Solutions to attract candidates to basic science

C APPLICATION-DIRECTED PROGRAM UPDATE

As one of the few schools that trains in many basic science fields including natural sciences, social sciences and humanities, life sciences, etc., Can Tho University changes and updates its training programs in an applied direction. Master Nguyen Hua Duy Khang, Deputy Head of the School's Training Department, shared: "These majors are supplemented with new knowledge and skills every year, for example, the mathematics major updates knowledge of applying mathematics to many different fields, the physics major adds knowledge about semiconductors, etc. Laboratories are also supplemented and improved to meet these new teaching contents."

Dr. Nguyen Dinh Tu, Chief of Office of Ho Chi Minh City National University, also said that in order to make basic science majors more attractive to candidates, schools in the Ho Chi Minh City National University regularly update and innovate their programs by diversifying training directions to increase job opportunities for learners and linking basic science majors with other applied science majors. In addition, interdisciplinary training programs are implemented between basic science majors and majors with high demand from the labor market such as mathematics, applied mathematics, medical physics, engineering physics, etc.

Basic sciences are being updated in the direction of application to meet practical needs.

PHOTO: PHAM HUU

Master Hoang Thanh Tu, Deputy Head of Information and Communication Department, University of Science (Ho Chi Minh City National University), said that the school also focuses on career guidance for students by coordinating with high schools to organize seminars, STEM experiences, and career counseling at school to help students have a realistic view and a deeper understanding of the prospects of basic science fields.

"Instead of just using traditional combinations, the school has added other combinations to expand the source of potential candidates as well as to comply with the new high school graduation exam regulations. In addition, consider the regulations on bonus points to give priority to candidates with good achievements in basic science subjects," Master Tu informed.

INTER-INDUSTRIAL AND CROSS-INDUSTRIAL TRAINING

According to Master Tu, improving the training program to closely follow the world's science and technology trends and integrating interdisciplinary skills, such as technology skills, is also an indispensable part. The school also combines many basic science fields with technology, engineering or economics such as opening a new major in educational technology and is building a project to open a new major in land economics, integrated science... Through that, the Doctor sees the diverse application and open career potential.

Similarly, Ho Chi Minh City University of Education also integrates many new knowledge into basic science majors. This year, it plans to open a new major in applied mathematics and add some new subjects such as technology and information technology to some admission combinations.

Thu Dau Mot University (Binh Duong) is training some basic science majors such as mathematics and chemistry. Dr. Ngo Hong Diep, Vice Principal of the school, affirmed that in the current context, basic science majors, no matter how good or interesting, cannot stand alone but must be updated and changed to suit reality, promoting application to be more attractive and appealing.

"At the school, the training programs of these majors are designed according to advanced, updated programs, compared with the region and the world. Accordingly, new knowledge about technology and interdisciplinary knowledge is included. Even cross-disciplinary knowledge helps learners have a comprehensive view of many fields for wider application," Dr. Diep informed.

Many opinions propose policies to exempt or reduce tuition fees for students in basic science majors such as pedagogy students and ensure output, income, and good career development opportunities.

Photo: Dao Ngoc Thach

C POLICY OF ATTRACTION FROM MANY SIDE

Recently, to attract PhDs to study basic sciences, many universities have developed their own policies.

Associate Professor, Dr. Nguyen Dinh Tu said that from the 2022-2023 school year, Ho Chi Minh City National University has supported 35% of tuition fees for a number of majors at the University of Social Sciences and Humanities such as philosophy, religious studies, history, geography, information - library, archival studies... Also from 2022 to present, the University of Natural Sciences has maintained a scholarship package of 2 billion VND for new students admitted to 7 majors in the fields of natural sciences, earth sciences and marine sciences within the national strategy for science and technology development and sustainable development, including physics, oceanography, nuclear engineering, geological engineering, geology, environmental science and environmental engineering technology.

From 2022, Hanoi National University will also support students of basic science majors at the University of Natural Sciences and the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, including free tuition, free accommodation, priority in scientific research and scientist incubation programs, and priority when considering other scholarships. Not to mention living expenses support of 20 million VND/school year.

The University of Education (University of Danang) has an "Inspiration" scholarship with the aim of attracting talented people to study basic sciences.

Since 4 years ago, Dalat University has also reduced 15% of tuition fees for students admitted and studying mathematics, physics, chemistry, biology, literature...

"However, reality shows that reducing tuition fees or giving scholarships only works during the time students study, and is not effective in attracting PhDs. This is only the effort of individual schools. To develop basic science, the state must have synchronous policies, such as exempting tuition fees, supporting living expenses, setting a threshold to ensure input quality... like the policy for the pedagogical industry to attract talented people. In addition, it is necessary to create a job mechanism, development environment, salary and income commensurate with the situation", Dr. Tran Huu Duy, Head of Training Department of Da Lat University, proposed.

To develop basic science, the state must have synchronous policies, such as free tuition, living expenses support, setting thresholds to ensure input quality... like policies for the education sector to attract talented people.

Dr. Tran Huu Duy, Head of Training Department, Dalat University

"When the government does not have a macro-level policy, this year's enrollment work will hardly have any changes, because without attraction, there will still be few PhDs registering and therefore the benchmark scores for basic science majors will still be low, making it difficult to have enough students to maintain the major," Dr. Duy commented.

Master Hoang Thanh Tu also believes that if there is a policy of exempting or reducing tuition fees like for pedagogical students and ensuring output, income, good career development opportunities... then basic science fields will certainly receive more attention from PhDs.

"To attract good PhDs and recruit good students for these training programs, it is necessary to have synchronous investment through training projects, such as the project to select and develop talented students, or direct ordering mechanisms from the Government to create motivation and resources to develop basic science training programs, strategies to serve national development," said Master Duong Ton Thai Duong, Deputy Head of Training Department of Ho Chi Minh City National University.

A professor who is the former director of a research institute under the Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology affirmed that the state needs to have a policy of investing a worthy budget in basic science to exempt or reduce tuition fees for students, invest in laboratories, in people with an open working mechanism and a commensurate income level.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/giai-phap-thu-hut-thi-sinh-vao-nganh-khoa-hoc-co-ban-185250401200822967.htm