Van Lang University participates in the project "Research and Propose a Legal Framework on Building Open Learning Resources in Vietnamese Higher Education".

On February 22th, 2022, Van Lang University coordinated with the Ministry of Education and Vietnamese universities (including Hai Phong University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Hanoi Open University, Thai Nguyen University) to organize the Launching Ceremony of the project "Research and Propose a Legal Framework on Building Open Learning Resources in Vietnamese Higher Education ". The project is sponsored by the Agence Universitaire De La Francophonie (AUF).

Participating in the program, Van Lang University had the presence of Assoc. Prof. Dr. Tran Thi My Dieu – President, Dr. Ngo Quang Trung - Vice President, Dr. Ngo Minh Hung - Head of Department of International Cooperation and Scientific Research, Dr. Nguyen Cuu Dinh – Head of Department of Academic Affairs, Ms. Le Thi Minh Tam (MSc.) - Head of Foreign Relations Department, Mr. Nguyen Chi Hieu (MSc.)- Chief of Staff of the President Office and Dr. Le Minh Thanh - Head of the Faculty of Tourism.

The Agence Universitaire De La Francophonie (AUF) sponsored the project and had several key participants at the event. These included: Mr. Fabien Méheust, the Deputy Managing Director of the Asia-Pacific region; Dr. Nguyen Tan Dai, the Head of AUF Department in Ho Chi Minh City; Associate Professor Dr. Nguyen Thu Thuy, the Director of the Department of Higher Education; Associate Professor Dr. Pham Nhu Nghe, the Deputy Director of the Department of Higher Education; and Dr. Nguyen Bao Hung, the Government Affairs Specialist. Additionally, a representative from the Ministry of Education was also present.

Regarding university units participating in the project, Hai Phong University of Medicine and Pharmacy had the participation of Associate Professor. Dr. Pham Minh Khue - Secretary of the Party Committee, Chairman of the School Council; together with representatives of the Department of International Cooperation, Department of Information Technology, Department of Undergraduate and Postgraduate Training Management; Hanoi Open University had the participation of Dr. Dinh Tuan Long - Director of Center for Technology and Learning Materials; Thai Nguyen University has the presence of Dr. Bui Thi Huong Giang - Deputy Head of the Technology and Foreign Affairs Department.

Opening the project introduction ceremony, Associate Professor. Dr. Tran Thi My Dieu, President of Van Lang University, introduced: “Over the past two years, we have all witnessed the impact of the COVID pandemic on many aspects of society. To be able to overcome loss and pain, everyone in every field needs to change their habits of thinking and living. With efforts, the Ministry of Education, as well as Universities, have mplemented many post-pandemic response plans to help students still be able to go to school. At this time, the epidemic may still last a long time and we still have to look for more options to be flexible in post-COVID training. Combining online and face-to-face learning systematically is a long-term plan to ensure the quality of training that our country's education is aiming for." In that spirit, the proposed project "Research and Propose a Legal Framework on Building Open Learning Resources in Vietnamese Higher Education " has provided more locally appropriate options in the journey, changing the way of teaching and learning. To do that, we need quality digital learning resources. Digital transformation combined with information technology application is the direction to develop diverse open educational resources for all universities."

Responding to the call of the Ministry of Education to establish a national digital platform for open educational resources (TNGDM), Van Lang University and its partners proposed a project to build a legal framework and develop the platform to promote effective university administration through digital transformation, ensuring quality and copyright requirements. The project also helps enhance continuity in learning, teaching, and research, responding to the call of the Ministry of Education and Training: "Closing schools while still maintaining learning" to adapt to the epidemic situation. In addition, the project aims to build an educational resource that serves everyone and their lifelong learning needs, creating many resonant values for society.

The project also aims to build an inter-university system that allows researchers, lecturers, students, and the public to share and use documents legally and without restrictions on time and space. In the long term, the plan will help universities proactively deploy online education to cope with unforeseen risks in the future.

Present at the project launch, AUF representative, Mr. Fabien Méheust, Deputy Managing Director of the Asia-Pacific region, sent good wishes for the project: "AUF is loyal to the values of the union, and we believe that Universities play a key role in the overall development of society. The project to establish open educational resources is considered one of the best projects in Vietnam because it is specific, creative and highly useful to the community. Therefore, we will spend our financial resources to support Van Lang as well as other universities to complete this project. Wishing the project success and bringing great value to Vietnam's education system."

Specifically, the project's products will include:

• Regulations on standards for digital learning materials; 
• Quality assurance process; 
• Copyright and ownership issues; 
• Rights of developers and responsibilities of users of learning resources; 
• Regulations for use in teaching and learning; 
• Mechanism for managing and sharing digital learning resources;

Receiving detailed information of the project, Dr. Ngo Minh Hung - Head of the Department of International Cooperation and Scientific Research of Van Lang University chaired a discussion on coordination methods to implement the project with representatives of the Ministry of Education and Training and universities. The meeting was lively with contributions, sharing and high determination from all members. Hopefully, with the 12-month development roadmap, the project will launch an appropriate legal framework and develop open learning resources among universities.

News: Thu Huong 
Image: Le Minh Phuong