CIG and Vietnam’s NAPA Conduct Workshop on Working Effectively in an International Environment

HANOI, VIETNAM, 17 DECEMBER 2020 — Vietnam's National Academy of Public Administration (NAPA) and the Chandler Institute of Governance (CIG) gathered public sector officials, government practitioners, and academics for a workshop on Building Competency for Working in the International Environment on 17 December 2020. The workshop was held in-person at the NAPA campus in Hanoi, and experts and academics from other cities in Vietnam and around the world joined via video conference.

The conference gathered experts and attendees from Vietnam, the United States, and Singapore.
The conference gathered experts and attendees from Vietnam, the United States, and Singapore

The Government of Vietnam has noted the importance for civil servants at all levels to improve competencies for working in an international environment, as expressed in Resolution No. 26/NQ-TW. The workshop provided support towards achieving that goal, and built upon an MOU that was signed between CIG and NAPA in January 2020.

NAPA's Vice President delivering the opening address


"As a national centre performing the functions of training and enhancing the competency of management and leadership for cadres, civil servants and public employees, NAPA has an important role in building and implementing competency building programmes to work in the international environment.”
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Luong Thanh Cuong
Vice President of NAPA

Experts and practitioners with international expertise were invited to speak at the workshop. Speakers included Prof. Vu Minh Khuong, CIG Advisory Council Member and Professor at Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy (Singapore); Prof. Dr. Tran Ngoc Anh, Indiana University and Chairman of Vietnam Initiative; Dr. Huynh The Du, Fulbright University Vietnam and visiting professor at Indiana University; Prof. Dr. Duong Van Quang, former Rector of the Diplomatic Academy of Vietnam and former Vietnamese Ambassador to UNESCO; Dr. Lai Thai Binh, Deputy Director General of the East Sea Institute, Diplomatic Academy of Vietnam, and former Vice Consul General of the Vietnamese Consulate in Houston; Ms. Nguyen Ta Hai My, Head of Division, Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Vietnam), and former secretary of the Vietnamese Ambassador to the United Nations; and Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Thi Hong Hai, Dean of Administrative Sciences and Organisation – Personnel Management at NAPA.

"International integration is important for anyone interacting with citizens. We must see operating in an international environment in a broader context.”
Prof. Dr. Tran Ngoc Anh
Indiana University and Chairman of Vietnam Initiative
"We must apply global lessons into our local context. Think globally and act locally.”
Dr. Huynh The Du
Fullbright University Vietnam and Visiting Professor at Indiana University
CIG's Executive Director speaking at the conference

CIG’s Executive Director, Mr. Wu Wei Neng, proposed the development of a competency framework which took into account the perspectives and suggestions provided by the experts. He also made recommendations for the various competency requirements that would enable public employees to work effectively in an international environment.

Closing the workshop, NAPA’s Director General of the Department of International Cooperation, Ms. Pham Thi Quynh Hoa thanked all experts for their time and valuable insights.

"NAPA hopes that the experts will continue to accompany the Academy in the process of enhancing working capacity in an international environment for cadres, civil servants and public employees in general, and for employees of NAPA. In particular, to contribute positively to the development of high-quality administrative human resources, promoting the integration and innovation process of Vietnam.”
Ms. Pham Thi Quynh Hoa
Director General of the Department of International Cooperation, NAPA

Following the conclusion of the workshop, CIG and NAPA will work together to develop and finalise the framework. According to the State Management Review, the framework would also form the basis for NAPA to advise the Government and the Ministry of Home Affairs (Vietnam) on decisions regarding capacity building for cadres and civil servants working in an international environment.

About the National Academy of Public Administration

NAPA is a key training and research agency directly under the Ministry of Home Affairs (MOHA). Its mission is to improve competencies, knowledge and skills in leadership, state management and public policy. It designs and delivers training and research programmes for civil servants in Vietnam.

For media clarifications, please contact:

Shanice KOH (Ms)
Communications Strategist; and Executive, Programmes and Partnerships
Chandler Institute of Governance
Email: Shanice.Koh@Chandlerinstitute.org

Clarissa LI (Ms)
Manager, Programmes and Partnerships
Chandler Institute of Governance
Email: Clarissa.Li@Chandlerinstitute.org