Request for reinstatement of Vice President of Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology and Education

At the request of the Ministry of Education and Training, Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology and Education must revoke the notice signed by the President of the School Council in March 2021 with the content “not assigned to perform the responsibilities, duties, authority for the position of vice principal” with Ms. Hien.

The University of Technical Education was also requested to reinstate Ms. Hien as a member of the Standing Committee of the University’s Party Committee in accordance with the Party’s regulations.

Dr. Truong Thi Hien is 44 years old and has been appointed Vice Principal since 7/2013. At that time, she was the first female vice-principal, the youngest in the school’s more than 50-year history.

In March 2021, the University of Technical Education conducted the process of electing the Rector. At that time, Mr. Ngo Van Thuyen, in the role of Chairman of the School Council, signed a notice not to assign the position, duties and authority of deputy principal to Ms. Hien. This process was later determined by the Ministry of Education to be inconsistent with the provisions of the revised Higher Education Law on the responsibilities and powers of the School Board.

Dr. Hien was explained by the school side that the vice-principal was according to the term of the principal (at that time Assoc. Prof. Dr. Do Van Dung). When the principal’s term expires, the vice-principal will also resign. Mr. Dung’s term ended in May 2018, but he was later asked to extend his tenure as principal until the end of management age. From November 2020, the School Council for the new term 2020-2025 is recognized by the Ministry of Education and Training. Therefore, Ms. Hien’s term ended, based on the proposal of the principal and the minutes of the School Council meeting.

However, the Ministry determined, before that, the School Council discussed this but did not vote, so this process is not legal.

Ms. Hien – still working at the school – believes that she is a manager herself, and the resignation and dismissal must comply with regulations on management of public employees. The school council must operate according to the collective principle, the dismissal of positions must be in accordance with the process.

The fact that Ms. Hien was not allowed to participate in the process of electing the Rector as the Standing Committee of the Party Committee and vice-principal affected the results. After that, the Ministry of Education and Training not recognized Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Truong Thinh as Rector according to the election results. The ministry also asked the Council of Technical Pedagogical Colleges consider responsibility President of the School Council for signing the personnel notice improperly.

Controversial events at Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology and Education caused this school to vacate four key positions including Party Secretary, School Council President, Rector and Head of the Training Department. Than 3,800 studentsgraduate students, graduate students have had to wait for their degrees for nearly a year now, because the school does not have a principal to sign their diplomas.

Manh Tung