Mr Nguyen Trong Hoai

Nguyen Xuan Tho, a research student at Southern Taiwan University of Science and Technology, however, praised the decision, calling it a “good strategy and vision”.

According to Tho, the school’s board of management considered many factors before releasing the decision. 

First, financial capability. The money for the awards will be from the school’s income. Second, the school’s situation of scientific research and international publication. Third, the strategy of the school in order to maintain its prestige as a top-tier economics school. 

Fourth, postgraduates attending courses for a doctorate are required to have their articles published internationally. Fifth, the disciplinary environment. The school needs to improve on order to exist in a competitive environment where there are foreign-invested schools as well.

Tho said that Vietnamese should support the school’s decision from the perspective of managers. He believes the decision would help the school upgrade its Phat Trien Kinh Te journal (Economic Development) and add the journal to SCOPUS data.

Pham Hiep, a postgraduate at Chinese Culture University in Taiwan, also commented that VND200 million is a deserving award, because researchers all have to work hard to fulfill scientific articles.

“As far as I know, the number of Vietnamese scientists who have articles with IF>2 is so modest that it can be counted on one’s fingers,” he said, adding that internationally published articles would be a big event for Vietnamese universities.

However, Hiep said it is not the award, but the simplification of administrative procedures which impresses him the most. Complicated procedures have always been cited as the factor affecting scientists’ energy and motivation.

Ngo Van Le from the HCMC University of Social Sciences and Humanities while agreeing that encouragement to publish scientific articles was needed, was cautious about using the method.

“At present, when Vietnamese still don’t have many internationally published articles, the award would be helpful. But when there are more and more articles, the encouragement method won’t have much significance, because it is normal for scientists to publish scientific articles,” he said.

Nguyen Trong Hoai, vice president of HCMC Economics University, said the VND200 million should not be seen as an ‘award’, but just financial support the school gives to lecturers to help them collect materials and carry out surveys for research.

Scientific research is being encouraged through different channels. A scientific research project at ministerial level can receive up to VND200-250 million, but international publication is not required. 

However, the NAFOSTED Fund pays VND300-400 million for every SCOPUS publication.

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