Ninh Binh: science and technology to create added values

Under the leadership of the provincial Party Committee, People's Council and People's Committee, as well as the direction of the Vietnam Union of Science and Technology Associations (VUSTA), the Ninh Binh Union has enjoyed significant development and now has 18 member associations and an affiliated center with nearly 300,000 individual members.

In line with the dramatic socio-economic changes and the development of education and training, the number of intellectuals in the province has seen sharp increase in quantity and improvement in quality. They have done their utmost to contribute to the province's cause of industrialization and modernization.

Building a knowledge-based economy has always been the Party and State's judicious policy, with communication and dissemination of science and technology knowledge playing a key role in the cause of accelerating industrialization and modernization. This is also the most important approach in developing an advanced workforce, who are able to apply scientific and technological achievements in production and social management, thus producing added valued to the society. In addition, the communication and dissemination of scientific and technological knowledge to common people will improve the people's intellectual standards to help them bring scientific and technological advances to production and life, have access to civilized life, give up their backward lifestyle and protect their health.

Over the past year, the Ninh Binh Union has successfully consolidated and developed its organization and improve the quality of its operation. Knowledge dissemination has been conducted to all classes of people in various fields, including programs focusing on people in disadvantaged and remote areas and ethnic minorities. Books, newspapers, magazines and bulletins have been published and television and radio programs have been broadcast to improve the effectiveness of knowledge dissemination. Especially, training courses, workshops and seminars have been organized to transfer scientific and technological advances to people.

The Union has closely worked with provincial departments and agencies, organizations and districts to organize creativity contests to encourage and honor young creators. The Union has published books on "Ninh Binh's laureates and scientists", "entries winning Ninh Binh's sixth science and technology creativity contest 2012-2013"… to honor outstanding individuals' creativity and contributions to the province's socio-economic development. Media agencies have also cooperated with the Union to bring scientific and technological advances to life.

In the context of rapid development of science and technology, the VUSTA system is expected to make greater efforts to renew its operational methodology. The reform in the organizational structure of some member associations do not catch up with socio-cultural-economic development. The research and application of scientific and technological has yet to be adequately implemented and there have not been many scientific predictions concerning important fields such as urban planning, construction, socio-economics and the environment.

Some district Party Committees and authorities, departments and agencies are not fully aware of the role and importance of intellectuals in knowledge dissemination and popularization, which leads to slow issuance of policy encouraging the creativity of the Union and its member organizations.

In order to uphold the role of the VUSTA system in communication and dissemination of knowledge, it is a must that VUSTA work with the Ministry of Science and Technology to build five-year and annual plans on the dissemination of scientific and technological knowledge to implement Article 48 of the 2013 Law on Science and Technology, laying a legal foundation for the improvement of communication and knowledge dissemination. VUSTA and its member associations should also integrate research and development activities with communication and knowledge dissemination; create a two-way information portal between scientists and farmers.

VUSTA and its member organizations should take the initiative to renew communication and knowledge dissemination toward effectiveness and mobilize financial resources to uphold the potential of intellectuals and staff, as well as common people in the cause of accelerating industrialization and modernization.

Due attention and direction of provincial Party Committees, People's Councils and People's Committees are key factors for the success of communication and knowledge dissemination. Provincial authorities should set aside a budget for communication and knowledge dissemination, making it an impetus for socio-economic development.

Provincial unions of science and technology associations should cooperate with departments and agencies, especially with media agencies to publish books, flyers and magazines to bring scientific and technological knowledge to staff and common people; implement projects to improve livelihood of people in remote areas and ethnic minorities; organize contests to honor outstanding individuals and organizations for their creations and contributions to socio-economic development.

Author: Do Van Dung President, Ninh Binh provincial Union of Science and Technology Associations

(Source: Vusta.vn)