A backward glance into Nguyen Tat Thanh University’s scientific and technological activities in the academic year 2020 – 2021

In order to summarize the science and technology activities of the academic year 2020-2021, develop and propose an activity plan for the period of 2021-2022 year, on November 8, 2021, Nguyen Tat Thanh University held a university-wide meeting via an online platform.

The meeting was hosted by Assoc.Prof.Dr. Tran Thi Hong – Vice President and Director of the Interdisciplinary Institute for Social Sciences, with the participation of Department Heads and Deputy Heads and Faculty Deans and Vice Deans, Director of Research Institutes, Centers and Departments of Science and Technology.

A large number of staff from various departments, faculties, centers and research institutes of Nguyen Tat Thanh University participated

The meeting focused on 4 main contents: (1) Report on the situation of science and technology activities of the University for the academic year of 2020-2021; (2) Set up targets of scientific and technological activities of each faculty and the whole University in the academic year of 2021-2022; (3) Recommendations on the compilation of textbooks and materials; (4) Comment on the draft version of “Regulation on controlling and avoiding plagiarism in academic papers of Nguyen Tat Thanh University (NTTU)”.

As the department directly managing and implementing science and technology activities of NTTU, Assoc.Prof.Dr. Bach Long Giang – Head of Science and Technology Department reported the implementation situation and main results achieved in the academic year of 2020-2021 on scientific research activities, technology transfer, intellectual property, innovation and entrepreneurship. In general, despite many difficulties such as the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, the period of 2020-2021 with the support of the Board of Presidents and the joint support of all faculties of NTTU, the identified goals in the field of science and technology were completed, such as the goals of the number of publications in journals listed in ISI/SCOPUS, research results published in international, national journals, and NTTU’s journals; the number of projects approved by the National Office of Intellectual Property for a patent application; organized reviewing sessions of various textbooks, referencial materials for academic programs, and a number of textbooks written by the University’s lecturers published through prestigious national publishers. During the past academic year, the Science and Technology Department made timely and effective adjustments at work, such as switching some activities to online form in the context of social distancing because of the pandemic. The Department also successfully organized the review and approval of research projects, training programs to improve scientific research capacity for lecturers, research staff and students; organizing seminars, scientific conferences…

Based on the defined targets in the Development Strategy of Nguyen Tat Thanh University in the period of 2020-2025, NTTU requested each faculty to register for the targets of science and technology activities for the academic year 2021-2022. During the meeting, representatives of each faculty made many contributions regarding the indicators to propose to the Board of Presidents for consideration and adjustment to adapt with the situation and context of each faculty at NTTU, and of our social development in general.

Continuing to promote the achievements of the previous year, in the period of 2021 – 2022, Nguyen Tat Thanh University will promote the development of science and technology activities among faculty and students.

From the academic year of 2020-2021, NTTU has focused on reviewing the entire system of textbooks, monographs and referencial materials for training and research activities. During the meeting, representatives of the faculties contributed a number of ideas to improve the quality of textbooks and materials of NTTU, especially on policies to support and encourage lecturers-researchers to promote this activity for the coming academic year. NTTU assigned the Science and Technology Department to establish committees for the review and approval of textbooks, monographs and referencial materials, and to support publication of academic papers in prestigious national publishers.

For a multi-disciplinary university in which training and scientific research are always the priorities, the promulgation of “Regulation on controlling and avoiding plagiarism in academic papers of Nguyen Tat Thanh University” is necessary. The Science and Technology Department drafted this Regulation and sent a letter of request to all departments and faculties of NTTU for preliminary review and recommendations before finalizing and submitting it to the Board of Presidents for promulgation. For the use of anti-plagiarism software in the University’s academic papers, the majority of lecturers agreed to use Turnitin software because of its popularity, fast and accurate processing speed.

Concluding the meeting, Assoc.Prof.Dr. Tran Thi Hong hopes that Faculties, Research Institutes and Centers together with the Science and Technology Department will continue to effectively implement science and technology activities in the academic year of 2021-2022, especially increasing the number of research projects and scientific publications in the ISI/SCOPUS system, international, national and domestic scientific journals; increase the quantity and quality of textbooks and teaching materials; promote cooperation and collaborate activities with domestic and international educational institutions and organizations. From that, NTTU can continue to improve the quality of scientific research activities, technology transfer, innovation and entrepreneurship, gradually upgrading NTTU’ scientific reputation domestically and internationally.