Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc recently asked all stakeholders to find solutions to problems that have bedevilled the Da Nang University Village project for the last two decades.

Prime Minister Phuc speaking to some representatives from UDN. VNS Photo Cong Thanh

On a working visit to the University of Da Nang (UDN), the PM asked the Ministry of Education and Training, the authorities of Da Nang and Quang Nam Province and other relevant agencies to clearly lay out all difficulties so that the national government can take final decisions to end the long delay. 

He also urged ministries and the 2 localities to speed up land clearance so that construction can recommence soon. 

“We should put an end to the delay. I’ve agreed that mid-term loans must be given for land clearance in order to build the University Village as an urban hub for the central region and highlands,” Phuc said.

“Local administrations should play their role in speeding up the land clearance process and resettlement project for local residents,” he said.

He also asked ministries and local administrations to affix responsibilities of related agencies that have delayed the project.

The PM said the UDN should develop as one of the top 50 universities in ASEAN, and a key human resource centre for the central region and highlands.

He advised the university to build up a strategy that will enhance its contribution to national socio-economic development and make it a forerunner in innovation and reform.

The university should overcome all challenges to become a leading, reputed centre for international scientific research and a favoured rendezvous for scholars worldwide, boosting international co-operation.

The PM agreed with the university establishing a teachers’ training college for engineering as well as the Viet Nam-United Kingdom University.

Prime Minister Phuc also visited the city’s College of Technology yesterday and granted  scholarships to 110 poor students.

20-year stalemate

Work on the 1.7 trillion VND (US$75.2 million) Da Nang University Village project, which covers 300ha in Quang Nam’s Dien Ban District and Da Nang’s Nga Hanh Son District, began in 1997, but only 2 hostels, 2 lecture halls, some sections of a wall and inner traffic roads have been built.

The project had completed a resettlement area on one hectare, but only 2 of 100 households were relocated. In total, about 2,000 households in the area have to be resettlement.

Director of UDN Tran Van Nam said the project owner – the Ministry of Education and Training – lacked funds while commencing the project.

He also said the project delay has led to unstable lives for local residents, not to mention time and money wasted on land clearance.

Municipal People’s Committee (PC) Chairman Huynh Duc Tho, said the project needs 165 billion VND($7.3 million) for land clearance for 71ha in the Da Nang area.

Quang Nam Province PC Chairman Dinh Van Thu said his locality had cleared 130ha of land, and needed 5 billion VND ($221,000) for the remaining 60ha.

He also said local residents in the area have been suffering poor living conditions for the last 20 years and the project should be completed soon.

Deputy Minister of Investment and Planning Dam Van Thu asked UDN to complete legal investment procedures as well as a detailed list of buildings for expedited approval.

The university should function on its own finances after 5 years of being subsidised by the State budget, said Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam.

He hoped UDN would take the lead in innovation and reform in Viet Nam, succeeding in becoming financially self-sufficient.

The  university, which has developed 12 college-level education centres in the last 20 years, trains 90,000 students in technology, engineering, science, economics, trade, finance, foreign languages, medicine, culture, tourism and media studies per year.

(Source: VNS)