PM orders review of professor appointments hinh anh 1Minister of Education and Training, who is also head of the State Council for Professor Title of Vietnam Phung Xuan Nha (Photo: VNA)

Hanoi (VNA) - Minister of Education and Training, who is also head of the State Council for Professor Title of Vietnam Phung Xuan Nha has been told to review the list of professors and associate professors who were appointed early this month.

The minister was also required to submit a report on the issue to Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc before February 20.

The order came after mass media reported that the number of people appointed professors and associate professors in 2017 sharply increased compared to previous years.

Official statistics showed that a total of 1,226 people were appointed, including 85 professors and 1,141 associate professors in 2017.

The numbers were only 703 in 2016 and 522 in 2015.

The number of appointed professors and associate professors in 2017 was believed to be the highest in the past four decades since the State started to appoint the title of professors and associate professors.

Additionally, the media also reported about 34 percent of the newly appointed professors and 53 percent of associate professors were believed to not have scientific papers published in international journals, a requirement for the positions.

The deadline for submitting files to be considered for professors and associate professors title in 2017 was six months later than normal.

The issue has called into question the quality of professors and associate professors.-VNA
VNA