Brian Jeffrey
During a recent National Assembly meeting focused on revising the Law on Cadres and Civil Servants, Nguyen Van Quang, Secretary of the Da Nang City Party, pointed out that gifted young professionals who have dedicated over a decade to public service find themselves limited by labor contracts due to insufficient staffing levels.
Several PhD graduates trained abroad are holding non-specialized roles at the commune level because local governments lack the personnel quotas to hire them as official staff. With ongoing efforts to streamline administration, these individuals may face exclusion from the workforce entirely.
This situation has led to intense debate.
Many readers have expressed to VietNamNet that truly talented individuals shouldn’t settle for low-paying positions within local government but should instead seek opportunities in the private sector, research fields, or international organizations.
Those with degrees from overseas should not occupy roles in communes or wards, as these positions do not demand specialized knowledge.
Others, however, argue that the current employment system has flaws that prevent local authorities from keeping highly educated and talented personnel.
Readers have raised concerns about the qualifications of PhD and master’s degree holders who are working as underqualified officers in local government with minimal remuneration.
One reader, Thu Hong, noted, “A PhD who settles for mundane positions without standing out in a competitive field is merely ‘studying for a PhD,’ rather than truly embodying what it means to be one.”
Overall, those with advanced educational backgrounds, particularly from foreign institutions, have access to a wealth of lucrative job options in Vietnam, and are unlikely to need to seek out positions in local government.
Reader Nguyen Huu Hung remarked that holding a high degree does not necessarily equate to being talented, while others questioned what true talent really is: is it merely an academic qualification?
“Why don’t they pursue roles in research or educational institutions?” another reader queried.
A reader named Duoc Luong Thanh mentioned that genuinely skilled PhDs trained abroad would easily find positions in various agencies or multinational companies in Vietnam. “So why do they persist in seeking non-specialized roles at the commune level? Perhaps they are looking for pathways to advancement within the state framework?” he speculated.
If that is the case, they might feel disillusioned, as non-specialized roles are often not integrated into the local government structure.
Reader Le Ngoc Diep concurred, stating that overseas-trained PhDs have many high-paying job options; the question is whether they have genuinely honed their skills.
Not all graduates from abroad possess superior qualifications. In countries like the US, Australia, and Europe, alongside prestigious universities, there are also many institutions of lower caliber, some of which may be less reputable than those in Vietnam. It’s essential to focus on actual skills and commitment rather than merely valuing degrees.
While some readers remain skeptical about the real capabilities of overseas-trained PhDs mentioned by Quang, others attribute the underutilization of talent to inadequate policies.
One reader highlighted the misallocation of skills, stating that it is a significant loss to have a medical PhD managing a library, as that does not align with their expertise.
Reader Tuan Dao proposed that local governments need mechanisms to hire personnel matching the qualifications and skills of those with higher degrees. “If individuals are indeed talented, they should be retained in local government,” he argued, suggesting that high-performing officers at the commune level should be prioritized over those at the district level who lack higher degrees or come from local universities.
While degrees indicate academic attainments, equivalent degrees do not necessarily reflect identical academic quality, especially when comparing top-tier institutions to local ones. Experience is another determining factor, along with the current salary of the candidates. Considering these three aspects together provides a more comprehensive measure of an individual’s capabilities for hiring or dismissal decisions.
Some readers expressed empathy for talented individuals excluded from the system.
“It’s understandable that these officers feel discontent when they are marginalized within the system. It feels akin to being laid off, which is naturally disappointing,” reader Ngoc Thuy commented.
Many readers confirmed that gifted returnees encounter hurdles due to restrictions on official positions and ongoing administrative cuts.
Some who studied abroad with state funding are obliged to work for the public sector as part of their commitment, yet they often find themselves in temporary positions instead of becoming official staff because of deficit in staffing quotas.
