Change to break through

That is the message of the training week for cadres, lecturers and staff of the 2023-2024 school year of Dai Nam University.

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Pham Van Hong - Principal of the school delivered the opening speech at the Training Week for staff and lecturers for the 2023 - 2024 school year.

Training to improve the capacity of cadres, lecturers and employees is an annual activity of Dai Nam University to build and develop a team of professional, skilled and enthusiastic staff to implement the goals and development strategies of the University in the new period.

This year, the training week takes place from August 2 to August 12, 2023 with 5 major topics, attracting the participation of nearly 1,000 officers, lecturers and staff of the whole school. Specifically, the 5 topics include:

Topic 01: “Roles and responsibilities of leaders and managers at the Faculty, Department and Division levels in universities” presented by Associate Professor, Dr. Nguyen Van Nha – Former Head of Training Department, Senior Lecturer of School of Business Administration – VNU

Topic 02: "Some key issues in the 3-year, 3-semester/year training program (K17) and testing methods for the 2023-2024 school year" presented by Mr. Dinh Quang Hung - Vice Principal.

Topic 03: "Some key issues in training management for the 2023-2024 school year" shared by Ms. Le Thi Thanh Huong - Vice Principal.

Topic 04: “Teaching Methods and Technology 4.0” shared by Dr. Ton Quang Cuong - University of Education - VNU.

Topic 05: "Brand communication and plan to welcome K17 students" presented by Ms. Cao Thi Hoa - Vice Principal.

Associate Professor, Dr. Nguyen Van Nha shared about the role of middle-level leaders with staff and lecturers of Dai Nam University.

Leadership is about creating heroes, not being a hero.

Key leaders of faculties are the extended arms of the School Council and the Board of Directors in implementing the development strategy and action policies of the School in the new period. In order for staff and lecturers to better understand the role and tasks of key leaders in the 4.0 era; the School invited Associate Professor, Dr. Nguyen Van Nha to share the first topic: "Roles and responsibilities of leaders and managers at the Faculty, Department, and Board levels in universities".

At the training session, Associate Professor, Dr. Nguyen Van Nha affirmed the importance of middle-level leaders (LMs) in the management system: “Heads of Departments, Divisions, Faculties, Institutes, and Centers are the ones who are most closely involved and understand the current situation at the grassroots level better than anyone else; are the “bridge” between senior leaders and grassroots staff; propose improvements and changes suitable for each unit as well as the sustainable development of the school; are an important resource for training and supplementing key positions”.

To do a good job, a manager must fulfill his/her role and ensure 4 leadership functions in the 4.0 era: Inspire trust, clarify goals, connect the system, and promote talent. Instead of being autocratic and authoritarian, a leader must know how to listen to everyone's opinions to perfect the unit; how to turn his/her ideas into the wishes of employees and let them voluntarily implement them. That is leadership capacity, the key to success.

“The job of a leader is to create heroes, not to become a hero,” Associate Professor, Dr. Nguyen Van Nha affirmed.

Associate Professor, Dr. Nguyen Van Nha commented: "Position does not create leadership, leadership capacity will lead to position."

In addition, the speaker emphasized that Heads of Departments, Offices, Faculties, Institutes, and Centers need to build a positive leadership style: Decisive actions, confident communication, neat appearance; both to manage well and set an example and promote the working spirit of employees.

Want to succeed must change together

During the training session, Associate Professor, Dr. Nguyen Van Nha affirmed: The world is constantly changing, so thinking and lifestyle also need to change. Each staff member, employee and student contributes to the success of Dai Nam University; therefore, to be successful, teachers, regardless of their position, need to change and join hands with leaders at all levels to develop a strong Dai Nam University.

“Teachers come to Dai Nam University not to receive a salary, to fulfill their duties… but to fulfill their aspirations, wishes, to contribute, to share, to attach their whole lives and futures to the school to become a loving, united, and powerful collective. If you want to go fast, go alone, but if you want to go far, you have to go with your colleagues…”

The sharing of Associate Professor, Dr. Nguyen Van Nha received special attention from staff and lecturers.

Teachers carefully take notes of the sharing.

Associate Professor, Dr. Nguyen Van Nha also emphasized that teachers need to change their thinking to reach the peak of cognition in the Bloom scale - Creativity: "Understand the needs of staff and students; teach what students need, not what teachers already have. Teach students methods of acquiring knowledge, creativity in thinking... don't force them into a framework. Teachers must be passionate so that students will be enthusiastic and want to change."

Sow a thought, reap an action

At the training session, Associate Professor Dr. Nguyen Van Nha shared that it is not by chance that the successful model includes: Knowledge, attitude, skills and habits. Of which, knowledge accounts for 4%, skills 26% and attitude is 70%. Rarely is there a person born with an innate instinct for presentation, most people hone their skills through the process of striving, making efforts, accumulating experience through books and the communication process.

He advised: “Be careful in every thought because it leads to action; be careful in every action because it becomes habit; be careful in every habit because it becomes character. Start with thoughts, take thoughts to sow thoughts to reap actions; sow actions to reap habits; sow habits to reap character; sow character to reap destiny.”

Associate Professor, Dr. Nguyen Van Nha also "decoded" the best way to create motivation and inspiration to work is to think positively, go to school with a bright smile to have full energy, act effectively and enthusiastically.

“To attract attractive people, you must be attractive. To attract powerful people, you must be powerful. To attract loyal people, you must be loyal. Instead of looking for those people, change yourself and you will attract them.”

Each DNU leader should be an eagle that overcomes storms.

Associate Professor, Dr. Nguyen Van Nha affirmed: Dai Nam University is undergoing great changes. And to change further, the staff needs to inspire and motivate staff, lecturers and students by: creating a departmental culture; generously giving compliments; “giving less but feeling more”, sharing both joy and sadness; turning the leader’s ideas into everyone’s ideas; leading employees in the face of organizational change; not criticizing or finding fault; letting everyone be managers.

Associate Professor, Dr. Pham Van Hong presented a souvenir to Associate Professor, Dr. Nguyen Van Nha.

At the same time, it is emphasized that LĐCTs need to practice the following skills: Self-awareness, motivation, sympathy, social skills, self-regulation skills. Especially, control your emotions so as not to get angry easily; adapt and be flexible to challenges; always smile; think carefully before acting and have breakthrough thinking. Only then can you become an inspirational leader and lead your colleagues to overcome all difficulties and challenges.

“Each leader and manager of DNU should be an eagle that overcomes storms and difficulties to make Dai Nam University famous,” Associate Professor, Dr. Nguyen Van Nha advised.

BTT