Changing the mechanism to attract high-quality human resources of science and technology

​Provincial leaders visit the booth of science and technology products

Developing human resources in key areas

Dr. Lai The Thong, Director of the Department of Science and Technology, said that training high-quality human resources in the field of Science and Technology and forming a team of good experts is one of the breakthrough tasks to implement the Resolution decided the Provincial Party Congress.

In the period 2011-2020, the province focuses on training highly qualified human resources in the key industries, in order to form a team of excellent experts in the fields that the province has high demand such as science and technology, electricity, electronics, communication, construction, automation, materials technology, agricultural science, etc.

The province has formed a diversified network of science and technology organizations so far including 23 organizations (including 14 public science and technology organizations and 9 non-public science and technology organizations) with 1,224 scientific research and technology development staff. Science and technology organizations in the province directly assume the prime responsibility for performing provincial science and technology tasks. The Science and Technology Organization has affirmed the market demand for science and technology research and services such as technology transfer, consulting, etc., and contributed to the implementation of socialization of science and technology activities.

Over the years, the intellectuals have contributed their efforts and wisdom to the requirements of economic growth, economic restructuring, and created a breakthrough in the province's socio-economic development, especially in the field of agriculture, livestock, and processing sectors. At the same time, acting as the key forces in disseminating scientific and technical knowledge, helping farmers to access and apply advanced technology in production to increase income; participate in research and application of scientific and technological advances to production and daily activities.

With 15 years of experience working in the field of science and technology, MSc. Nguyen Van Liet, former Deputy Director of the Department of Science and Technology, Vice Chairman of the Union of Science and Technology Associations of the province, assessed that there are many universities in Dong Nai Province such as Dong Nai University, Lac Hong University, Eastern University of Technology, high-quality colleges such as Lilama 2 International College of Technology, Dong Nai Medical College, Dong Nai Technical College, Le Quy Don College. This is a necessary condition to improve both the quantity and quality of the province's science and technology human resources.

Teachers of high schools in the province participate in competitions related to science and technology

Changing mechanisms and policies to attract and retain the excellent human resources

According to MSc. Nguyen Van Liet, Vice President of the Union of Science and Technology Associations of the province, the quality of science and technology human resources depends on many factors such as: intelligence, physical strength and science and technology. The current key limitation of universities and colleges in the province today is the sharing of resources and cooperation in order to create synergy to study the national and regional scientific topics. Only a few schools have identified their potential and strengths for development, the rest still have not identified their strengths for development.

Leaders of the Department of Science and Technology also frankly acknowledged that, in addition to the achieved results, the development of science and technology human resources in the province still has some limitations such as: the connection between the scientists, the managers, and the businesses are not really close enough. Researched products have not really kept up with business needs. There is not really a suitable mechanism for the policies of the State and enterprises to link and support each other in the development of science and technology. The number of staff with university and post-graduate degrees in the province is increasing, but the number of people with professional qualifications doing research, development and application of science and technology is not many.

Dr. Lai The Thong, Director of the Department of Science and Technology, said that up to now, the Department of Science and Technology is managing 1,995 students participating in the graduate training program and 51 students participating in the Target 2 program of the province. Among these, many trainees have been reduced their payrolls and are not allowed to work in state-owned units. The number of students participating in the program is large, the follow-up process is long (15 years for doctors, 10 years for master). The students’ work process is complicated because they do not report annually as prescribed or quits or changes jobs, but the management units do not report to the Department.

Currently, the management of human resource development only stops at the management and training of trainees, has not advised on mechanisms and policies to attract to retain human resources upon completion of the program, leading to the "brain drain”, causing a waste of budget.

On the other hand, in the team of people doing research, implementation and application of science and technology in the province, there are many people with practical experience, but very few have high qualifications and are good experts. The environment for intellectuals to participate in science and technology activities is not favorable really.

Agreeing with this point of view, Dr. Pham Minh Tien, Head of International Relations, Postgraduate, and Science Research Management Division, Dong Nai University said that after more than 10 years working at the Department of External Relations, I was sent abroad by the province to study at a doctorate program. After completing the course, I returned the country and have worked at Dong Nai University with a salary of VND5.7 million per month. With this amount of salary, we go to work while keep thinking about how to earn enough money for the daily spending. We had to run backwards, forwards, rob Peter to pay Paul to take care of our daily lives. Once we must complete our missions at work at the same time have to find ways to earn a living, how can we feel peace in minds, to focus on the office work and contribute to provincial development.​