Ms Mai Hong Quy has become rector of Hoa Sen University

In January 2017, the HCMC People’s Committee released a decision on recognizing Dr Ta Thi Kieu An as the rector of  Hung Vuong University for the 2016-2021 term. However, in April 2018, An resigned from her post.

An’s replacement was Dr Do Van Xe, former rector of the Can Tho University. Before taking office as rector of the Hung Vuong University at the age of 61, Xe was deputy rector of the Can Tho University for two terms from 2008-2017.

At Hong Bang International University, after Dr Nguyen Manh Hung, the first rector, retired in 2015, Dr Thai Ba Can, former rector of the HCMC University of Polytechnic Education, became the rector.

However, after three years in the post, Can was replaced by Ho Thanh Phong from the HCMC National University because he was assigned chair of Gia Dinh University and chair of Hoa Sen University.

Analysts noted that most rectors and leaders of private schools once held important posts at state-owned schools in the past. In most cases, the rectors left state-owned schools because they reached the retirement age.

Under current laws, male state officers retire when they turn 60 and females at 55. However, in special cases, if high-ranking officials have high academic titles, they can continue to work for state-owned schools for 7-10 more years.

The analysts say private schools tend to recruit former rectors of state-owned schools because they appreciate their experience and relations with scholars and government officials.

“You can see that a lot of former senior officials of state management agencies have been recruited as CEOs of large private corporations. The same thing is occurring in the educational sector,” an analyst said. 

After successfully taking over the Gia Dinh Information Technology University, Nguyen Hoang Group, the investor, appointed Dr Ha Huu Phuc to the post of rector. Phuc is a well known name: he was former director, representing the Ministry of Education and Training in HCMC. 

Just days ago, the investor announced the appointment of Dr Mai Hong Quy, former rector of the HCMC Law University, who retired, to the post of rector of Hoa Sen University.

A newly appointed rector of a private school said he did not want to ‘stay at home and do nothing’ in the last years of life, but wants to continue devoting himself to national education.

“I don’t need money and power, because I have both. I need to work,” he explained.

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