Closing ceremony of the “Modern and Effective National Governance Program for Emerging Leaders” | National Academy of Public Administration

On September 15, 2023, the National Academy of Public Administration (NAPA) held the closing ceremony of the Modern and Effective National Governance Program for Emerging Leaders (MENGPEL). The program is hosted by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MoHA) and organized by NAPA in collaboration with the Chandler Institute of Governance (CIG) Singapore.

Attending the Closing Ceremony, there were Mr. Kenneth Sim, Deputy Executive Director of CIG, Dean of Chandler Academy of Governance (CAG); Mr. Jean-Francois Verdier, General Inspectorate of Finance, former Director General of the French General Directorate of Administration and Civil Service; Ms. Wee Teng Ong, program manager from CIG.

On the side of MoHA, there were Assoc. Prof. Dr. Trieu Van Cuong, Vice Minister of Home Affairs; Ms. Nguyen Xuan Dung, Deputy Director of the Department of Civil Servants and Public Employees; Ms. Tran Thi Lien Huong, Deputy Director of the Department of International Cooperation.

On the side of NAPA, there were Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Ba Chien, NAPA President, representatives of leaders of NAPA faculties and functional departments, and 24 participants from units of MoHA, NAPA, and Departments of Home Affairs of provinces and cities namely An Giang, Bac Ninh, Dien Bien, Dong Nai, Hai Phong, Ho Chi Minh City, Lao Cai, Tay Ninh, Thanh Hoa, and Tuyen Quang.

The second run of MENGPEL took place from June 29, 2023, to September 15, 2023, according to Decision No. 2692 /QD-HCQG dated June 26, 2023, of NAPA President. The program includes four segments: 1) Leadership for modern and effective national governance; 2) Operating effectively in an international and digital environment; 3) Building strong institutions and systems; 4) Analytical and systems thinking skills in effective problem-solving. Three segments were organized in Vietnam, and one segment was organized in Singapore.

Ms. Pham Thi Quynh Hoa, Director General, Department of International Cooperation, presenting the summary report of MENGPEL.

In the MENGPEL summary report, Ms. Pham Thi Quynh Hoa, Director General of the Department of International Cooperation, stated that after 04 segments, including 03 segments in Vietnam and 01 segment in Singapore, with a high spirit of learning and research, the program had been successfully concluded according to plan. All 24 participants were qualified for a certificate of completion.

Through MENGPEL, participants have developed specific competencies such as:

First, participants can develop a broad vision and the ability to identify the internal and external environment of an organization and understand the dynamics of individuals and organizational groups.

Second, participants can improve their awareness of modern, effective national governance, the context of digital transformation, opportunities and challenges faced by leaders and managers; the leadership roles and necessary capabilities to meet new requirements.

Third, participants are equipped with skills to work effectively in a globalized and digitalized world, such as integration skills and working in an international environment; international negotiation skills and media crisis management; digital transformation in state agencies.

Fourth, participants can develop skills in building and developing strong organizations and management systems; and effective coordination skills between central and local levels in the new context.

Fifth, participants can develop analytical and systems thinking skills and apply them in policy formulation, implementation, and evaluation; analyzing and effectively handling complex issues posed in the context of modern, effective national governance.

Sixth, through domestic and overseas practical research activities, participants have access to practical experiences of advanced countries to compare and contrast with Vietnamese practices, thereby drawing useful lessons in management, administration and handling practical problems.

Vice Minister of Home Affairs Trieu Van Cuong delivering his speech at the closing ceremony

Speaking at the closing ceremony, Vice Minister of Home Affairs Trieu Van Cuong acknowledged the results of the program. He also highly appreciated the initiatives, efforts and effective cooperation between MoHA, NAPA and CIG in developing and organizing the leadership training program for strategic public leaders and managers at central and local levels.

The Vice Minister emphasized that good national governance will be a decisive factor in the success of countries, reflected in the vision and active participation of different actors in society to address common issues at all levels, from local to central. Therefore, improving the capabilities of public servants, especially the team of emerging leaders at the strategic level, to meet the requirements of modern, effective national governance is an essential and objective requirement. The Vice Minister hopes that the success of this program will pave the way for more effective implementation of the next run in 2024 and set the direction for future collaboration activities between MoHA, NAPA, and CIG.

Mr. Kenneth Sim, Deputy Executive Director of CIG and Dean of CAG, speaking at the closing ceremony.

Mr. Kenneth Sim, Deputy Executive Director of CIG and Dean of CAG, expressed his delight in receiving positive feedback from the participants regarding the program. The program is meticulously designed to align with the real-world context in Vietnam, allowing participants to immediately apply the acquired knowledge to their work, resulting in initial positive and effective outcomes.

Mr. Kenneth Sim expressed his hope for more regular and extensive collaboration between the two parties in future capacity-building initiatives for public servants in the coming time.

Mr. Hoang Van Duong, Chairman of Si Ma Cai district, Lao Cai province, representative of the participants, speaking at the closing ceremony.

Speaking on behalf of the class, Mr. Hoang Van Duong, Chairman of Si Ma Cai district, Lao Cai province, respectfully thanked the leaders of MoHA, functional units of the Ministry, NAPA and CIG for their support and assistance, providing favourable conditions for participants to engage in learning, research, and the cultivation of leadership and management skills in the context of modern, effective national governance. With 31 modules integrating theoretical knowledge with practical experiences in various locations in Singapore and Vietnam, MENGPEL delivered valuable insights and methodologies in leadership and management. Given the work positions held by the participants, they can immediately apply the knowledge acquired to policy formulation; leadership and management in units and localities; lecturing, training, and guiding tasks.

The program has provided participants with a lot of valuable insights, such as:

(1) Improved awareness and changed mindset and work management methods, especially administrative management and skills for working in a globalized and digitalized environment;

(2) Access to information and management methods, leadership, and the creation of superior, methodological and well-structured policies adhering to international practices;

(3) Exposure to domestic and international models and achievements in economic management.

Mr. Hoang Van Duong expressed his hope that the Vice Minister of Home Affairs, NAPA President, and CIG leaders would continue to oversee the development and refinement of the program and organize future training courses for leadership and management at all levels; arrange annual advanced training courses for public servants; actively contribute to the training of high-quality human resources for government at all levels and for the nation.

On behalf of the 24 participants, Mr. Hoang Van Duong conveyed his appreciation to the leaders of MoHA, the NAPA President, CIG leaders, the lecturers, and international experts for providing the necessary conditions that enabled the participants to successfully complete the course.

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Ba Chien, NAPA President, delivering closing remarks.

In his remarks, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Ba Chien congratulated the 24 participants on their completion of the program. He affirmed that good governance is a decisive factor in the success of nations. To build a modern and effective national governance system in the context of the world entering the digital era with numerous opportunities and challenges intertwined with unprecedented far-reaching impacts, it is necessary to develop a team of leaders and managers capable of building and applying effective modern governance models, consistent with Vietnamese traditions and current context. To successfully carry out this important task, with its position as a national and leading training center for public servants, NAPA focuses on building quality training programs to improve the leadership and management capabilities of public servants. The second run of MENGPEL in 2023 is a strong continuation of the long-term cooperation program between MoHA, NAPA, and CIG, aimed at nurturing emerging leaders.

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Ba Chien also expressed gratitude for the guidance and support of the leaders of MoHA and its functional units. He also thanked CIG for respecting and addressing the needs of its partners, and for working closely with NAPA in designing programs and arranging qualified international experts with expertise and practical experience for the program. He hopes that the collaborative relationship between the two sides will continue to develop, and NAPA looks forward to receiving further support and assistance from CIG in future training courses.