Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong has demanded the Vietnam National University, Hanoi (VNU) utilises its role as a cradle of basic scientific research, providing scientists for education-training and science-technology sectors.

At a ceremony in Hanoi on December 9 to mark the 20 th founding anniversary of the VNU, Party chief Trong lauded what the university has reaped over the past 20 years, saying that it has gradually established itself as the core of Vietnam’s education system with an increasing role in the region and beyond.

Directing its tasks for the coming time, he insisted on better performance and employability among students by engaging them in practical curricular activities.

To this end, the VNU must develop a contingent of staff with a virtuous lifestyle and solid professional background, in a friendly and democratic environment, the leader noted.

He asked for concrete ways to attract talent and able scientists both at home and abroad who should also be entitled to more incentives. According to him, those who show a strong sense of responsibility and fulfil their assigned tasks should be rewarded.

VNU Director Phung Xuan Nha reported that the research-orientated establishment based on the restructuring of several universities is now an entity of 28 units.

It groups six universities, three research institutes and relevant units in natural and social sciences, technology, economics, law, foreign languages, medicine and pharmacy.-VNA