TPO - The Prime Minister's regulations on the recognition of the titles of Professor and Associate Professor are only the minimum standards. Universities can then set higher requirements for the recognition and appointment of professors and associate professors according to the needs of the school.
Currently, according to Decision 37 of the Prime Minister on regulations on standards and procedures for considering and recognizing qualifications and appointing the titles of professor (GS) and associate professor (PGS); the procedure includes 2 stages: considering and recognizing qualifications for the titles of professor and associate professor is the task of the State Council of Professors; appointing professors and associate professors is under the authority of higher education institutions (including universities, academies, colleges, and research institutes).
Recently, there has been a proposal to give universities complete autonomy in both of these stages.
Prof. Dr. Bui Van Ga, former Deputy Minister of Education and Training, spoke with Tien Phong about this issue. Mr. Ga said: Currently, the State Council of Professors considers and recognizes the standards for the titles of Professor and Associate Professor, while schools appoint these titles in their units. When appointing, schools can require candidates to meet higher standards than the minimum threshold according to current regulations. That process has been carried out smoothly over the years, in accordance with the reality of our country.
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Prof. Dr. Bui Van Ga |
Is it true that in foreign countries, universities and research institutes have the right to appoint professors and associate professors, and when a person no longer works at the university, he or she is no longer a professor or associate professor. But in Vietnam, it is not like that. Is professor or associate professor in Vietnam a title that is valid for life?
Previously, Professor and Associate Professor were academic titles conferred by the State. However, since the Law on Higher Education, Professor and Associate Professor are no longer academic titles with lifelong value but are titles of university lecturers.
The Law on Higher Education stipulates that university lecturers have 5 levels: teaching assistant, lecturer, senior lecturer, associate professor, and professor. Therefore, to ensure good performance of their duties at university, associate professors and professors must have certain experience in teaching, scientific research, and contributions to the community.
The criteria for qualifying for the title of Professor and Associate Professor currently being applied, such as teaching experience, postgraduate training, organizing and implementing scientific research topics, writing books, textbooks, scientific publications, etc., are all very necessary.
Therefore, in my opinion, if schools apply higher standards for the titles of Professor and Associate Professor appointed in their units, it is a good and welcome thing. But first of all, they must ensure all the minimum standards that the State Council of Professors is applying to consider the qualifications of Professor and Associate Professor. The standards set forth in Decision 37 can be called the "floor" level.
Why do you think it is necessary to "go through the floor" to be recognized?
Because university lecturer titles have their own standards. Those recruited as lecturers and senior lecturers must also meet the minimum standards for these titles. Associate Professor and Professor are senior university lecturer titles, so they must meet more stringent standards regarding training experience and scientific research.
A person with excellent scientific achievements may not meet the standards of Associate Professor or Professor because they do not have enough experience in training. In France, excellent researchers are appointed as Research Director (Directeur de Recherche), which is the same rank as a university professor, but they are not professors because they are not on the university's payroll.
In the current regulations on the assessment of the standards for Professors and Associate Professors in our country, there are also regulations that candidates can make up for the lack of standards in terms of seniority, postgraduate training, scientific research projects, etc. with prestigious scientific works.
I think this is very harmonious, ensuring that those who are strong in scientific research are also appointed as Professors, Associate Professors, and participate in university teaching when we do not have equivalent titles for those doing scientific research.
Thank you!
Source: https://tienphong.vn/gs-bui-van-ga-ung-vien-phai-qua-san-truoc-khi-truong-dh-tu-cong-nhan-bo-nhiem-gspgs-post1673874.tpo
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