In line with the Party and State’s policy of streamlining and enhancing the efficiency, effectiveness, and quality of organizational operations for national development, the merger of the National Academy of Public Administration (NAPA) into the Ho Chi Minh National Academy of Politics (HCMA) not only represents a strategic step toward organizational streamlining and improving the efficiency of the training system for cadres, civil servants, and public employees but also marks the beginning of a new chapter filled with promising prospects. This development paves the way for advancing the training of high-quality personnel for the Party, the State, and the entire political system while also fostering the training of highly skilled personnel in public administration and public governance to meet the needs of Viet Nam in this new era of the nation’s rise.
The APAG’s official online portal is honored to feature an interview and an important message from Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Ba Chien, APAG President.
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Ba Chien, President of the Academy of Public Administration and Governance (APAG).
Interviewer: Thank you, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Ba Chien, for taking the time to share with the APAG’s official online portal about the significant event of merging the NAPA into HCMA and renaming it the Academy of Public Administration and Governance (APAG). Could you explain the significance of this decision?
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Ba Chien: The merger of NAPA into HCMA is a strategic decision that reflects the Party and State’s determination and long-term vision to streamline, strengthen, and enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of organizational structures.
This decision not only aims to optimize national resources but also improve the quality of training and development for cadres, civil servants, public employees, and public leaders and managers, thereby meeting the country’s developmental needs in this new era.
Under the HCMA’s leadership, APAG will inherit and promote the 65-year legacy of NAPA while undertaking bold reforms to meet the demands of improved training quality in the context of comprehensive digital transformation and global integration. This marks the beginning of a new chapter, offering immense potential and numerous opportunities for development.
Interviewer: Many staff members, lecturers, students, learners, and researchers may have mixed feelings about this major change. Could you share your thoughts with the staff, students, learners, and researchers who have studied or are currently studying at NAPA/APAG during this transitional period?
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Ba Chien: I understand and empathize with the concerns of our esteemed lecturers, staff, students, learners, and researchers. NAPA, with its 65-year tradition, is an integral part of the nation’s education system and administrative framework. The values it has built over this long journey are precious assets that we are committed to preserving and enhancing.
I would like to emphasize that this merger is not an end but a new beginning. HCMA, a unit of the Party Central Committee and under the direct, comprehensive, and regular leadership and guidance of the Politburo and the Secretariat, serves as a solid foundation and a guiding force to help APAG grow even stronger.
We firmly believe that with unity, solidarity, and the highest determination, the entire staff and workforce of NAPA/APAG will overcome the initial challenges and work together to build a dynamic, modern, and increasingly developed entity.
Interviewer: Could you share how the role and functions of APAG will be oriented after the merger?
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Ba Chien: APAG is a higher education institution under HCMA. It will undertake the following key tasks:
- Training bachelors, masters, and doctors in the fields of public administration, state management, public governance, and other areas as prescribed by the Party, the State, the Law on Higher Education, and the assignment and decentralization by the HCMA President.
- Offering training programs to enhance expertise, scientific research methodologies, and pedagogical skills for researchers and lecturers in public administration, state management, public governance, law, and other relevant fields, following the regulations of the Party, the State, and the assignment and decentralization of the HCMA President.
- Conducting scientific research and providing policy consultation on building the national administrative system, administrative reform, public policy, and public governance for organizations within the political system and in response to societal needs.
- Collaborating with relevant agencies and units to research and propose innovations in the content of programs and curricula on public administration, state management, and public governance for the Party schools, political schools, and universities and colleges nationwide.
- Undertaking international cooperation in training, academic exchange, research with international organizations, training and research entities of other countries, and international organizations on administrative science, state management, public governance, and related fields.
- Implementing transfer of technology and public services in public administration, state management, and public governance as assigned and decentralized by the HCMA President and in compliance with the regulations of the Party and the State.
APAG is headquartered in Ha Noi, with two campuses located in Ho Chi Minh City and Quang Nam. It will serve as a center for training and research in public administration and public governance, effectively addressing the demands of the era and the development needs of the country.
Interviewer: Learners and students are very concerned about their rights when significant changes occur. What are plans to ensure the rights of students and learners?
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Ba Chien: We are committed to fully ensuring the legitimate rights of all students, learners, and doctoral students who have studied or are currently studying at NAPA.
Training programs will continue as normal, without disruption or delay. The issuance of degrees and certificates will be carried out in accordance with legal regulations. Most importantly, priorities will be placed on enhancing the quality of teaching and the learning environment to provide students with the best experience and help them achieve their highest potential.
We will maintain and further develop the programs that have established its reputation:
- Doctoral training in two disciplines: Public Management; Constitutional Law and Administrative Law.
- Master’s programs in eight disciplines: Public Management; Constitutional Law and Administrative Law; Public Policy; Archival Studies; Economic Management; Finance – Banking; Cultural Management; and Human Resource Management.
- Undergraduate training in 24 disciplines and majors, including: State Management; Human Resource Management; Office Administration (specialized in Business Office Secretary); Law (specialized in Inspectorate); Economics; Political Science (specialized in Public Policy); Party and State Building (specialized in Personnel Organization within Party and State Building); Archival Studies (specialized in Documentation – Archival Sciences); Information and Library Science (specialized in Information Management); Tourism and Hospitality Management; Cultural Management (specialized in Cultural Heritage Management and Tourism Development, Cultural Tourism, and Cultural Communication); English as a Foreign Language Studies (specialized in Translation and Interpretation); Information Systems (specialized in E-commerce Information Systems within Information Systems).
Our philosophy emphasizes quality and efficiency as the foundation, with learners at the center, and institutional autonomy as the driving force. It aims to foster innovation and creativity, establishing a comprehensive and synchronized ecosystem to provide the best learning environment for learners.
I want to emphasize that learners are at the heart of all activities, and their satisfaction is the most important measure of our success and growth.
Interviewer: What specific plans are there to support staff and employees during this transition process?
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Ba Chien: The staff and employees are APAG’s most valuable assets. We are committed to ensuring their legitimate rights and creating the most favorable conditions for everyone to fully develop their capabilities and strengths.
The APAG Board of Directors will immediately implement the restructuring of the organizational apparatus and personnel in a streamlined, reasonable manner to ensure smooth and effective operations. Each individual will be assigned tasks suitable to their competencies and professional roles.
The APAG Board of Directors will also swiftly develop and refine internal governance regulations to ensure they are methodological, reasonable, transparent, and effective. Additionally, we will foster a model of organizational learning, a culture of quality, and a culture of responsibility in all activities of APAG and among its staff and employees.
APAG consistently encourages innovation and dedication from every staff member in pursuit of our shared goals, while fostering a united, professional, and dynamic working environment. Our success in this new phase cannot be achieved without the contributions of all staff and employees.
Interviewer: Finally, what message would you like to convey to the staff, students, and learners during this critical transitional phase?
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Ba Chien: I would like to express my deepest gratitude to all staff, employees, students, and learners for their dedication, support, and trust in NAPA throughout the years.
We are committed to preserving the valuable traditions of NAPA while advancing APAG into a higher education and research institution on par with the Asia-Pacific region in public administration, public governance, public policy, human resource management, and legal studies under the guidance and leadership of HCMA.
This journey will undoubtedly present challenges, but I firmly believe that with unity, responsibility, determination, and a shared aspiration for excellence, we will build a modern, dynamic APAG that achieves new accomplishments, meeting the expectations of the Party, the State, and society at large.
Interviewer: Thank you, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Ba Chien, for your profound and heartfelt insights. Wishing the Academy of Public Administration and Governance continued growth and success!
