Improving the quality of planning and finance work to meet the new era’s development requirements of Ho Chi Minh National Academy of Politics

Assoc.Prof., Dr. NGUYEN DUY BAC
Vice President of Ho Chi Minh National Academy of Politics

1. Introduction

In response to the need to strengthen the training and capacity-building of cadres and scientific research in the new period, on July 30, 2005, the Politburo issued Resolution No. 52-NQ/TW on renovating and improving the quality of training and fostering of cadres and scientific research at the Ho Chi Minh National Academy of Politics, in which the Academy is identified as a level-I budget unit. Implementing the content and requirements of Resolution 52, on September 28, 2005, the President of the Ho Chi Minh National Academy of Politics issued Decision No. 3450/QD-HVCTQG to establish the Department of Planning and Finance, a unit with the function and task of advising on the implementation of level-I budget tasks in state budget management, financial management, public assets, investment and basic construction... ensuring consistency and unity throughout the Academy system.

After 20 years of construction and development, the Department of Planning and Finance has become a strong collective, capable of providing strategic advice and effectively organizing the implementation of tasks assigned by the Party Committee and the Board of Directors of the Academy, making important contributions to the overall achievements of the Academy in training and fostering leaders and managers at all levels; scientific research, policy consulting; expanding international cooperation; enhancing the modernization of technical facilities, etc..

2. Content

2.1. Important results in advising on the implementation of planning, investment, and finance work of the Academy

During the past 20 years, in its role as an advisory unit for the Academy to implement the level-I budget unit, the Department of Planning and Finance has effectively performed its functions and tasks of advising, managing, and operating the Academy’s finance, assets, and construction investment. Planning, investment, and financial work has been constantly strengthened and renovated in accordance with the functions, tasks, characteristics of the Academy’s situation and practical requirements, helping the Academy ensure financial resources and facilities to operate effectively, and successfully complete the political tasks assigned by the Party and the State, especially the key, strategic, and long-term development tasks.

The Department of Planning and Finance has advised on the effective implementation of the Academy Director’s system management policy, ensuring consistency and unity in the exploitation and management of financial resources among budget units. The Department of Planning and Finance has guided, supported, and encouraged units to manage their finances, assets, and construction investments, ensuring compliance with relevant legal regulations and guidelines from leadership and management agencies.

The work of planning, investment, and finance has made important contributions to the implementation of the political tasks of the Academy. Based on the state budget estimate allocated to the Academy by the Ministry of Finance and on the financial needs of the Academy’s units, the Department of Planning and Finance has advised on allocation plans for submission to the Board of Directors in order to ensure financial resources for recurrent expenditures, scientific research expenditures, and increased investment in the modernization of physical and technical infrastructure, thereby enabling units throughout the Academy’s system to operate effectively and fulfill their assigned functions and tasks. The Department’s advisory work on planning, investment, and finance has strictly adhered to the principles of centralized and unified management, publicity, transparency, thrift, and effectiveness, combating waste in financial and investment management and construction, while also ensuring the autonomy and accountability of subordinate budget-estimating units in using state budget funds.

The Department has always attached importance to the work of interpreting and concretizing state mechanisms and policies and developing professional procedures. It has effectively guided the State’s mechanisms and policies, promptly resolving and removing difficulties and obstacles faced by the units. In addition to continuously updating and implementing new policies in the use of the State budget, the Department has guided the affiliated budget units to promptly update new regulations for implementation. The Department has also actively and proactively studied and proposed to competent agencies the formulation and promulgation of mechanisms, policies, and norms suited to the Academy’s specific activities and tasks.

The Department has participated in resolving difficulties, obstacles, and specific issues in the financial work of the Academy to ensure the best implementation of the task of training, fostering, and updating knowledge and skills for leaders and managers at all levels, especially at the strategic level; training and fostering leaders and managers of friendly parties and countries at the Academy.

The management, inspection, and supervision of the contents and activities related to the fields of finance, assets, and construction investment of the Department at the affiliated budget units are carried out in accordance with the State’s regulations and the operating and system management policies of the President of the Academy. The Department has closely coordinated with the budget units, the functional agencies of the relevant departments, ministries, and branches to advise the Academy’s President on budget, financial, and asset management. This work has ensured consistency and unity in the allocation, management, and operation of financial resources and construction investment projects of the budget units.

In addition, the inspection and supervision work has promptly corrected shortcomings, or recommended removing difficulties and obstacles in the fields of financial management, assets, and construction investment at the units.

The Department has proactively advised the Academy President on financial management, assets, and investment in accordance with the norms and regulations of the State and the Academy, in accordance with the actual situation of implementing the tasks of each unit. The management of public assets is strictly implemented from the stage of making the allocation plan to the assignment of management and use, according to the correct objects and purposes, contributing to the practice of budget thrift. Construction investment projects are approved in accordance with the correct procedures and regulations, seriously implementing the policies and directions of the State, closely following the approved progress of the projects, bringing high efficiency in investment.

Advisory work in managing data on planning, investment, finance, and assets emphasized creating databases and professional assessments related to the management, use, investment, purchase, renovation, and repair of fixed assets in the Academy system, contributing significantly to improving the quality and efficiency of planning and financial activities at the Academy.

2.2. Main policies and tasks for planning and finance work in the coming time

Over the past 20 years, in its role of advising the Academy in performing the function of a level-I budget unit, the Department of Planning and Finance has continuously grown and developed, becoming increasingly professional and modern in performing assigned functions and tasks, making important contributions to the overall achievements of the Academy. In the coming years, the Department of Planning and Finance needs to continue to build on the achievements it has made to continue to make greater contributions to the development of the Academy in the new era.

The Department of Planning and Finance needs to improve its advisory work for the Party Committee and the Board of Directors of the Academy to realize the financial and investment tasks in the Development Strategy of the Ho Chi Minh National Academy of Politics to 2030, with a vision to 2045, approved by the Politburo (Notification No. 46-TB/TW dated October 28, 2024 of the Central Party Office announcing the Conclusion of the Politburo on the Development Strategy of the Ho Chi Minh National Academy of Politics to 2030, with a vision to 2045). The Department of Planning and Finance needs to actively and proactively advise on “Building a financial and investment mechanism, in accordance with the role, functions, and political tasks of the Academy. In particular, focusing on prioritizing financial resources to ensure operations and investment in construction and modernization of physical and technical facilities for the Academy from the state budget, commensurate with the position and role of the Academy, creating a modern physical and technical foundation, effectively serving the requirements of renovation in working style, manners, scientific and modern teaching and learning methods, deeply imbued with the identity and culture of the Central Party School, with a worthy position in the country and in the world. Implementing a smart Academy governance model, actively implementing digital transformation, and gradually building digital learning materials in the Academy system. Promoting the proactive role of the Academy, encouraging the socialization of revenue and investment sources to contribute to accelerating the modernization of physical and technical facilities, and improving and enhancing material and spiritual well-being of staff, lecturers, and students.

To implement the above orientation, the Department of Planning and Finance needs to focus on implementing the following key tasks:

(i) Preside and coordinate with relevant units to continue advising on completing regulations and rules on financial management, assets, investment, construction, and professional procedures to ensure consistency, systematization, publicity, and transparency in the implementation of the Academy’s political tasks on “Financial management, assets, decisions and responsibility for investment projects and financial autonomy under the authority as prescribed by law”; guide and promptly answer questions from units in the process of budget implementation. Strengthen training and fostering for staff in charge of financial management, assets, and construction investment throughout the Academy system, in order to improve their capacity, and meet requirements and tasks.

(ii) Advise on the arrangement of financial resources to ensure regular activities and investment, construction, and enhancement of the Academy’s physical and technical facilities in a synchronous, modern, integrated, and distinctive manner, meeting the requirements for implementing the Academy’s political tasks. Organize the allocation and implementation of the annual state budget estimates in accordance with the schedule, policies, and orientations; at the same time, have solutions for managing the estimations correctly, reasonably, and effectively during the implementation process.

(iii) Advise on renovation in management, procurement, allocation of assets, arrangement, handling, and liquidation of public assets and real estate of units according to regulations. Complete and thoroughly handle backlogs, ensure the proper, practical, and effective use of assets and real estate.

(iv) Pay attention to investment and construction management; ensure quality, efficiency, progress, and discipline in managing and implementing public investment projects. Organize the development and implementation of the medium-term public investment plan for the period 2026-2030 and the vision to 2045 in a focused and key direction, meeting the development requirements of the Academy in the new era.

(v) Strengthen the application of information technology, create breakthroughs in digital transformation in management work; strengthen information and reporting regimes, build data to serve management, administration, and operations; and effectively analyze and evaluate financial efficiency in all aspects of the Academy’s operations.

(vi) Research and advise the Party Committee and the Presidential Board of the Academy on increasing the socialization of revenue and investment sources for the development of the Academy, in addition to State investment resources, to improve and enhance the material and spiritual life of cadres, lecturers, and students of the Academy system.

(vii) Focus on building Party cells and building strong, comprehensive units; strengthen training and fostering a team of cadres, civil servants, and employees of the unit with sufficient capacity, qualities, and prestige, equal to the tasks assigned.

Received: September 10, 2025; Revised: September 16, 2025; Approved for publication: September 24, 2025.

Author’s email: Nguyenduybacvanhoa@gmail.com