's level of the DNC until 2022

Table 3. List of training majors at the Ph.D. level of the DNC until 2022

3. RECRUITMENT CRITERIA FOR TRAINING LEVELS AND TRAINING SYSTEM

Establish a user-centered training policy, collaborate with businesses, and support experts, technicians, managers, etc. capable of participating in training and practice while possessing knowledge. According to the circular, the percentage of visiting lecturers should be increased from 5% to 10% of the total number of full-time lecturers converted by the training institution by major or field of study. Visiting lecturers are permitted to take part in setting the admision quotas for both master’s and doctoral degrees.

Table 4. Admission targets of all levels and types of training of the DNC by 2022

(Source: Academic Affairs Department of Nam Can Tho University)

4. DEVELOPING DETAILS OF SUBJECTS OF TRAINING PROGRAM BY GRADUATE PERFORMANCE STANDARDS

The DNC promulgates the process of developing/adjusting detailed course outlines that are consistent with the University on the basis of being associated with the DNC's mission goals and vision, and the graduate performance standards of each discipline. Faculty, institute, center, and department are in charge and assign lecturers to implement it annually through teaching, students' opinions, and employers' suggestions, which were revised, supplemented, and perfected.

The process of developing and completing the detailed outline of the training courses is shown in the following flowchart:

Flowchart 1. Developing and adjusting the detailed outline 

Thanks to this flowchart, the outline development is unified with the DNC, ensuring the update according to the needs of society. When put into teaching and learning, it is highly appreciated by students and graduate students. Results of collecting feedback from regular students in their final year about the whole course in 2022 that showed in Table 5.

Table 5. Summary of final year student survey results about training programs and detailed outlines

(Source: Departments of Academic Affairs and Examination and Education Quality Assurance, Nam Can Tho University)

Thus, it can be seen that students were satisfied with the training program at the DNC (rated 81%), in which, the training program has clear objectives, is suitable for social needs. The program content is suitable for training objectives and is regularly updated as the two highest rated criteria (83% rating). This is a potential factor that creates the strength of the University, so the University needs effective improvement measures to further improve student satisfaction with the University's training programs.

5. ACCREDITATION OF TRAINING PROGRAMS AT ALL LEVELS UNTIL 2022

The DNC has carried out self-assessment and quality accreditation according to the set of standards for quality assessment of universities and training programs of the Ministry of Education and Training. The key issue of accreditation is that the school is always interested in the height of the ladder of continuous development, which is the content of innovations and improvements from management structure to policies, to plans and implementation present in most areas of the school such as curriculum, teaching methods and assessment of learning outcomes, scientific research, and services. Stemming from that philosophy, the DNC conducts accreditation of education quality of full-time undergraduate and master's programs. Education Accreditation Center - Association of Universities and Colleges of Vietnam awarded Certificate of Accreditation of Educational Institutions, Accreditation Center of Education Quality - Hanoi National University granted the certificate of educational quality accreditation for the training programs of the DNC at levels of  undergraduate and master's programs was as follows:

Table 6. Training programs were granted certificates of education quality accreditation and are expected to end in 2022

6. TRAINING METHODS

The training method applied to the whole DNC is learner-centered. This is a method that is tailored to each individual's learning needs and preferences. In today's modern learning society, focusing on learners is essential for success in training students.

In student-centered teaching, learners are considered active agents. Instead of focusing on teachers, on the contrary, put learners at the center to match the needs and interests of each individual because most learners bring their own knowledge, past experiences, and thoughts. This affects how they absorb new information and learn. Being learner-centered encourages learner engagement and productivity, taking in an increased volume of information, and retaining it longer. A common feature in training is that the more involved learners are in the learning process, the more knowledge they retain when they return to work. This is the most appropriate teaching method to improve the quality of training for the DNC.

In order to improve the quality of training, the DNC has focused on investing in and developing lecturer resources. Developing the lecturer resources is not only an investment in quantity but also a development in the quality of the teaching staff. This lecturer resource not only brings contributions and benefits from the development of the DNC but also acts as a bridge between educational institutions and learners to access information on learning, research innovation, creativity in learning, and scientific research. In addition, to try to provide students with a stable mindset when they graduate, the DNC also has another way to focus on training students with the ability to survive, establish a business, and develop in the diversity of the labor market. Harnessing the hidden talents in each student for their self-development, the responsibility of the DNC is to help those talents discover themselves and help learners excel from those talents. When they feel that they are superior (even in a very narrow niche of their ability), they will be passionate, and it is from that passion that they will study well and, as a result, get a good job or set up a new career can work and will be successful when they graduate. The success of learners is proof of the quality of the DNC's training. Below is a statistics table of the number of students, graduates, and degree-granting students in the whole DNC by 2022, as follows:

Table 7. Number of students, graduates, and degrees awarded by 2022

(Source: Departments of Academic Affairs and Examination and Education Quality Assurance Department, Nam Can Tho University)

The quality of the DNC's training over the past 10 years has shown a marked increase, but the rate of graduation classification according to Excellent, Very good, Good, Above average, and Average is one of the important standards to evaluate quality training.

Table 8. Number and percentage of students graduating by the year 2022

(Source: Departments of Academic Affairs and Examination and Education Quality Assurance Department, Nam Can Tho University)

Building and perfecting the structure of the training sector, training programs, training scale, teaching methods, and training management in the direction of standardization, modernization, and international integration, creating a fundamental and comprehensive change in training quality; enhancing the effectiveness of cooperation with international partners; and improving English proficiency for students by selectively putting into use much training programs being taught at foreign universities in accordance with the development needs development in the Mekong Delta. Striving to put 30% of the curriculum in English for a number of training disciplines by 2025; promote scientific research for both lecturers and students, widely deploy the registration of scientific research topics, improve the quality of scientific research, content associated with the practice, and meet the needs of students' development of technical technology while ensuring novelty, creativity, and science; improve the quality of the DNC's Journal of Science and Development Economics; complete facilities and equipment to meet the needs of teaching, learning and scientific research.

7. COMPREHENSIVE DEVELOPMENT OF INTEGRATION SKILLS FOR BSc AND MSc STUDENTS

Studying at the DNC, learners have the conditions to comprehensively develop professional knowledge in a dynamic, modern, and professional university environment. Learners have practical access to the business model in university and practice it while still training. The DNC also established academic clubs such as English, Informatics, Fine Arts, Information Technology, etc., and Entertainment clubs such as Guitar and Music, Tennis, Physical Education - Sports, Charming Female Students, etc. that can help students learn and have fun.

In addition, the equipping of necessary soft skills such as informatics, foreign languages, communication skills, teamwork skills, etc. can help students be confident, dynamic, and easy to get along with after graduation and enter a multi-disciplinary, multicultural working environment.

8. TEAM OF TEACHERS

The DNC regularly recruits and builds a contingent of teaching staff with sufficient numbers, solid expertise, a synchronous management structure, and good expertise and professionalism, while promoting training activities that create and foster a contingent of highly qualified teaching and administrative staff. The lecturers regularly accumulate and improve their professional and pedagogical knowledge and enhance their creativity to have good, new, and attractive lectures. Integrate practical knowledge into lectures so that learners can realize the reality of work, allocate time between theory and practice appropriately, and ensure effective practice. Create the best conditions for learners to absorb new knowledge in a favorable way and develop learners' self-research and self-inquiry abilities. In addition to pedagogical knowledge and skills, the lecturers are close, friendly, enthusiastic, and dedicated to the profession. To act as a bridge with the DNC's leaders, and find out the wishes and needs of the learners. Below is a statistical table of the results of the final-year student survey about the lectures in 2022, as follows:

Table 9. Summary of the results of the final year student survey about the teaching staff

(Source: Departments of AcademicAffairs and Examination and Education Quality Assurance Department, Nam Can Tho University)

Most students were satisfied with the lecturers and teaching activities of the DNC (rated at 83%). Most of the lecturers are qualified and have deep expertise in the subject they teach, and the teaching activities of the teaching staff are always associated with career orientation to help students have a better view of the job after graduation. The lecturers are very enthusiastic to help students, are willing to share knowledge and professional experiences with students, have scientific teaching methods, and well implement innovation in teaching and learning methods in the direction of encouraging learners to gain self-study and group work skills. This is the strength of the DNC that needs to be maintained and developed more.

9. MANAGEMENT ACTIVITIES AND TRAINING SERVICES

This is the strength of the DNC in the past 10 years. This was shown in the datasheet of Results of final-year students' feedback about the whole course in 2022.

Table 10. Summary of final year student survey results on management and training service

(Source: Departments of AcademicAffairs and Examination and Education Quality Assurance Department, Nam Can Tho University)

Students rated the management and training service as agreeable or better with 1,695 responses, accounting for 79%. It is evident in the fact that the evaluation criteria for learning outcomes are fully communicated to students; provided with sufficient information about the course (output standards, outlines, learning methods, and learning materials), the method of testing and evaluation ensures seriousness, fairness, accuracy, and objectivity. 

10. SUPPORT AND SERVICE ACTIVITIES OF STUDENTS

This is also the strength of the DNC in the past 10 years. This was shown in the datasheet of Results of feedback from final-year students on support and service activities for the full course in 2022.

Table 11. Summary of final year student survey results on student support and service activities

(Source: Departments of Academic Affairs and Examination and Education Quality Assurance Department, Nam Can Tho University)

The result showed the majority of students rated agree or higher, including 1,660 responses, accounting for 78% that are shown in the following points: Academic advisor (homeroom teacher) actively advises and supports students in learning; academic and career counseling activities provide sufficient information to meet students' research, selection, and learning needs; students are fully informed of the plan to carry out scientific research projects. 

11. EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES, CONNECTIONS, AND COMMUNITY SERVICE

Regarding extracurricular activities and connecting and serving the community, the majority of students rated agree or higher, including 1,665 responses, accounting for 78%. This is also a potential factor that creates the strength of the DNC, so the DNC needs to have effective improvement measures to further improve student satisfaction with the DNC's training programs. Time to organize flexible activities suitable for students, such as organizing on weekends for students to participate more fully and organizing more job fairs for students to enhance job opportunities. This was shown in the datasheet of final-year students' feedback on extracurricular activities, networking, and community service in 2022.

Table 12. Summary of final year student survey results on extracurricular activities, networking and community service

(Source: Departments of Academic Affairs and Examination and Education Quality Assurance Department, Nam Can Tho University)

CONCLUSION

Ten years are a beginning stage in the DNC's training activities, with the motto coming up from its own internal strength. Simultaneously, the Ministry of Education and Training, the Ministry of Health, the People's Committee of Can Tho City, and the departments of Can Tho City have supported and helped, along with the investors, the University Council, the Board of Rectors, the staff, and lecturers have devoted all their energy and wisdom to building the DNC as it is today. In addition, the DNC also makes synchronous investments in all areas of activities related to improving training quality. This is evidenced by the survey results of final year learners (2022), showing that the majority of students were satisfied with the training quality of the DNC through the criteria of the training program, teaching staff, and technology training management and service, student support and service activities, extra-curricular activities, connection and service to the community, and facilities, etc., so that graduates can meet the graduate performance standards of the training program. The DNC will maintain and promote its strengths to build the DNC brand as a strategic key to training high-quality human resources for the Mekong Delta in particular and the whole country generally.