http://vietnamnews.vnagency.com.vn/showart...num=02ECO270407

Prime Minister lauds HCM City University

(27-04-2007)
Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung examines a model of the HCM City Hi-tech Park. — VNA/VNS Photo Duc Tam

HA NOI — Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung yesterday praised the Ho Chi Minh City National University for its efforts to build a strong faculty over the last several years.

The university has 1,870 teachers including 1,265 for post graduate programmes, a three-fold increase since 2001.

The university has opened many new faculties to meet increasing demand for a well-trained workforce.

The number of post-graduates has increased 34 per cent over the last five years.

The university has also established relations with foreign companies to promote training and technology transfers.

Officials plan to expand the university to nearly 644ha in HCM City and Binh Duong Province to make room for software and nano technology centres as well as dormitories. Construction on one dormitory, which can house 7,000 students, has been completed.

The expanded campus will include centres for healthcare, sports and cultural activities for 15,000 teachers and students, officials have said.

Dung said the Government would provide, in advance, money for site clearance and infrastructure so that by 2010, most construction would be completed.

Dung said that the Party and State had always paid special attention to education and training and considered it an important part of the country’s future.

However, the education sector still had not met the demands of a rapidly developing Viet Nam, Dung said.

Only 27 per cent of the country’s workforce has been trained compared with 50 per cent in other Southeast Asian countries, according to officials statistics. Most workers also tend to struggle in foreign languages.

Dung said the National Universities in Ha Noi and HCM City must take the lead in training researchers and other professionals.

Dung asked the directorate of the HCM City National University to check its operational regulations, including Government decisions, and offer suggestions for decentralisation.

High-Tech Park visit

On Wednesday, Primer Minister Nguyen Tan Dung visited the HCM City High-Tech Park (SHTP) urging park authorities to hasten development.

The PM promised that the government would create favourable conditions for the SHTP to develop.

Dung also asked the Ministry of Science and Technology to co-operate with relevant ministries and the HCM City People’s Committee to set up plans for the 2007-2009 period to make sure that all SHTP infrastructure and construction would be completed and all vacant lots readied for rent.

"Science and technology are now playing a very important role in the development of countries," he said. "The SHTP should use science and technology to serve the developmental demands of Viet Nam."

The PM pointed out what he saw as SHTP’s urgent tasks: ground clearance and resettlement for local residents, infrastructure construction and human resource training. He also asked SHTP to fill its total area by 2010.

According to a report from Nguyen Dinh Mai, acting head of SHTP, the park has licensed 24 local and foreign investors over the last four years, tallying a registered capital of around US$1.37 billion. Some of the park’s best-known international brand names include Intel and Japanese Nidec.

At present, 40 investors with a total capital of around $700 million are waiting for 132 ha of land at the park.

Last year, SHTP attracted over $1 billion in investment, 44 per cent of HCM City’s foreign investment. Some factories operated with total export value of $27.8 million and attracted more than 2,300 workers in 2006. — VNS

Viet Nam needs to open more colleges and universities to train students in math, science, and high-tech.

Sure, show me the money.

Dreaming is good, but nothing can get done without $$.

Get the money from casinos and race track profits and build more colleges and universities.