Under the MoET’s requirements, to open a new faculty, a university must have full-time lecturers to cover at least 70% of training programmes. In addition, the faculty must have at least one lecturer who holds a doctorate and three that hold masters in the field corresponding to their department.Over 200 university departments nationwide have been closed because they failed to meet these regulations. Recently, 126 out of them received permission to reopen thanks to their recruitment efforts.
The Hanoi Academy of Theatre and Cinema had 15 of its departments suspended. Now, however, 14 have been reopened. It has also gained approval to open two new departments: photography and television technology.
Nonetheless, many universities are still struggling to meet ministry standards, including Hai Phong University, Quy Nhon University and Quang Nam University.
Quang Nam University in particular has been facing difficulties. Being located in a poor province, it does not have access to many of the advantages of other universities and is unattractive to many lecturers. Although the recruitment was announced in early March, to date Quang Nam University has not found a lecturer with doctorate degree.
The Central University of Construction has also been actively seeking lecturers with a doctorate degrees by offering attractive employment packages. A lecturer with doctorate degree can earn a VND200 million (USD9,520) training fee along with a two-month bonus and other benefits, including higher pay than the minimum required.
