16.2.6. Academic freedom policy

The University of Economics Ho Chi Minh City (UEH) ensures the right to academic freedom through the Provision on Research Fellowship Programs, issued under Decision No. 1510/QĐ-ĐHKT-QLKHHTQT dated May 24, 2021. This policy establishes the standards, benefits, and obligations of both domestic and international researchers, aiming to foster an independent, creative, and sustainable research environment.

The provision clearly demonstrates UEH’s commitment to protecting academic freedom for scholars through the following provisions :

Section 3. Rights and Obligations of Research Fellowship Holders, Article 7. Rights of Research Fellows:

1. Research fellows will be provided with sufficient information for research in accordance with conditions at UEH.

2. Research fellows will be given priority to use all facilities and equipment necessary for training, scientific research, and technological transfer.

3. They will be fully compensated in accordance with the degree of work completed. Compensation levels are determined according to UEH’s current internal expenditure regulations, as applied to all UEH personnel.

4. Flexible working hours will be allowed, and accommodation will be provided when working at UEH upon request from the unit directly supervising the research fellow

Section 3. Rights and Obligations of Research Fellowship Holders, Article 8 (Obligations of Research Fellows): Research fellows are permitted and encouraged to freely publish research results in international journals (SSCI, SCIE, Scopus Q1–Q2), participate in presentations and discussions at seminars, scientific forums, and thematic research workshops within and outside UEH. Scholars are also invited to supervise graduate research, lead scientific research projects, or serve as reviewers and chairs of scientific councils, demonstrating freedom in teaching, research, and knowledge sharing.

These regulations clearly reflect UEH’s commitment to respecting scholars’ and researchers’ rights to choose research directions, publish results, and teach publicly across all levels, from senior scholars to early-career researchers.

UEH has issued and continues to update regulations to establish a solid, transparent legal framework, creating the most favorable conditions for all research activities, from management to funding. Several key regulations include:

+ Regulations on Management of Scientific and Technological Activities at UEH: Establishes a general framework for all science and technology activities of the university.

+ Provisions on Scientific and Technological Research for Faculty Members at UEH: Clarifies the responsibilities, obligations, and evaluation mechanisms for faculty research activities.

+ Regulations on Management of University-Level Scientific Research Projects: Details the procedures for managing research projects funded by university resources.

+ Regulations on Science and Technology Development Fund at UEH: Establishes principles for fund formation, management, and utilization to support research activities and innovation.

+ Regulations on Organization and Operation of Research Groups and High-Performance Research Groups at UEH: Specifies standards, establishment procedures, and special support mechanisms for research groups.

+ Provisions on Research Experts (Research Fellowship) at UEH: Establishes policies for attracting, supporting, and creating working conditions for domestic and international research experts.

+ Regulations on Preparation, Selection, Review, Approval, and Use of Teaching Materials and University Educational Curricula at the University of Economics Ho Chi Minh City: Ensures the quality and scientific rigor of academic materials, serving as a foundation for teaching activities.

Since these academic freedom policies and regulations have been implemented, UEH has attracted more than 120 international collaborative researchers . These experts have made significant contributions to advancing UEH’s international publications in prestigious, high-ranking journals, enhancing the university’s academic reputation and strengthening its global research collaboration network . Beyond publishing, these experts actively participate in seminar presentations, serve as keynote speakers, chair workshops, and co-supervise graduate students, creating a dynamic, inclusive, and highly international academic environment at UEH .

Fulfilling its commitment to ensure research freedom, UEH encourages scientists to develop new theoretical models and analytical frameworks in key fields . In 2024, the UEH research team published the project “Governance Model for Innovation Management – Trends and Prospects” , synthesizing six critical factors influencing innovation governance in Vietnamese enterprises . This work combines theoretical comprehensiveness with high practical value, contributing to business policy guidance and management agencies’ efforts in promoting national innovation capacity . The research “The Decisive Role of the Vietnamese People in Ensuring Production Relations Compatible with the Development of Productive Forces in a New Era” provides an in-depth analysis of the relationships between institutions, people, and technology in the context of the Fourth Industrial Revolution, highlighting the need for institutional reform and development of creative human resources .

All research projects demonstrate clear freedom in selecting research topics, without limitation to any specific field, evidencing an open and free academic environment in defining research directions at UEH .

Additionally, UEH proactively creates spaces for academic dialogue and policy review through national-scale seminars and scientific forums . A notable example is the Forum on “Policies Promoting Science, Technology, Innovation, and Digital Transformation in Localities” , attended by more than 200 delegates, including leaders from the Ministry of Science and Technology, provincial authorities, scholars, and domestic experts . All six selected presentations were delivered by UEH researchers, proposing specific policy solutions aligned with Resolution 57-NQ/TW dated December 22, 2024, of the Political Bureau on breakthroughs in developing science, technology, innovation, and national digital transformation. This event not only demonstrates the right to freely publish and engage in open academic discussion, but also shows the practical impact of academic freedom policy when UEH research results are directly applied in advising national and local policies .

National Academic Forum: Policies Promoting Science, Technology, Innovation, and Digital Transformation in Localities

UEH’s academic teaching freedom policy enables faculty to autonomously design curricula and educational content aligned with their specialized research competencies . The Knowledge Enrichment Program on Innovation Leadership and Change Management in the Public Sector, District 3 (December 2024) is a representative example: UEH faculty and researchers proactively developed learning modules combining theory and real-world scenarios, focusing on change management, transparency, and efficient public administration competencies .

The program attracted more than 60 participants from leadership of departments and communes in District 3, contributing to disseminating academic knowledge into local governance practice . This activity demonstrates academic teaching freedom and public knowledge dissemination, encouraged by UEH within its academic freedom policy framework .

Opening Ceremony of the Knowledge Enrichment Program on Innovation Leadership and Change Management in the Public Sector, District 3, 2024

The Forum on “Development and Use of Trustworthy Artificial Intelligence” (November 2024) organized by UEH’s School of Economics, Law and Public Administration (CELG) in collaboration with the Institute for Policy Research and Communications Development (IPS) 

The forum brought together more than 100 delegates from the Ministry of Information and Communications, research institutes, universities, and independent experts to discuss legal and ethical issues in artificial intelligence development, including regulatory sandboxes, privacy rights, and algorithmic transparency . UEH faculty members chaired and presented papers demonstrating freedom in research, publication, and open academic critique . This activity shows that UEH’s academic freedom policy is not merely enacted but substantively implemented, linked with academic responsibility and contributions to public policy .

Forum on “Development and Use of Artificial Intelligence,” November 6, 2024

With a clear regulatory system, transparent mechanisms ensuring academic rights, and rich practical evidence, UEH has created an open, creative, and responsible academic environment where scholars are encouraged to conduct independent research, publish internationally, and engage in open dialogue on timely economic and social issues, from digital transformation and innovation to artificial intelligence and sustainable development . Results such as more than 120 international collaborating scholars, hundreds of publications in prestigious journals, and large-scale national workshops demonstrate the practical impact of this policy .

Open related links:

1. Provision on Research Fellowship Programs, issued under Decision No. 1510/QĐ-ĐHKT-QLKHHTQT dated May 24, 2021 – https://ueh.edu.vn/images/upload/editer/Research%20Fellowship%20Provision%20at%20UEH%20-%20web.pdf

2. UEH update regulations to establish a solid, transparent legal framework – https://rdge.ueh.edu.vn/quy-dinh-bieu-mau/

3. Governance Model for Innovation Management – Trends and Prospects – https://future.ueh.edu.vn/chi-tiet-knowlege/research-contribution-mo-hinh-quan-tri-doi-moi-sang-tao-xu-huong-va-trien-vong-2/

4. The Decisive Role of the Vietnamese People in Ensuring Production Relations Compatible with the Development of Productive Forces in a New Era – https://future.ueh.edu.vn/chi-tiet-knowlege/research-contribution-vai-tro-quyet-dinh-cua-con-nguoi-viet-nam-trong-viec-dam-bao-quan-he-san-xuat-phu-hop-voi-su-phat-trien-cua-luc-luong-san-xuat-trong-ky-nguyen-moi-cua-dan-toc/

5. Forum on “Policies Promoting Science, Technology, Innovation, and Digital Transformation in Localities” – https://ueh.edu.vn/en/news/national-seminar-policies-to-promote-science-technology-innovation-and-digital-transformation-in-localities-to-implement-resolution-57-nq-tw-dated-december-22-2024-of-the-politburo-on-breakthroughs-in-science-technology-innovation-and-national-digital-transformation-73804

6. Knowledge Enrichment Program on Innovation Leadership and Change Management in the Public Sector, District 3 (December 2024) – https://ueh.edu.vn/en/news/opening-ceremony-of-the-2024-training-program-on-innovation-leadership-and-change-management-in-the-public-sector-in-district-3-73206

7. Forum on “Development and Use of Trustworthy Artificial Intelligence” (November 2024) – https://ueh.edu.vn/en/news/ueh-celg-in-collaboration-with-the-institute-for-policy-studies-and-media-development-ips-organizing-the-seminar-developing-and-using-trustworthy-artificial-intelligence-72939