Information Need and Information User: Theory and Practice

This study discusses theoretical and practical issues of information needs and information users. The study presents a theoretical system about information needs and information users, including: concept, classification and role of information users; concept, classification, characteristics, and factors affecting information needs. The study affirms the practical values of information user's information needs for the development of society, the information and library industry and information user community.

Management of Biosphere Reserves in Vietnam: Status and Challenges

Vietnam has the second largest number of biosphere reserves (BRs) in Southeast Asia with 9 BRs, covering over 4.3 million hectares. Based on the specific conditions of each locality, some BRs have implemented a number of activities for sustainable management. However, there have been certain challenges to the effective management of BRs in Vietnam. This paper analyzes these challenges, including management policy aspect, organizational management, organizational management practices, and resources for management. The analysis results show that the term of BR has not yet been institutionalized in the national legal system as a unified management entity. In addition, the management structure and plan of the biosphere reserve is not consistent and not fully delineated at both national and local levels. The development and implementation of plans, coordination, cooperation and information sharing among key stakeholders at the BRs are inadequate. Moreover, there is difficulty in achieving the best results in implementing these activities and resources for management are still insufficient, especially human and financial resources.

Information Technology Application Policies in the Development of Science and Technology Information Products and Services in Vietnam

Scientific and technological information products and services are one of the important factors that create the scientific and technological information potential of each country. In the context of the Fourth Industrial Revolution having a strong impact on all aspects of socio-economic life, the policy of applying information technology to the development of information science and technology products and services needs improving to promote the provision of scientific and technological information products and services to organizations, individuals and businesses. On the basis of systematization and assessment of current regulations on information technology application policies in the development of information science and technology products and services, the study proposes some orientations to improve the current policy.

The Middle Income Trap: A Case Study of Korea and Lesson for Vietnam

In the 20th century, Asia was not only famous for war, poverty and backwardness but also for the emerging of Asian dragons like South Korea, Taiwan, Hong Kong and Singapore. These economies have successfully escaped from the middle income group to join high income economies with amazing growth rate. In 2008, Vietnam officially entered the group of middle-income countries, escaping from poverty and underdevelopment with rapidly increasing average income. However, the signs of "middle income trap" have also emerged. Among the four Asian dragons, South Korea has many similarities with Vietnam, such as devastation by war, low-income and poor resources, strong dependence on foreign aid and especially the separation between the North and the South. After the Korean War (1950-1953), South Korea was one of the poorest countries in the world. However, over the past nearly four decades, South Korea has demonstrated incredible growth and global integration and become a high – tech industrialized economy. By analysing the South Korean policies, Vietnam can learn from their success and failure to overcome the middle-income level that has trapped it for almost 10 years with a focus on improving Government’s role, capital control, human resource and technology.

Developing Indicators to Assess Financial Income Sustainability of Higher Education Institutions in Vietnam

Under the context of massification and enhanced autonomy of higher education, the trend of higher education institutions to proactively seek new financial income apart from the two traditional ones, i.e. governmental allocation and tuition fee, is inevitable. This, indeed, is paramount and contributes to the sustainable development of higher education institutions. In this study, based on international practices and experiences, indicators were developed to assess sustainability of financial income at higher education institutions in Vietnam. These indicators are composed of two constituents: (i) HHI – an indicator that assesses the relative financial sustainability of a higher education institution; and (ii) RPS – an indicator that assesses the absolute financial sustainability of a higher education institution. These indicators may be employed as a state governance instrument to monitor higher education institutions, or may also be used as an institutional instrument to monitor the sub-units.

Policy and Legislations on Microplastics Pollution Management in Vietnam

Plastic pollution has become a major global environmental problem. The amount of plastic waste, including microplastics discharged into the environment, is on the increase, causing harm to the environment, ecosystems, especially marine ecosystems, entering the food chain, and affecting human health. Recognizing the environmental risks of plastic waste, the State has issued many legal documents on plastic waste management such as the Law on Environmental Protection (2014, 2020); Law on Environmental Protection Tax 2010; National environmental protection strategy up to 2020, Vision 2030; National strategy on integrated solid waste management up to 2025, Vision 2050, among others. However, there are still many shortcomings to plastic waste management in Vietnam, e.g. there are no effective solutions in reducing, sorting, collecting, reusing, recycling and treating waste. More importantly, public awareness and understanding of microplastic pollution in Vietnam still need improving. Therefore, pollution caused by microplastics needs to be studied and evaluated in relation to its origin, current situation, impacts and management policies.

Trends in Population Aging and Social Policy for Elderly People in Vietnam

Population aging is one of the central issues of many countries in the world, including Vietnam. Life quality improvement and increase in life expectancy are indicators of development achievements. However, increase in life expectancy and sub-replacement fertility will inevitably lead to the aging of the population and the aging population will surely increase socio-economic burden. Therefore, without timely policy adaptation solutions, Vietnam will face crises in a number of social areas, such as labor market, social protection for the elderly as well as providing basic social services in the context of an aging population.

Corporate Social Responsibility: Concept and Dimensions

Corporate social responsibility (CSR) is no longer a new concept in Vietnam. However, as the concept has been developing over hundreds of years, it is strongly necessary for it to be reconceptualized together with a synthesis of its aspects. Using qualitative analysis method, this paper reviewed selected studies on the concept of corporate social responsibility and therefrom redefined the aspects of this concept.

Legitimacy of the Communist Party of Vietnam’s Leadership Role in Developing Public Policies

The leadership role of the ruling political party in the state and society is an important issue in each political regime. In Vietnam, the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) takes a leadership role in the state and society (including the public policy that is seen as a product of the process of performing that role), which is both historical and constitutionalized. From the interdisciplinary approach of politics and public policy science, this article analyzes and discusses the legitimacy of the CPV’s leardership role in the state’s pulic policy system, which has rarely been duscussed in the two above-named scientific areas. By analyzing the CPV’s objectives, mission and nature, this article shows the legitimacy of the party’s leardership role in the public policy system through 3 main aspects: (i) History - political belief; (ii) Political-legal basis; and (iii) The capacity, prestige and morality of the Party and party members. Therefrom, the article affirms that the Party’s leading role in the public policy is inevitable, necessary, both principled and lofty, as well as a way to further strengthen the people and society’s belief in the continuing of the Party’s leadership mission in the current period.

A Review of the Options to Restructure the System of Vietnam's Research and Development Organizations under the Impact of Policies

The network of R&D organizations is a system and always a component of Vietnam national S&T policy. According to the system pinciples, under the impact of the policy, this system has undergone numerous structure reforms to survive, develop and respond to the society’s requirements. This article analyzes a number of variants that have been implemented by the state in the restructuring of the system of R&D organizations in Vietnam.