Coordination between VUSTA and central ministries, agencies in communication and dissemination of scientific and technological knowledge from 2015 to 2020

At the first National Congress of the Vietnam Association of Science and Technology Dissemination (May 18, 1963), President Ho Chi Minh attended, spoke and assigned important communication tasks, disseminated knowledge to scientists “Ladies and gentlemen have to make every effort to bring their scientific and technical knowledge to widely spread among the working people, so that the people can promote the emulation of production quickly, cheaply and good. By doing this, the country will be rich, the people will be strong, and the people's lives will be improved in all aspects. That is the glorious task of ladies and gentlemen”.

It can be seen that, from the middle of the last century, with the vision of a great leader, President Ho Chi Minh considered universalizing science and technology to the entire people as an important task associated with functions and tasks of the scientific and technological intellectuals, associated with the Vietnam Association of Science and Technology Dissemination and later the Vietnam Union of Science and Technology Associations (VUSTA), political - social organizations representing the voice of Vietnam's scientific and technological intellectuals.

In the period 2015-2020, in the implementation of the tasks assigned by the Party and the State, VUSTA has actively coordinated with the ministries and central agencies, the Fatherland Front to gather the contingent of intellectuals and scientist in the system, implemented many communication activities and disseminated scientific and technological knowledge (S&T). In the work of press and publishing, implementing Decision No. 362/QD-TTg dated April 3, 2019 approving the national press development and management planning up to 2025, in August 2019, VUSTA had researched, developed and completed the Press Planning Project to build 01 press agency of VUSTA to be the voice of intellectuals in carrying out the Party's propaganda mission, State legal policies, popularizing of S&T knowledge, social consultation, criticism and assessment, contributing to the country's socio-economic development.

Commendation to individuals and press agencies in June 2018

VUSTA directs the Knowledge Publishing House to coordinate with scientists to build and publish the world's knowledge quintessential bookcases, publish an average of 180 books per year (with nearly 400,000 copies), of which 100 books are wholly invested by the Publisher and 80 books are publishing links to provide readers from simple knowledge to valuable knowledge with high content of gray matter.

VUSTA also regularly directs the production and publication of newsletters to disseminate knowledge (periodically a number of times per month) and disseminate knowledge by topics (4 topics/year). In the period 2015-2020, VUSTA has published about 70 newsletters to disseminate knowledge and 16 bulletins according to thematic topics. These newsletters are posted in electronic version on the website vusta.vn and are regularly updated with documents providing information for readers and useful references to provincial/city associations in the implementation of local knowledge dissemination activities. Besides, VUSTA constantly innovates the content, form, quality and efficiency of the general website of VUSTA at the address: http: www.vusta.vn.

Training skills to write news/articles on website www.vusta.vn 2016

In addition to the media through press and publishing, in the past 5 years, VUSTA has organized more than 20 weekend news programs on Radio Voice of Vietnam, dozens of talk shows on television on the role of intellectuals and the contributions of VUSTA system to the development of society in the new age.

Also in the period 2015 - 2020, the central agency of VUSTA and its member associations organized thousands of seminars (including many international conferences) and trained millions of members about relevant knowledge in their profession or field; organized exhibitions, contests and awards to propagate science and technology policies, nurtured young talents, promoted the science-loving movement, and guided farmers to apply advanced technical advances to improve economy, improve the quality of life. In order to promote publishing, VUSTA and its member organizations have published thousands of hand-held books on S&T with about tens of thousands of prints, which is an effective knowledge dissemination document for associations’ employees and people.

Training skills for Communication and knowledge dissemination in southern provinces in October 2019

Regarding general coordination, VUSTA coordinated with its member organizations to develop programs / plans / schemes to disseminate knowledge according to a 5-year, annual roadmap, organized nearly 100 activities each year. Specifically, the association members organized a workshop to disseminate knowledge for 2,685 people, technical training for 2,175 people, publishing 9 publications to disseminate knowledge with 7,750 copies, volume content, focusing on areas of social and current concern such as agriculture, forestry and fisheries development, environmental protection and climate change adaptation, food safety, public health care and sustainable development.

Implementing the Directive 42 - CT/TW of the Politburo, VUSTA mobilized the participation and gathered opinions of scientists and member associations to develop the draft Law on Dissemination of Knowledge. In 2019, the Vietnam Union has completed the basic contents of the Draft Law on Dissemination of Knowledge, held many seminars to consult regulators and experts, highly appreciated by ministries and agencies; directing further research and editing to submit to the Law-making agency.

In the period 2015-2020, VUSTA has also carried out many activities to coordinate with ministries and branches to improve the efficiency of communication and knowledge dissemination throughout the system. Some outstanding coordination activities are as follows:

- Coordinating with the Ministry of Science and Technology to develop annual plans for knowledge dissemination activities;

- In 2016, VUSTA and the Ministry of Science and Technology signed the framework cooperation program for the period 2016-2020, one of the important contents was "Promoting the implementation of Article 48, Law on Science and Technology 2013 regulations on disseminating science and technology knowledge”;

- Continuing to implement the program of cooperation with the Ministry of Education and Training (signed in 2008), including the coordination of organizing national student Olympics competition in Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, and Engineering, Information Technology and Loa Thanh Awards.

- In 2018, VUSTA collaborated with the Ministry of Science and Technology to develop a report on the implementation of the Government Office's Conclusion of Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc at the meeting with VUSTA, in which the Prime Minister directed “Constructing a communication program, disseminating scientific and technological knowledge by 2020”.

Communication and dissemination of S&T knowledge is an important mission and also the strength of VUSTA and its member associations, which brings together a team of S&T intellectuals, competent, experienced and enthusiastic experts in spreading knowledge to the community, people and society. In the period 2015-2020, communication and knowledge dissemination activities have made many progresses and achieved many remarkable results, but it is necessary to continue to research solutions to overcome difficulties and limitations in communication and knowledge dissemination.

In the next term (2021-2025), VUSTA should focus on the following issues:

Improving the organizational structure, the quality of human resources to meet the requirements of professional expertise to carry out communication and knowledge dissemination.

Building a communication network and disseminating knowledge in multidisciplinary careers, closely linking members of the system to promote internal strengths and collective strength, replicating typical models

Strengthening the role of connection, direction and orientation of VUSTA for member organizations in communication activities and scientific and technological knowledge dissemination.

Strengthening the linkage with news agencies and the press to introduce photos and results of activities, making more and more people aware of the reputation of VUSTA and coordinating in activities.

Concentrating and making more efforts in coordinating with the central departments, the Vietnam Fatherland Front in researching, building and completing the Law on Dissemination of Knowledge

Coordinating with central departments, branches, Vietnam Fatherland Front to actively participate in the implementation of the Project on developing the Vietnamese digitalized knowledge systems approved by the Government.

Author: Dr. Dang Vu Canh Linh - Head of Department for Information and Communication Technology