Brian Jeffrey
Xuan, the chair of the Scientific and Training Council at Pham Ngoc Thach University of Medicine, reported that an urgent meeting was called to elect members for the Grassroots Professor Council (GPC) for the rector’s review and decision.
This report was sent on May 5, following an urgent communication from Associate Prof Dr Nguyen Thanh Hiep, the rector, to the National Professorship Council and the Ministry of Education and Training. After Xuan’s report, Hiep reached out to the Government Inspectorate for further clarification.
Xuan addressed the Party Committee and the Board of Rectors about the urgency of the GPC election process during discussions with VietNamNet. He confirmed that the procedure adhered to established protocols.
To prepare for the meeting, the GPC office provided candidates’ resumes and relevant legal documentation through the Science and Training Council’s Zalo account.
At the meeting’s start, the Chair outlined the meeting’s purpose and objectives, emphasizing the introduction of qualified candidates for the GPC, aiming for a council comprising 9 to 15 members by 2025.
Associate Prof Dr Huynh Quang Huy, a member of the council, highlighted essential legal points and reviewed the qualifications of the 20 candidates for the 2025 GPC, discussing their credentials and expertise.
The council examined the proposed GPC size, confirming that a minimum of two-thirds should be current university lecturers. They validated the list of permanent faculty members.
Criteria for candidates were debated based on their scientific CVs, specialties, and GPC experience to ensure appropriate nominations for the rector’s final decision.
A vote-counting committee, consisting of three members not running for GPC positions, was formed. They facilitated the voting, announced results, and maintained ballot confidentiality.
Xuan reported that among the candidates, 16 received more than seven votes, and 14 secured over ten votes, leading to the selection of the top 14 candidates for the official nomination list, with unanimous support from attendees.
After the meeting, the rector sought clarification on some points and convened an urgent session with council members.
Addressing concerns about a qualified ENT professor’s exclusion, Xuan clarified that two ENT specialists were among the candidates. Associate Professor Dr Nguyen Thi Ngoc Dung and Professor Dr Tran Phan Chung Thuy were included in the voting list. Dung garnered 13 votes while Thuy received 7.
Xuan asserted that there was no improper exclusion of Professor Dr Tran Phan Chung Thuy, who had no complaints regarding the voting process.
