Scientific Council too respectable, sloppy?

From the controversies related to the topic “Research on solutions to develop badminton for civil servants in Son La city” by graduate student Dang Hoang Anh, Dr. Le Thi Hoa, Vietnam National University, Ho Chi Minh City, set a question. The scientific council’s assessment of the current topics is too respectable, sloppy, and easy to approve topics of poor quality and low scientific content.

Even graduate students with poor-quality topics can’t distinguish between a research topic at the doctoral level, a report, research on solutions, and a survey of the current situation in a single unit. some profession. “The state of “dreamy”, superficial in this scientific research is very dangerous”, female doctor said.

Having experienced 12 years of studying for a master’s and doctoral degree and working in Germany, Dr. Le Thi Hoa said that PhD students in some European countries have to work hard, seriously and practically in the new 3-5 years. have enough hours of research in the lab, in the field, and in information to defend before the panel. There are even 5 defenders who have not been approved by the council.

Meanwhile, in Vietnam, many PhD students go to school and work at the same time, but in 3 years successfully defend the thesis even though they do not contribute anything to the research, if any, it is very low and lackluster.

According to her, one of the reasons for the poor quality of the doctoral thesis topic is that in early 2021, the Ministry of Education and Training stipulates that international scientific publications should not be published when defending the doctoral thesis. “The loosening of the output standards makes it easy for PhD students to be approved. I am sure that in the near future there will be many small theses such as scientific reports that will surprise the education industry and academia even more. As a result, hundreds and thousands of “paper doctors” were born, sprouting up like mushrooms after a shower,” the expert said.

In order to improve the quality of the knowledge class and eliminate the famous doctor, the female doctor said that Vietnam should have stricter policies, even sanctions. At the same time, the leading professors and associate professors sitting on the council need to do it right, don’t be shy, but produce copy-paste doctors. Need a tightening mechanism Admissions input and defend the thesis to avoid blasphemy and popularization of the doctorate.

Sharing the same opinion, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Tran Van Hoang, Vietnam Academy of Sciences, said that if the doctoral theses reflected by the public are really poor quality, the first responsibility belongs to the instructors.

However, it is very difficult to determine right from wrong. Even if the Ministry of Education and Training establishes a scientific committee to evaluate it, it is still difficult to reach a final conclusion. In science, especially in specific fields, research topics have no right or wrong, but only contribute little – much, good – bad.

“On the other hand, the doctors will argue that, if they defend the topic in accordance with the process, there is no reason for them to be wrong. What is wrong here is the instructor and the people in the grading committee.” he said. However, the Ministry still needs to evaluate to regain justice for those who have been named or to make the scientific community and public believe in the thesis results.

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Van Dung, former Dean of the Faculty of Journalism, Academy of Journalism and Propaganda, also said that the recent bad doctoral theses have been denounced by the public because of learners’ awareness and attitudes. . On the other hand, the poor quality doctoral “production line” has created conditions for doctoral students to do carelessly and easily to paste ostentatious and “glamorous” degrees.

In order to prevent laxity in doctoral training, Mr. Dung stated that it is necessary to overcome poor quality doctoral thesis topics, mainly depending on the team of teachers and scientists who went ahead. ; at the same time depends on the candidate for graduate student.

“Here is the role of the Ministry of Education and Training. Because of this, doctoral dissertation topics, after being decided by the advisory council and training institutions, must be reported to the Ministry of Education and Training for appraisal, not just for administrative reporting.Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Van Dung said.