Vietnam lacks game plan to attract, retain talent

A lot needs to be improved in the mechanism for recruiting, using, and remunerating talent in Vietnam, experts said at a recent forum.

Bui Nhat Quang, chairman of the Vietnam Academy of Social Sciences, said the contingent of Vietnamese intellectuals has been greatly boosted by the addition of dynamic and creative talent, reflected in every step of national development.

However, « Vietnam lacks quality leaders and managers, along with experts and scientists truly dedicated to their profession, » he told a scientific forum hosted Friday in Hanoi by the academy, a state agency responsible for studying key domestic social science issues.

« We are in dire need of great intellectuals and leading experts ready to commence projects of a life time. The process of conducting scientific research and technology transfer at research institutes and universities still faces difficulties and limitations. Vietnamese intellectuals operate under creatively constrictive conditions and can only react passively to issues that impede the country’s development. »

This is ascribed to the lack of an effective local mechanism for recruiting and managing talent, along with low salaries and bonuses, he said.

« Party and state guidelines regarding intellectuals are yet to be made adequate and synchronized to meet the requirements of reality. »

Such limitations have resulted in a modest intellectual contribution to the country’s socio-economic development, disproportionate to Vietnamese potential, Quang told the forum that gathered over 200 scientists, managers, and experts from different departments and ministries from national and local levels, research institutes, universities and organizations.

Speaking from his own experience, Professor Vu Duong Ninh, former dean of the Faculty of International Studies, University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Hanoi, said when previously charged with scientific research projects, especially doctoral dissertations, he always found them to be both serious and meticulous.

However, all those works got scuppered when it came to authors putting forward their personal recommendations and opinions.

« Many quoted the ideas of others or held forth generalized points of view, fearful their own opinions would cause unsolicited consequences, » Ninh said.

« Vietnamese intellectuals have a great desire to contribute to the overall development of the country, especially its international integration. So they need to speak up, and make their opinions count, » he said.

« Authorities need to encourage and protect researchers in presenting their views, » he said.

In order to do so, he suggested Vietnam organizes more selective scientific discussions to affect feasible results.

Vo Dai Luoc, director of Vietnam Asia – Pacific Economic Center, said intellectuals are the most important Vietnamese force in the Fourth Industrial Revolution.

« However, Vietnam still lacks the necessary intellectual and creative freedom. Remuneration remains inadequate, with public sector wages are lower than private sector salaries. »

Forum organizers said ideas contributed at the event would directly serve to grow Vietnam’s intellectual contingent in the period 2021-2030.

By Viet Tuan – VnExpress.net – September 26, 2020