Thoroughly grasping the spirit of “Continuing to synchronously renovate education and training goals, contents, programs, modes, and methods towards modernity, international integration, and comprehensive human development to meet the requirements of socio-economic, scientific and technological development, and adapt to the Fourth Industrial Revolution…”, the Political Academy has implemented various solutions to renovate its training programs and methods.

Over the past years, the Academy has regularly thoroughly grasped and strictly implemented the resolutions and directives of the Party, Central Military Commission, and Ministry of National Defence on education and training, particularly the Strategy for development of education and training in the Army for the 2011 - 2020 period; the Party and State’s documents on political theory training and fostering; Conclusion No.57-KL/TW issued on March 8^th, 2013 by the Secretariat “On continuing to promote political theory training and fostering for leaders and managers at all levels"; Resolution No.32-NQ/TW issued on May 26^th, 2014 by the Politburo (the 11^th Tenure); Conclusion No.94-KL/TW issued on March 28^th, 2014 and Directive No.23-CT/TW issued on February 9^th, 2018 by the Secretariat, etc. It has also implemented synchronous and comprehensive renovation of education and training process elements and “led and directed to effectively make breakthroughs in program and content renovation in association with renovation of methods and improvement of teaching quality”. Since 2016, based on the national training program frameworks, the Academy's political tasks, and feedback on training quality from units within the Army, the Academy has developed 7 new bachelor training programs and 2 advanced political theory training programs; reviewed, adjusted, supplemented, and corrected 18 bachelor training courses and amended doctorate and master's programs twice; compiled one master course on Ho Chi Minh; and  researched, compiled, edited, supplemented, and upgraded hundreds of textbooks, curriculum, and reference materials to suit the training objectives and programs for each object and characteristics of the Army to ensure political, scientific, and educational natures.

Thoroughly grasping the viewpoints of the 13^th National Party Congress’ Documents on renovating the education and training goals, programs, contents, and methods to contribute to improving the quality of propagation, education, and learning of Marxism-Leninism and Ho Chi Minh thoughts for cadres and Party members, the Academy has implemented the motto of “science, practice, creativeness, and modernity” in synchronously renovating political theory training programs, contents, and methods.

Firstly, building a contingent of lecturers and educational administrators with sufficient quantity, reasonable structure and high quality on par with tasks. Continue implementing the Project for Consolidation and development of lecturers and educational administrators in the 2018 - 2025 period and beyond. “Concentrate on building a contingent of lecturers and educational administrators with sufficient quantity, reasonable structure, and comprehensive quality in terms of politics, ethics, knowledge, capacity, responsibility, working experience, and health to meet the requirements of standardisation and implementation of the Academy’s political tasks”. Carefully select, source, and build a contingent of lecturers with good political qualities, basic training, deep understanding of specialised scientific knowledge, and skills to closely combine teaching and research tasks. Attach importance to building a contingent of leading qualified experts who are capable of expanding cooperation in teaching and research with prestigious training institutions inside and outside the Army; and regularly publish individual research results in domestic and international newspapers, journals, and scientific conferences. It strives to have, by 2025, over 67% of lecturers and educational administrators holding postgraduate qualifications. In particular, 70% - 80% of lecturers and researchers finish postgraduate study with over 40% are PhDs; and there will be 50 to 55 professors and associate professors. By 2030, it will finish standardising its contingent of cadres and lecturers with foreign language and information technology skills as required.

Secondly, continue to renovate political theory training goals, programs and contents towards comprehensive development of learners' capabilities and qualities. To meet the requirements and tasks in the new situation, it is necessary to supplement and adjust training objectives in line with the Party's viewpoint of “Strongly shifting the educational process from mainly providing knowledge to comprehensive developing capacity and quality of learners” and combine "personal development with knowledge and skill fostering " to aim at the dual goals of (1) raising the learners’ level of political theory and (2) improving the comprehensive quality, capacity, professional skills, and working styles and methods. In renovating programs and contents, boldly remove outdated and less practical knowledge and select specialised and interdisciplinary knowledge and scientific achievements related to training objectives to structure into lessons and lectures.

Thirdly, renovate the form and method of training and fostering political theory basing on the learner-centred approach to bring into full play the self-discipline and creativity of learners. As the objects of training at the Academy are mostly cadres with working experience inside and outside the Army, choosing appropriate training forms and methods is crucial. Basing on the training goals of each object, it is required to organise different classes and teaching methods; strengthen extra-curricular activities, visits of typical and creative models in agencies, units, and localities, etc.; combine traditional teaching methods with modern ones; focus on promoting the use of interactive and problem-solving methods; make effective use of modern teaching facilities; and resolutely avoid the “monologue” and “one-way” methods.

Fourthly, to promote the activeness and initiative of learners in self-study and research to improve their political theory levels. The Academy’s Party committees and presiding cadres at all levels should regularly lead, closely direct, create a favourable learning environment, instruct cadets to master self-study and research methods, and encourage them to promote their learning attitude and strive to acquire new knowledge. As for learners, along with raising awareness and sense of responsibility and building correct learning motivations and attitudes, it is necessary to determine that self-study to improve political theory level is the entitlement, obligation, and responsibility of their own; regularly self-assess honestly and objectively the level of individual political theory; and self-identify advantages and limitations and determine appropriate plans and methods for self-study and research to achieve the highest outcomes.

Finally, ensure the necessary conditions for the renovation of training and fostering programs, contents, and methods. Accordingly, actively build and perfect education and training regulations and develop the processes for examination inspection and educational quality assurance under ISO 9000 - 2008 standard. Diversify forms of examination and testing suitable for each subject and each module. Renovate the way to compiling open-question exams to accurately assess learners' creative thinking ability. Renovate the methods of developing curriculum and teaching materials suitable for each object, including basic contents and orientations for teaching and learning. Gradually promote and improve the quality of compiling e-learning textbooks and materials. Attach importance to investment in upgrading information technology infrastructure and facilities and providing more modern and synchronous teaching equipment towards building “smart school” and “smart libraries” to meet the requirements of digital transformation in education and training.

Synchronously implementing the above contents and solutions will contribute to renovating training and fostering programs, contents, and methods at the Political Academy in the spirit of the 13^th National Party Congress.

Colonel, MSc. VU VAN TAM