Experts discussed integrity in scientific research during a forum held on Tuesday in Hà Nội.

The forum was co-organised by the Ministry of Education and Training (MoET) and the Ministry of Science and Technology (MoST).

Deputy Minister of MoET Nguyễn Văn Phúc emphasised that honesty in scientific research was both new and not new, and this was an important issue in the innovation process of science, technology, education and training.

Top universities in the world also care about integrity in scientific research, and the issue has long been regulated at higher education institutions around the world.

Phúc said that in Việt Nam, in the past 10 years, organisations had conducted comprehensive innovation in education and training following the Party Central Committee’s Resolution 29.

One of the outstanding results is that the number of scientific publications in prestigious international journals has increased sharply.

It demonstrates Vietnamese scientists’ contribution to developing human knowledge, meeting the requirements of international integration in scientific research, enhancing the position and potential of the national science and technology.

The total number of Vietnamese scientific publications in the Scopus list in 2013 was about 3,800 articles and nearly 18,500 ones last year, an increase of about five times.

It helped Việt Nam rank fifth in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), 12th in Asia and 45th in the world in terms of international publications on Scopus, according to the Elsevier database.

The international publications brought Việt Nam's global innovation index last year to 48th out of 132 countries and territories in the world, and fourth in ASEAN.

Besides the positive contributions, there are also a number of issues that need attention and resolution from managers, science and technology organisations, scientists and the community.

And one of the most concerning problems is integrity in scientific research.

Phúc said that the forum’s purpose was to create a multi-dimensional discussion so that scientists, experts, science and technology organisations and managers could share perspectives, comments and assessments about the position and role of integrity in research.

The work is expected to help Việt Nam's scientific sector have quality developments, making practical contributions to the country's reform and deep integration with the world science in the near future.

The MoET last year advised the Government to issue the Decree No 109/2022/NĐ-CP regulating science and technology activities in higher education institutions.

The decree assigns higher education institutions to promulgate regulations and take responsibility for integrity in their units' science, technology and innovation activities.

The regulations must be suitable to the real domestic and international situation.

Schools must have measures to control, prevent and handle acts of plagiarism, fraud and fabrication in science, technology and innovation.

During the forum, delegates shared domestic and international lessons, existing difficulties and limitations, appropriate and effective solutions to enhance integrity in scientific research. — VNS