Dr. Le Dac Son – Chairman of the Board of Directors of Dai Nam University: “Clothes do not make the monk”

“The team of lecturers and staff is the key to the quality of Vietnamese higher education in the era of the 4.0 industrial revolution. Teachers who do not take the lead; do not escape the rut of “teacher reads, student copies”; do not change old, outdated perceptions with knowledge suitable for current life will only bring boredom to students, hindering their development…” Dr. Le Dac Son - Chairman of the Board of Directors of Dai Nam University commented.

The 4.0 industrial revolution has had a strong impact on all sectors of society, including higher education. To better understand the opportunities and challenges, especially the application and changes of universities to adapt to the requirements of the 4.0 industrial revolution, the reporter had an interview with Dr. Le Dac Son - Chairman of the Board of Directors of Dai Nam University on this issue.

Dr. Le Dac Son – Chairman of the Board of Directors of Dai Nam University

People are "dissecting" 4.0 as a movement.

Dear Dr. Le Dac Son! The 4.0 industrial revolution will bring many opportunities as well as challenges to higher education. In your opinion, how should higher education welcome this revolution to avoid “heat shock” and most effectively apply the achievements of 4.0?

In fact, no organization has launched the 4.0 industrial revolution. People only define and organize seminars to more clearly identify that we are living in the 4th industrial revolution, clearly point out the rapid development of science and technology, predict the explosion of scientific fields such as physics, chemistry, biology, information technology... so that leaders, managers and businesses can plan their strategies.

Recently, I have seen the 4.0 industrial revolution being discussed and dissected as a “movement”. Actually, it is okay to discuss, but personally, I think that only those who are truly interested will find out what the 4.0 industrial revolution is. Most people do not find out what 4.0 is. For them, food, clothing, and money, daily operations, and things that must change to meet the demands of modern society are the most important things, whether it is 2.0; 3.0; or 4.0.

The same goes for higher education. Schools do not wait for society to call and urge them to think about 4.0, but those are the things that are evident, the changes and transformations that schools have been, are and will be doing every day and every hour to improve the quality of training. Whatever revolution is, whatever real life is going on, we accept, integrate and change accordingly. Don't wait until society calls for change.

Dai Nam University received a Certificate of Merit from the Prime Minister at the 10th Anniversary of the school's founding.

Revolution 4.0 explodes, online training will "dethrone"

-There are many opinions that education 4.0, the trend of online training will prevail, learners have full decision-making power, what is your opinion on this issue?

20 years ago, when discussing online education, people were confused, seeing online education as something mysterious, terrible and luxurious. The view that teachers read, students copy; learning is to go to class to listen to lectures; studying textbooks at night is the continuation of the old and outdated education system. In the era of technology 4.0, that view and educational trend cannot exist.

In the digital age, students' learning will not be limited by space and time. They can study anytime, anywhere; they can sit at home without having to go to class, without having to have printed textbooks, without having teachers around, but they can also access all documents and knowledge via the internet. Students can look up and study lectures from teachers anytime and anywhere with just a smartphone with an internet connection.

If online is a form of learning and understanding, then learning forums are a tool for students to review, systematize knowledge, and directly exchange with teachers and classmates to understand each issue more deeply. Advanced universities have done this for decades, in Vietnam, most universities are just aiming for... In the near future, there will be many subjects that students do not need to attend class.

In the digital age, students' learning will not be limited by space and time.

- When online training dominates, do universities have difficulty managing training quality, sir?

With online training, students can study in any way they want, online or offline, anywhere and anytime, and even who studies is no longer a matter of debate. In my opinion, as long as schools can organize competitions that no one can take for them, and students can pass the exams in a real way, that is the most optimal way to manage and control quality.

The CLOTHES do not make the MONK

- How do you evaluate the training programs, teaching and learning methods in universities today?

The university training program in Vietnam currently applied in most universities is very backward. Compared to the knowledge needs that students need to meet the needs of employers, the university provides very limited. Therefore, the number of graduates who have jobs in their trained major is still low, even unemployed. The university training program in our country is currently jokingly said to be 70% 2.0, 30% 3.0 and is still struggling to complete.

The same is true of teaching and learning. We have not yet “escaped” the traditional teaching method of “teacher reads, student copies” and the “teacher-centered” view. The qualifications and teaching methods of lecturers are outdated and do not inspire learners. As a result, the output quality does not meet recruitment requirements. Many teachers complain that “students are lazy to study now” , should we answer those teachers that “students do not want to hear outdated knowledge and boring teaching methods from teachers? ”. I think that with the old teaching method, students are being held back by their own teachers. Teachers are the key to the quality of university education in the 4.0 industrial revolution.

- So, what do we need to do to enhance the capacity of our teaching staff, sir?

That is a difficult problem. There is a reality that everyone can see, that is, lecturers have not been assigned any specific responsibility in improving the quality of university education. They only know that they are assigned to teach this subject, universities are still accepting them, they are still being paid, they have no need to "improve", not to mention that they cannot improve even if they want to.

The team of teachers and staff is the key point of the quality of university education in the period of industrial revolution 4.0.

Many people propose solutions to improve the quality of university education by investing money to buy foreign training programs. I would like to say that buying foreign training programs is not difficult, the key issue here is where to find qualified lecturers to teach those programs? Of the hundreds of thousands of lecturers in our country's universities, how many percent can teach advanced programs? A good program without enough good teachers is meaningless. So how to reform?

The robe does not make the monk. If the teachers do not take the lead, they should not expect the 4.0 revolution to succeed. They must quickly update their knowledge if they want to be good teachers. Immediately get rid of the idea that "teachers are the center "; never be self-delusional and satisfied with the knowledge and skills you have because the world is changing every second, every minute; do not let yourself stand outside the responsibility of the collective... Specialized knowledge, foreign languages, information technology and soft skills are what teachers in the 4.0 era must have.

But, how to have a large team of 4.0 lecturers? Let's go back to the first problem: "Money". High salaries for university lecturers will attract many talented people to work in this profession. Is the state budget enough to do this? In my opinion, it is enough, but because the way our national education system operates has not escaped the 2.0 revolution, the budget for education is always lacking. There must be a real revolution in education for there to be change. If the education budget is spent on general education as a welfare for all people to enjoy, and university education is an investment of learners, then the problem of money will be solved when the national budget is limited. If we cannot solve the problem of sufficient income at a fairly good level compared to society for the teaching staff, all the calls will only be temporary waves.

Opportunities and challenges of Dai Nam University in the 4.0 era

Dai Nam University pays special attention to foreign language training for students.

- As the head of the school, can you share something about Dai Nam University's development strategy in this digital revolution?

Since its inception, Dai Nam University has changed its training program to be suitable and modern. At the beginning of every new school year, we review the training program. Accordingly, any unnecessary basic subjects will be reduced or eliminated.

Foreign languages, information technology and soft skills are skills that students need to be well equipped with right from the time they sit in the classroom. Dai Nam University is working and making great efforts to make the training program suitable for the needs of society.

Currently, Dai Nam University is organizing online learning for some subjects. Accordingly, students can look up and listen to lectures on YouTube. If there is anything they do not understand, students can ask and get answers from teachers on the forum.

Among the 7 most important tasks of the School in its operational strategy until 2025, the task of perfecting and modernizing the infrastructure system is a special priority. Deploying the construction of a school complex in Ha Dong District, Hanoi with 3 modern 15-storey buildings. The goal is to inaugurate a modern, fully-equipped school complex by the 15th anniversary of the school's founding (November 14, 2022). All of the school's equipment follows modern management trends from the library to the lecture halls.

- Dai Nam University has turned 11 years old. Up to this point, what makes you most proud and secure about the school?

I am very happy that the number of students is increasing, over 90% of graduates have jobs in their major.

The rate of Dai Nam University graduates who have jobs in their major is over 90%.

The school has overcome the barriers, pressures, and prejudices of non-public schools; students who thought they would never be able to attend university, never find a job with a university degree, after 4 years of studying at Dai Nam, have changed their lives. That is a great effort and a proud achievement of the school.

The school is making efforts every day to build the core foundation of a modern university: first of all, a team of dedicated, professional, committed, and understanding lecturers; secondly, continuing to build its own spacious and convenient facilities, without having to rent; These are the foundations for Dai Nam to continue to develop and affirm its brand.

The leadership team's thinking is very sharp, always changing in time with social changes. I am of the older generation but absolutely not conservative, always updating social development trends, updating information technology. Whatever is good for learners, no matter how small, I will do immediately.

In the most difficult times, we have overcome them to develop, so we cannot be subjective in the future. If we want to develop long-term, we must constantly change. The slogan "learning to change" is the guiding principle for our activities.

Thanks for the interesting sharing, TS!

Thu Hoe (performed)