VietNamNet Bridge – Many universities in Vietnam make do without rectors. Others seem to have a problem retaining rectors, changing them frequently. And still more employ substandard rectors.

The story of Ha Hoa Tien

The Ha Hoa Tien University.

The Ha Hoa Tien people-founded University in Ha Nam province has been operating with no rector for the last three years.

The school had four rectors in the past, from 2007 to 2011, all approved by the Ha Nam provincial authorities. However, each of them eventually departed.

None of them worked for the school for very long. Some stayed for two years, while another left after just two weeks. Some other unofficial rectors came and left a short time later.

Prof Dr Nguyen Van Thai was the first rector of the school, which, during his tenure, was successful in recruiting a number of professors and doctors of science. The qualified teaching staff helped investors quickly obtain the operation license from the watchdog agency.

However, shortly after obtaining the license, Dang Le Hoa, President of Ha Hoa Tien, unilaterally terminated the labor contracts with most of the lecturers.

A well-regarded former manager of Thai Nguyen University was then invited to accept the post of rector of Ha Hoa Tien. However, he left the office only a couple of weeks after the school received approval from the provincial authorities for the appointment.

A third rector, once a lecturer of Thai Nguyen Agriculture and Forestry University, resigned after two years. He said he left the school when he realized that he would never be given the power needed to fulfill his mission as rector.

The fourth, Nguyen Van Vinh, also left after a short time on the post.

According to Van Ba Thanh, former Vice Rector of Ha Hoa Tien, since 2011, when Vinh left, some people have come to learn about the job opportunity. However, no new rector has been appointed since then, mostly because the candidates did not dare to take such a challenging job.

Also, according to Thanh, there were the violent conflicts between Dang Le Hoa, the investor, and the rectors.

A once rector told reporters that he could not on the same page with Hoa when working for the school. The investor does not have deep knowledge of education, but he nevertheless tried to use the power of the president to manage the school.

Unqualified staff also appointed

The same situation is being faced by many other schools. Thanh Dong University in Hai Duong province, for example, had no rector in the period from January 2013 to February 2014. Tan Tao University in Long An province also has not had a rector since September 2013. And Hanoi-based Huu Nghi University of Technology and Management has been running without a rector and training division head for the last year.

In 2012, then rector Nguyen Van Thuong was dismissed after alleged wrongdoings were uncovered. The school’s Chair of the Board of Management does not intend to look for a new rector. Do Doan Hai, a vice rector, has been asked to manage the school since 2012. However, Hai has been found to be unable to take on the post of rector. Under current regulations, a rector must not be over 70 years old, while Hai is over 80 already.

Tien Phong