The event, held in Hanoi on March 29, also aimed to shape an overall higher education strategy for the 2021-2030 period, with a vision to 2035.

Minister of Education and Training Phung Xuan Nha said that Vietnam's higher education system has contributed significantly to the cause of national renewal and international integration through expanding and diversifying the scope of education and training.

However, Vietnam's higher education sector still has many shortcomings as the quality of university graduates has yet to meet the demand for socio-economic development and international integration, while there is a lack of scientific research that meets international quality standards.

In addition, national higher education also shows inadequacies in university autonomy and accountability, while lacking policies on motivating private investment in education and the appropriate financial mechanisms for education at national and grassroots levels.

Minister Nha also pointed out a number of reasons for these shortcomings, including the lack of a long-term and feasible education strategy which is integral to the world's higher education development trend.

The Minister stressed the necessity of developing an overall higher education development strategy for 2021-2030 period, with a vision to 2035, as the basis for the comprehensive and sustainable development of Vietnam's higher education in the future.

The Strategy will focus on five pillars including strengthening State management capacity and university governance; planning the network of higher education institutions; enhancing the quality and relevance of training and scientific research; ensuring sustainable financing for higher education; and improving information transparency and communications.

Experts from the WB and several countries including the Republic of Korea, Colombia, Britain and Malaysia shared their experiences in the process of comprehensive reform of higher education in several countries in the world.

Nhan Dan