On the morning of January 16, 2026, the Vietnamese Law School Network (VLSN), in collaboration with Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology and Engineering and the University of Law, Hue University, organized a National Scientific Conference entitled “Legal Mechanisms and Policies for Breakthrough Development of Higher Education in the Spirit of Resolution No. 71-NQ/TW (XIIIth Party Congress)”.

The Conference was held in the context that the education and training sector nationwide is actively implementing Resolution No. 71-NQ/TW dated August 22, 2025, of the Politburo (XIIIth term) on breakthrough development of education and training, aiming to build a modern, autonomous, and internationally integrated higher education system capable of meeting the country’s requirements for rapid and sustainable development. The Conference also served as an important academic forum for discussion, analysis, and policy recommendations to improve legal mechanisms and policies for higher education, particularly in the field of legal education.

Representing the Vietnamese Law School Network at the Conference were Assoc. Prof. Dr. Đoàn Đức Lương, Rector of the University of Law, Hue University and Head of the Network’s Executive Committee; Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyễn Duy Phương, former Vice Rector of the University of Law, Hue University; Assoc. Prof. Dr. Lê Vũ Nam, Vice Rector of the University of Economics and Law, Vietnam National University, Ho Chi Minh City; Assoc. Prof. Dr. Bùi Anh Thủy, Head of the Faculty of Law, Van Lang University; Assoc. Prof. Dr. Phan Trung Hiền, Head of the Faculty of Law, Can Tho University; Dr. Lý Thiên Trang, Vice Rector of Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology (HUTECH); Dr. Nguyễn Cảnh Tuyến, Head of the Judicial Academy campus in Ho Chi Minh City; and Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyễn Ngọc Anh Đào, Head of the Faculty of Economic Law, Ho Chi Minh City University of Banking.

Distinguished guests included Prof. Dr. Nguyễn Trung Nhân, Vice Rector of the University of Science, Vietnam National University, Ho Chi Minh City; Dr. Nguyễn Thạc Quang, Standing Deputy Director of the Ho Chi Minh City campus of the University of Transport and Communications; Dr. Tô Thanh Tuần, Vice Rector of Lilama 2 International College of Technology; Assoc. Prof. Dr. Đặng Đăng Tùng, representative of Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology, Vietnam National University; Mr. Đặng Kim Ánh, M.A., representative of Ton Duc Thang University; and Ms. Lê Thị Tâm, M.A., representative of the National College of Early Childhood Education.

Representing Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology and Engineering were Assoc. Prof. Dr. Châu Đình Thành, Vice Rector of the University; Dr. Nguyễn Thị Phượng, Head of the Faculty of Politics and Law; together with leaders of law training institutions, scholars, researchers, educational administrators, lecturers, doctoral candidates, postgraduate learners, and students from various universities and research institutes nationwide.

In his opening remarks, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Đoàn Đức Lương emphasized that 2026 marks a period in which educational reform thinking is being strongly institutionalized through legal frameworks, while also imposing increasingly high requirements on implementation capacity, supervision, and enforcement of legal discipline among higher education institutions, lecturers, and administrators. In this context, the 2026 National Scientific Conference was organized to concretize the spirit of Resolution No. 71-NQ/TW and to provide an academic forum for in-depth discussion, analysis, and policy recommendations of both theoretical and practical significance.

This year’s Conference received 64 scientific papers from researchers, lecturers, and educational administrators from institutions across the country, of which six outstanding papers were selected for presentation in two thematic sessions. The presentations focused on key issues, including improving legal institutions and policies and innovating university governance in the context of institutional autonomy; developing high-quality human resources, financial mechanisms, and effective mobilization of resources for higher education; as well as digital transformation, international integration, and promotion of innovation within higher education institutions.

Through the discussion sessions, the Conference clarified numerous theoretical and practical issues arising in the process of improving legal mechanisms and policies for higher education, particularly in the context of implementing Resolution No. 71-NQ/TW. The presentations and exchanges concentrated on analyzing institutional bottlenecks related to governance, university autonomy, and human resource development, while proposing feasible solutions to enhance the effectiveness of organization and operation of higher education institutions.

The Conference not only contributed to strengthening the scientific foundation for the implementation of Resolution No. 71-NQ/TW but also served as an important reference channel for state management agencies and higher education institutions in policy formulation and the implementation of breakthrough solutions for higher education development in the coming period.