VietNamNet Bridge – The Ministry of Science and Technology is working out a human resource development project for the 2017-2025 period at a total cost of about VND900 billion (US$40.34 million).

At a meeting held to collect comments on the project last week, Tran Thi Ngoc Ha of the ministry’s organization and personnel department said around 350 experts, 80 research groups, 500 doctors, and 500 scientific and technological managers would be funded to attend domestic and overseas training courses by 2025 under the project. The project requires some VND900 billion to be sourced from the State budget.

Head of the organization and personnel department Tran Dac Hien said the project will be improved based on comments the ministry collects before it goes before the Government in late 2015. If approved, the project will be implemented from 2017.

Hien said the project is being drawn up based on comments of many experts and scientists. He added that demand for human resource development in science and technology is large.

Associate Professor Dr. Phan Tuan Nghia from the Vietnam National University Hanoi said the draft project should include a binding clause requiring trainees must come back to their home country for work after getting funding of the project to attend training course abroad.

Professor Tran Duc Vien from the Hanoi University of Agriculture said the project should contains clear goals for improvements in the scientific and technology sector as well as key and priority technologies to be used in the country in the coming years.

Representatives of ministries and agencies at the meeting discussed the criteria and qualifications of candidates selected for training courses of the project, including requirements for foreign language proficiency.

Hien said the project aims to develop the quality of human resources for Vietnam in science and technology and that the ministry has a database of more than 1,000 qualified candidates for selection.

The ministry will join hands with the ministries of home affairs and finance to issue a joint circular to solve the problems related to candidate selection and finance for the implementation of the project.

SGT