Following a 65-Year Tradition, the National Academy of Public Administration Unites Efforts to Build and Develop in the New Era – The Era of the Nation’s Rise

On December 27, 2024, in Hanoi, the National Academy of Public Administration (NAPA) held its 2024 annual review conference and outlined tasks for 2025. H.E. Mrs. Pham Thi Thanh Tra, Member of the Party Central Committee, Deputy  Chair of the Central Party Commission for Organization, Secretary of the CPV Designated Representation, and Minister of Home Affairs, attended the conference.

The conference featured the appearance of H.E. Mr. Truong Hai Long, Deputy Secretary of the CPV Designated Representation and Vice Minister, along with leaders of MoHA departments and units.

From the Ho Chi Minh National Academy of Politics (HCMA) was Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Duy Bac, Deputy Secretary of the HCMA Party Committee and HCMA Standing Vice President, along with the Chief of Staff and leaders of the Department of Training and the Department of Planning and Finance.

On the side of NAPA, there were Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Ba Chien, Secretary of the NAPA Party Committee and NAPA President; the NAPA Vice Presidents including Assoc. Prof. Dr. Luong Thanh Cuong, Dr. Nguyen Dang Que, and Prof. Dr. Nguyen Quoc Suu; leaders of NAPA units, and the NAPA staff at its Ha Noi headquarters.

The conference was conducted both in-person and via online platforms, connecting the NAPA Campuses in Ho Chi Minh City, Quang Nam Province, and Dak Lak Province.

In his opening remarks, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Ba Chien emphasized that 2024 was a particularly significant year for NAPA, marked by numerous milestones and emotions. It was the year that NAPA entered a period of operational stability following the merger of Hanoi University of Home Affairs into NAPA, and it coincided with the 65th anniversary of NAPA’s founding. In this remarkable year, NAPA achieved several critical accomplishments.

Refresher training activities expanded in scale and consistently improved in quality, incorporating many innovations. The focus was on specialized training, leadership and management position-specific training, job-specific training, and demand-driven training. The development of human resource education saw significant advancements. With support from the Prime Minister and the Minister of Home Affairs, Decision No. 06/2024/QĐ-TTg, issued on April 5, 2024, amended and supplemented Decision No. 27/2022/QĐ-TTg, dated December 19, 2022, which defines the functions, tasks, missions, and organizational structure of NAPA. This decision paved the way for NAPA to deliver undergraduate and graduate-level education across its entire system. In 2024, NAPA successfully conducted undergraduate and graduate admissions, particularly excelling in regular undergraduate admissions, reaffirming the NAPA’s brand. NAPA also advanced efforts to build a system of textbooks, lecture notes, and accreditation for its undergraduate programs, aiming for quality standards. International cooperation activities diversified in form and deepened in substance, expanding opportunities for public officials to access modern management knowledge and skills from reputable training institutions regionally and globally. Notably, in 2024, the Minister of Home Affairs approved NAPA’s Development Strategy, which outlines the NAPA’s growth vision through 2030, with further direction through 2045. This strategy encapsulates intellectual, quality-driven, and modern development philosophies, emphasizing knowledge creation, innovation, and national responsibility to achieve outstanding progress. These ambitions are the expectations of MoHA leadership and the aspirations of generations of NAPA staff and employees.

In line with Conclusion No. 09-KL/BCĐ, dated November 24, 2024, issued during the first meeting of the Central Steering Committee for summarizing the implementation of Resolution No. 18-NQ/TW (dated October 25, 2017, of the 12th Party Central Committee) on reforming and reorganizing the apparatus of the political system towards streamlined, effective and efficient operation, NAPA is oriented to merge into HCMA. This marks a transformative turning point in the NAPA’s development journey.

Reflecting on over 65 years of formation and development, NAPA has undergone several organizational changes: 25 years as a government agency, 33 years under MoHA, and 7 years as an entity directly under the Ho Chi Minh National Academy of Politics and Public Administration. Remarkably, in every phase—despite varying legal statuses—NAPA has consistently received significant attention and support from the Party, the State, the Government, the Prime Minister, and MoHA. Notably, over half of NAPA’s development journey has been closely linked with MoHA. The unwavering support from generations of MoHA leaders, particularly in recent years, including the personal attention of the Minister and Vice Ministers, as well as the assistance of MoHA functional departments, has played a crucial role in NAPA’s achievements and successes, especially in 2024.

Facing upcoming transformations, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Ba Chien, on behalf of the NAPA Party Committee, the NAPA Board of Directors, and generations of NAPA staff and employees, expressed heartfelt gratitude to the Party and State leaders, the Minister and Vice Ministers of Home Affairs, for their steadfast care and special attention to NAPA. He also extended thanks to the leaders of HCMA, the Ministry of Education and Training, and various ministries, committees, agencies, organizations, and units for their support, enabling NAPA to fulfill its assigned functions and tasks successfully. He further expressed NAPA’s hope for essential guidance from the Minister of Home Affairs as NAPA enters 2025 under a potential new name: the Academy of Public Administration and Governance. With the legacy of over 65 years of development and the trust of MoHA, NAPA aims to confidently embark on a new era – the era of the nation’s rise.

At the conference, attendees viewed a short video summarizing NAPA’s achievements across various fields in 2024 and outlining its objectives and tasks for the upcoming year.

In her address, Minister of Home Affairs Pham Thi Thanh Tra acknowledged and praised NAPA for its accomplishments in 2024. She highly appreciated the dedication and determination of the NAPA’s leadership and its staff across the system, who overcame numerous difficulties and challenges. Despite significant changes and a heavy workload following the merger of HUHA into NAPA, NAPA maintained internal unity, stability in its collective mindset, and successfully fulfilled its goals and tasks in 2024. She highlighted that NAPA has traversed a journey of more than 65 years of construction and development—a long journey marked by achievements and challenges. In 2023, under the policy of streamlining administrative structures, HUHA was merged into NAPA. Nearly two years after this merger, through innovative management and governance efforts, the NAPA Party Committee and Board of Directors have upheld the institution’s traditions while establishing new cultural values and fostering consensus among its staff. This harmonious blend of tradition, solidarity, collegiality, and mutual support—built on decency and goodwill—has created a NAPA fully equipped with the resources, vision, and capacity to reach greater heights.

Looking ahead to 2025, NAPA is set to develop under new conditions. Transitioning from being a unit under MoHA, which oversees public service and civil servant management, NAPA will become part of HCMA—a Party school bearing the name of the great President Ho Chi Minh. This marks the beginning of a new developmental phase, replete with challenges, yet the Minister expressed confidence that it will also be a glorious journey for NAPA. To uphold its proud tradition, Minister Pham Thi Thanh Tra urged the NAPA Party Committee, the NAPA Board of Directors, and its educators to focus on several key issues moving forward:

(1) It is essential to deeply and fully recognize that the merger with HCMA aligns with the broader trend of streamlining administrative structures that the Party of Viet Nam is vigorously pursuing. This transition represents a new opportunity and a significant chance for NAPA to gain greater political and legal standing. It opens the door for NAPA to assert itself further and make more direct and substantial contributions to training the cadre of civil servants and public employees within the political system.

(2) NAPA’s staff and employees must strive to rise to meet the new demands of their tasks. Becoming part of HCMA—a national center for training senior leaders, public managers, and theoretical political scientists for the Party, the State, and sociopolitical organizations—entails taking on new responsibilities. These will be more challenging and require significant effort to overcome.

(3) The Party Committee, Board of Directors, staff, and employees of NAPA must collectively contribute to the development and promotion of the noble cultural values of HCMA.

(4) NAPA should continue to leverage its functions and tasks effectively, coordinating efficiently with related agencies and units following the merger.

(5) Sustained efforts should be directed toward fostering excellence in teaching and learning. Throughout the merger process, the Party Committee, Board of Directors, and faculty members of NAPA must strive to create an environment of excitement and anticipation for the new opportunities awaiting learners and students.

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Ba Chien, NAPA President, expressed his heartfelt gratitude for the attentive and timely guidance of the Party Committee, leaders of the Ministry of Home Affairs, and Minister Pham Thi Thanh Tra. He also acknowledged the cooperation and support of the Ministry’s departments and units. He pledged on behalf of NAPA’s Party Committee, Board of Directors, and staff to fully and effectively implement the Minister’s directives in 2025 and the years to come.

During the conference, participants presented discussions and contributions to the 2024 summary report and the 2025 plan of action.

The conference announced the MoHA’s commendation decisions for collectives and individuals from NAPA and the appointment of NAPA Vice President Nguyen Quoc Suu to the title of Professor.