Need to pay due attention to the team of scientific and technological intellectuals

(Baonghean) - Nghe An is considered a "land of learning", producing many generations of talents, many famous scientists in all fields for the country, such as: Ta Quang Buu, Dang Thai Mai, Cao Xuan Huy, Hoang Dinh Cau, Nguyen Tai Can... and the next generation of young scientists also accounts for a large proportion compared to the whole country. But up to now, the province is still in the top of the poor provinces. In particular, science and technology, considered the key to development, has not developed commensurate with the province's potential.

Outstanding scientists and science managers were recognized by the Provincial People's Committee on the occasion of Vietnam Science and Technology Day (May 18).

Developing a scientific teamassociated with socio-economic development practices

Nghe An is a province with great advantages in human resources for science and technology as well as facilities for science and technology development. From the results of the survey and data of the Human Resources Development Plan of Nghe An province until 2020, the number of intellectuals in the science and technology sector with college degrees or higher in the province is currently 5,571 people (out of a total of 13,840 human resources), accounting for 40.14%, of which, the number of highly qualified people: Professors, Associate Professors has 97 people, accounting for 1.74%; PhDs and doctors, pharmacists specialized in level 2 have 258 people, accounting for 4.6%; masters, doctors, pharmacists specialized in level 1 are 1,404 people, accounting for 25.2%; university and college have 3,829 people, accounting for 68.7%.

Highly educated science and technology staff are concentrated in two fields: social sciences - humanities, economics (accounting for nearly 50%) and science and technology (accounting for about 24%), the rest are distributed in three fields: medicine, agriculture, forestry and fisheries and natural sciences. In terms of structure: The field of education and training has the largest staff, followed by the field of agriculture and forestry. Although the team of intellectuals is large in number, in reality it does not meet the requirements of socio-economic development of the province. The production sector is very short of leading staff. In particular, Nghe An is very short of staff who are good at economic management, have deep expertise, are knowledgeable about high technology, and lack skilled technicians and technical workers.

Discussing this issue, Dr. Nguyen Thai Tu - winner of the Ho Chi Minh Prize and the State Prize for Science and Technology, said: The scientific human resources in our province are not lacking, but the current problem is that we have not gathered and attracted that team. We have not been able to combine basic research, high-quality human resource training and application of research results into production. In fact, the basic science sector in the country in general and in our province in particular is currently very lacking and weak. This is considered a core scientific field to solve the next scientific problems, but we currently do not pay attention to this issue: right from the training policies in schools, it is shown that they are not suitable and not given due attention.

Nghe An is a locality with a tradition of studiousness and good learning. Every year, the rate of students passing the university entrance exam is quite high, the province is in the top of the provinces with the highest rate of students passing the university entrance exam in the country, with many students being valedictorians. However, after graduation, the number of students returning to work and contribute to the province is very small. In recent years, the provincial leaders have paid attention to policies to attract, build and develop a team of scientific and technological intellectuals. However, in reality, the implementation, mechanisms and policies are still limited, unable to "roll out the red carpet" to attract scientific intellectuals who are truly passionate about working and contributing to their homeland.

There needs to be an incentive mechanism,timely treatment

Realizing the importance of human resources in science and technology and based on the actual situation, the Party Central Committee recently issued Resolution No. 20 affirming that "Investing in human resources in science and technology is investing in sustainable development, directly enhancing the intelligence and strength of the nation". In which, there are important contents: building and implementing policies for training, fostering, promoting, rewarding, and honoring the team of science and technology staff; creating a favorable environment and material conditions for the team of science and technology staff to develop with their talents and enjoy benefits worthy of the value of their creative labor; innovating the work of recruiting, arranging, evaluating and appointing science and technology staff; having policies to continue using highly qualified science and technology staff who have passed the working age.

According to Dr. Nguyen Thai Tu, science is not only concerned with the current working team but also with the next generation of scientists. Our province has Vinh University - one of the key national universities. To solve economic and social problems, it is absolutely necessary to have a team of multidisciplinary scientists. It is necessary to invest in training the team of scientists, provide funding for the school's research topics. Creating conditions for teachers and students to focus on solving practical problems that the province is facing is also creating conditions for the school to improve the quality of training. This is a cooperation that benefits both sides. The cooperation model between the Mekong Delta provinces and Can Tho University is a lesson for the whole country. Can Tho University is the university of the Mekong Delta. In return, the Mekong Delta provinces have nurtured Can Tho University to improve the quality of training.

In order for science to truly become a tool and means to effectively serve the socio-economic development of the province, it is necessary to invest in improving the endogenous science and technology capacity of existing science and technology units and agencies, specifically institutes and schools in the area to solve science and technology tasks serving socio-economic development. Research and deploy a mechanism to connect universities, research institutes and businesses to coordinate in research and development of new technologies and products.

And there needs to be a timely honor and reward mechanism for the scientific team. Every year, the provincial leaders organize meetings with outstanding scientific and technological intellectuals to share socio-economic information and call for, mobilize, and gather the intelligence of the scientific intellectuals to solve the tasks of developing science and technology associated with the province's socio-economic development. Thereby, grasping the thoughts and aspirations of the scientific intellectuals, promoting and making good use of scientific and technological intellectual resources to serve development. In addition, well organizing the annual Science and Technology Creative Labor Award Ceremony to honor and promptly encourage organizations and individuals with outstanding contributions to scientific research and application. Those are very important solutions. But, I think, the most important thing now is that the State, enterprises, and production organizations need to trust and assign more work, and pose more difficult problems to scientists. Solving difficult problems is the mission of scientists, and through that, they are also paid fairly, have a better income and life.

Hopefully, with the new orientations of the Party and the State, the most recent of which is Resolution 20 on Science and Technology and the policies of the province, it will contribute to solving the problem of human resources in science and technology, creating conditions for the province's intellectuals to promote their homeland's traditions, contribute more intelligence and strength, and contribute to the socio-economic development of Nghe An commensurate with the province's science and technology potential.

Thanh Hoa

(Department of Science and Technology)