“Vice-Prime Minister Le Thanh Long Discusses the Development of the Nam Cao University Complex in Ha Nam Province”

The meeting was attended by Minister of Education and Training Nguyen Kim Son, representatives of some ministries and sectors, and leaders of Ha Nam Province.

Project implementation and some difficulties

According to Truong Quoc Huy, Secretary of the Ha Nam Provincial Party Committee, Nam Cao University Town is located in Duy Tien Town and Phu Ly City and was approved for construction by the Prime Minister in 2013. The university town covers an area of 754 hectares and is expected to cater to the training needs of about 50,000-80,000 students.

The investment capital is over VND 19,000 billion, of which the construction cost of the universities is about VND 9,110 billion.

From 2013 to 2020, a large number of universities came to work, survey, and register for investment projects, many of which were approved in principle and in investment projects by the managing ministries, such as Hanoi Medical University, University of Fire Prevention and Fighting, Hanoi University of Construction, Hanoi Industrial College, and People’s Police College No. VI. However, up to now, only Hanoi University of Construction and the educational institution of FPT Corporation have invested and partially implemented the project, leading to a delay in the progress according to the Prime Minister’s direction on the construction of Nam Cao University Town.

Regarding the establishment of branches of universities in Nam Cao University Town, Mr. Truong Quoc Huy said that the National Economics University has developed a project to establish a branch, which is being submitted to the Ministry of Education and Training for approval. The branch is expected to train 4,500-5,000 students with an investment capital of about VND 2,000 billion.

The Banking Academy plans to invest in a second facility at the University Town with a training scale of about 4,000 students and an investment capital of VND 1,500 billion. The Academy is currently carrying out procedures for investment proposals to report to the State Bank for approval.

Hanoi University of Construction plans to invest in the construction of a Training – Practice Facility of the University at Nam Cao University Town. The University has completed land leveling and constructed a number of works such as lecture halls and dormitories. The training scale is about 5,000 students, with a capital of VND 1,000 billion. The University is completing the investment project dossier to submit to the Ministry of Education and Training for approval of the investment proposal.

The University of Transport is in the process of proposing an investment proposal.

Bach Mai College of Medicine (completing the dossier for submission to the competent authority for the establishment of Bach Mai University of Medicine and Pharmacy) plans to build a facility with a training scale of 6,000 students and a capital of VND 3,000 billion.

The main difficulties and obstacles in the implementation process of the Project include difficulties in investment capital sources allocated to the locality to implement site clearance and investment in the construction of essential technical infrastructure of the University Town. There is a lack of specific policies on capital support for universities relocating from the inner city of Hanoi to the approved University Towns.

Universities also lack experience in organizing and implementing procedures for the establishment and investment construction, leading to delays in project progress.

Minister of Education and Training Nguyen Kim Son highly appreciated Ha Nam’s idea of dedicating an entire urban area for teaching and learning. The Minister recognized that lecturers and students would be excited to have a well-planned area around the University Town. He requested the universities to urgently complete the procedures for the establishment of the institutes. The Minister supported the policy of establishing a medical university by Bach Mai Hospital in Ha Nam Province as the Hospital is preparing to put its second facility here into operation.

The Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee committed to arranging capital for Hanoi University of Construction and the National Economics University so that they can start constructing their branches in September and November, respectively, and hoped that the Ministry of Education and Training would approve the policy for the establishment of these two branches in May 2025.

Building Nam Cao University Town is the right direction

Concluding the working session, Deputy Prime Minister Le Thanh Long stated that the establishment of the project for Nam Cao University Town is in the right direction and is “completely correct,” meeting the requirements for breakthrough development in education, training, and science and technology. There are many bases to turn Ha Nam into a center for education and healthcare.

The Deputy Prime Minister recognized that the planning for this University Town is already in place, and “a large area of land has been cleared.” All the work that has been and is being done is very clear, ready to welcome schools to Ha Nam.

The Deputy Prime Minister basically agreed with Ha Nam’s proposals and concurred with the opinions of the ministries and sectors that it is necessary to realize this project and “if there are difficulties, they will be handled.”

The Deputy Prime Minister noted that the projects must be viewed comprehensively. For schools that have implemented the project to different extents, the managing agencies and the schools and beneficiary units should develop a comprehensive investment project so that after completion, they can go into operation, instead of dividing it into separate parts. With a comprehensive investment project, it is possible to balance according to the capital sources for phased investment “but must be viewed comprehensively.”

The Deputy Prime Minister requested Ha Nam Province to coordinate with the Ministry of Education and Training to focus on completing the investment project for the construction of the branch of Hanoi University of Construction. The National Economics University needs to complete the procedures for the establishment of the branch and obtain the opinion of the Ministry of Education and Training on authorizing Ha Nam Province to approve the investment proposal for the project. At the same time, Ha Nam Province should prioritize arranging capital for the construction of this area to be completed. The remaining three schools should continue to complete their projects for submission, clarifying the amount of capital from the province, investment capital, and capital from the schools.