Training high quality human resources in the fields of agriculture, forestry and fisheries

On the afternoon of October 3, at Hue University Hall (Hue city, Thua Thien Hue province), the Central Propaganda Department coordinated with Hue University to organize a scientific workshop on "Training high-quality human resources in the fields of agriculture, forestry and fisheries, meeting the requirements of industrialization and modernization of agriculture and rural areas".

Attending the workshop were Dr. Vu Thanh Mai, Deputy Head of the Central Propaganda Department; leaders of the Department of Education - Central Propaganda Department, Department of Higher Education - Ministry of Education and Training, and related ministries, departments, branches of the Central and local levels, universities, enterprises, scientists, managers; leaders of the People's Committee of Thua Thien Hue province, Hue University.

Human resources for many fields are still limited.

Speaking at the opening of the workshop, Dr. Vu Thanh Mai, Deputy Head of the Central Propaganda Department, said that developing high-quality human resources in the fields of agriculture, forestry and fisheries is an important factor, contributing to creating a solid foundation for implementing strategic breakthroughs in the spirit of the Resolution of the 13th National Party Congress. This is not only a solution to solve immediate problems, but also a long-term strategy to ensure sustainable development for agriculture, forestry and fisheries, helping Vietnam maintain its competitive position in the international arena.

Dr. Vu Thanh Mai, Deputy Head of the Central Propaganda Department, spoke at the workshop.

According to Dr. Vu Thanh Mai, in recent years, human resource training in the fields of agriculture, forestry and fisheries has developed in both quantity and quality, contributing significantly to the transformation of crop and livestock structure, application of science and technology, improvement of quality and added value, competitiveness of agricultural products and new rural construction.

However, human resources for these fields are still limited. The number of trained workers with degrees and certificates is very low, about 4.6%; training is not organized evenly, not covering all key production areas; the capacity of cadres, civil servants and public employees is uneven, not meeting the requirements of the task; the team of managers with strategic thinking, scientists and leading experts, and cadres with the ability to advise and provide policy advice at the regional and international level is still limited.

“The above limitations of human resources in the fields of agriculture, forestry and fishery are one of the main reasons why the productivity, quality and competitiveness of many agricultural products are still low; seriously affecting the implementation of the policy of industrialization and modernization of agriculture and rural areas, one of the top important tasks of industrialization and modernization of the country,” Dr. Vu Thanh Mai emphasized.

According to the leader of the Central Propaganda Department, currently, laborers in the agriculture, forestry and fishery sector account for about 26% of the total labor force in the country. Meanwhile, only less than 2% of the total number of students enrolling each year enroll in university in agriculture, forestry and fishery, and some traditional agricultural sectors have very few or even no students enrolling. Without strong and drastic solutions, this reality will have a very negative impact on human resources in the agriculture, forestry and fishery sector, and the risk of not achieving the goals of industrialization and modernization of agriculture and rural areas.

Through this scientific workshop, we aim to assess the current situation and propose viewpoints, goals, and breakthrough solutions for training high-quality human resources in the fields of agriculture, forestry, and fisheries to meet the requirements of industrialization and modernization of agriculture and rural areas according to Resolution No. 19-NQ/TW dated June 16, 2022 of the 13th Party Central Committee on agriculture, farmers, and rural areas by 2030, with a vision to 2045.

The workshop attracted many experts, scientists, and managers to discuss many solutions for training high-quality human resources for agriculture.

The Deputy Head of the Central Propaganda Department hopes that the workshop will receive enthusiastic, frank and responsible opinions from agencies, units and scientists, focusing on initiatives and solutions to remove difficulties and bottlenecks, creating strong and clear changes in the training of human resources for agriculture, forestry and fisheries in the coming time.

Raise awareness, motivate stakeholders to take action

Speaking at the workshop, Associate Professor, Dr. Le Anh Phuong, Director of Hue University, said that after nearly 70 years of construction and development, Hue University is a higher education institution playing a pioneering and core role in the training of high-quality human resources for the Central Highlands and the whole country. Currently, Hue University has 13 training units including 8 member universities and 5 training units under Hue University; 9 institutes, research centers and publishing houses.

According to Associate Professor, Dr. Le Anh Phuong, Hue University has 4,088 employees and workers, with 1,832 lecturers, including 780 main lecturers and senior lecturers, 18 professors, 178 associate professors; 723 doctors of science, doctors and 14 specialists 2; 1,311 masters and specialists 1 and 38 honorary professors. With an abundant workforce, Hue University's scientific and technological activities in recent years have achieved many important results in both quantity and quality, from scientific publications to applied transfer products.

Among the member universities of Hue University, the University of Agriculture and Forestry, formerly the University of Agriculture II - Ha Bac, was established in 1967, with the mission of training and providing high-quality human resources, advanced and effective scientific and technological products to promote agricultural and rural development for the Central Highlands and the whole country in the direction of integration and development. The goal by 2030, the University of Agriculture and Forestry is to be one of the leading universities in the country in the field of agriculture and rural areas.

Associate Professor, Dr. Le Anh Phuong, Director of Hue University spoke at the conference.

“This is also an opportunity for scientists and lecturers of the University of Agriculture and Forestry in particular, and member schools of Hue University in general, to access information, cooperate, exchange, interact and learn from experiences with management agencies, universities, research institutes, localities and businesses in related fields,” Dr. Le Anh Phuong emphasized.

In their discussions at the workshop, delegates shared many passionate, frank and responsible opinions, focusing on initiatives and solutions to remove difficulties and bottlenecks, creating strong and clear changes in the training of agricultural, forestry and fishery resources in the coming time.

Director of the Department of Higher Education, Ministry of Education and Training Nguyen Thu Thuy said: "The field of agriculture, forestry and fisheries is closely linked to rural areas and agriculture. Therefore, to realize the policy of prosperous agriculture, rich farmers and civilized countryside, human resource development becomes a decisive factor in the industrialization and modernization of the rural agricultural sector".

According to Dr. Nguyen Thu Thuy, although the agricultural workforce accounts for more than 25% of the country's total workforce, the high-quality human resources in this field, although numerous, are still weak and lacking. In particular, the number of students enrolling in the fields of agriculture, forestry and fisheries is less than 2% of the total number of students enrolled nationwide. Every year, specialized schools training in the fields of agriculture, forestry and fisheries often only enroll less than 50% of the assigned quota.

Recently, some traditional agricultural sectors have had almost no or very few students enrolling. In 2022, the agricultural, forestry and fishery training sector only recruited 0.86%; veterinary medicine reached 0.51% compared to the total number of successful candidates in the fields, while the demand of recruiting units for workers with college degrees or higher is very high (approximately 46,000 people/year).

“Faced with the above situation, the Ministry of Education and Training has been implementing positive and timely policy solutions to contribute to maximizing the effectiveness of training learners’ capacity as well as labor productivity after graduation. This is reflected in the figures of enrollment in the 2021-2024 period and policies and solutions to support higher education institutions, training in the fields of agriculture, forestry and fisheries to meet the industrialization and modernization of agriculture and rural areas,” emphasized Dr. Nguyen Thu Thuy.

Director of the Department of Higher Education (Ministry of Education and Training), Associate Professor, Dr. Nguyen Thu Thuy gave a speech at the workshop.

Concluding the workshop, Deputy Head of the Central Propaganda Department Vu Thanh Mai said that today's scientific workshop is an important basis for the advisory units of the Central Propaganda Department to develop a report on the training of high-quality human resources in the fields of agriculture, forestry and fisheries, raising awareness, promoting action among relevant parties; at the same time, submitting to competent authorities for consideration and decision on appropriate policies to promote the training of high-quality human resources in the fields of agriculture, forestry and fisheries.

Source: https://nhandan.vn/dao-tao-nguon-nhan-luc-chat-luong-cao-trong-cac-linh-vuc-nong-lam-nghiep-va-thuy-san-post834691.html