14th National Party Congress: Providing motivation for the mission of young overseas Vietnamese intellectuals in the new era

As a postdoctoral researcher at Chulalongkorn University, Thailand, how do you perceive the significance of the 14th Party Congress for the current generation of overseas Vietnamese intellectuals?

Ms. Pham Nguyen Nhe Quynh is a postdoctoral researcher at Chulalongkorn University, Thailand. (Photo: Courtesy by author)

The 14th National Party Congress marks a strategic shift, ushering in an era of national advancement.

For those conducting research in an international environment, the Party Congress reinforces the belief that science, technology, and knowledge are pivotal levers for Vietnam's breakthrough. The event demonstrates that we are not outside the development process but are a crucial part of the nation's internal strength.

The Party Congress provides a solid spiritual foundation, helping young overseas intellectuals overcome geographical distances, feel a strong connection with the country, and gain motivation to pursue new research directions of global scale that directly benefit Vietnam's interests and position.

What new directions do you hope the 14th National Party Congress will propose in the strategy for developing high-quality human resources and science and technology, especially in attracting, utilizing, and effectively connecting young overseas Vietnamese intellectuals?

I hope the 14th National Party Congress will outline breakthrough and substantive strategies. Particularly, I look forward to an open mechanism for utilization, where intellectuals do not necessarily have to return to the country to contribute.

The state could establish a truly global expert data network, where young intellectuals can participate in national projects through remote consulting, training, or joint laboratory models between Vietnam and leading global universities.

Attracting and utilizing should go hand in hand with building a research ecosystem aligned with international standards. I hope for specific policies that assign responsibilities to young scientists to lead key projects.

When trusted and empowered, young overseas intellectuals will become a valuable "underground stream", bringing intellectual resources from around the world to nourish the "land" of domestic innovation.

The 13th National Party Congress clearly defined the role of science, innovation, and digital transformation. From a researcher's perspective, how do you hope these aspects will be elevated at the 14th National Party Congress?

The 13th National Party Congress laid a solid foundation for understanding digital transformation, but by the 14th Congress, I hope these aspects will be realized into national competitive capabilities.

From a research perspective, science must become a concrete solution to practical national challenges such as climate change, energy security, or public health.

I hope the 14th National Party Congress will promote comprehensive digitization of national research infrastructure, creating shared data platforms to bridge the gap between domestic and international research.

Simultaneously, there should be a strong mobilization of financial resources, encouraging private enterprises to invest in R&D through tax policies and strict intellectual property protection. Only when science truly becomes a direct driver of economic value can we achieve the aspiration for prosperity.

With your experience in association activities in Thailand, what proposals do you have to ensure the voices, initiatives, and contributions of young overseas students and intellectuals are more heard in the country's major policy decisions?

From practical experience in association activities in Thailand, I realize that overseas students and young intellectuals possess a multi-dimensional perspective, combining global thinking with a deep desire to contribute to their homeland. However, for these potentials to truly become resources for major policy decisions, I propose more systematic and substantive reception mechanisms.

Young overseas Vietnamese intellectuals in Thailand participate in the event commemorating the 80th National Day. (Photo: Courtesy by author)

First, we should establish regular and in-depth dialogue forums between Party and State leaders and the young intellectual community by key industry groups. Organizing online seminars not only removes geographical barriers but also creates direct connections, ensuring creative ideas are not lost through intermediaries.

Second, I propose establishing a knowledge ordering mechanism, where ministries and sectors proactively present practical national challenges for overseas intellectual and student associations to address through consulting or joint research projects.

Additionally, there should be more attention to the Global Vietnamese Young Intellectual Network program initiated by the Central Committee of the Vietnamese Student Association. This is the ideal ecosystem to connect elite minds from around the world into one. I propose enhancing the operation of this network in a more specialized direction, dividing into policy and technical advisory groups according to the fields the country prioritizes, such as the digital economy, semiconductors, or sustainable development.

Finally, we need to maximize the role of Vietnamese Student Associations abroad as extended arms of policy-making agencies.

The association should not only be a place for bonding among compatriots but must become a hub of intelligence, where advanced development initiatives and trends from host countries are compiled and sent back as valuable references. When contributions from afar have a reliable reception address and receive satisfactory feedback, the trust and responsibility of the younger generation towards the nation's future will surely multiply.

The 14th Congress is expected to open a new development phase for the country. What do you believe is the responsibility and mission of the young overseas Vietnamese intellectuals in the coming period?

The mission of the young overseas Vietnamese intellectuals in the new era is to become ambassadors of knowledge and bridges of development.

The first responsibility is to strive for professional excellence to affirm the value of Vietnamese people on the international stage, which is the most effective way to assert national position.

The second responsibility is the spirit of connection and transfer. We do not only study for ourselves but must always ponder how to bring the essence of global knowledge to enrich our homeland, and how to elevate Vietnamese intellectual products and initiatives to the world stage.

In the upcoming period, each young overseas intellectual should be an important link in Vietnam's global value chain, ready to engage and embrace challenges to continue writing glorious chapters, leading the nation into an era of sustainable, prosperous, and happy development.

Meeting of Vietnamese intellectuals in Thailand organized by the Vietnamese Embassy. (Photo: Courtesy by author)

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