Seminar on “Assessing Learners to Meet the Requirements of Educational Reform”

On December 14, Hanoi Metropolitan University organized a seminar titled “Assessing Learners to Meet the Requirements of Educational Reform.”

Attending the seminar were Dr. Sái Công Hồng, Deputy Director of the Secondary Education Department (Ministry of Education and Training); Prof. Dr. Nguyễn Công Khanh, Hanoi National University of Education; and Assoc. Prof. Dr. Chu Cẩm Thơ, Vietnam Institute of Educational Sciences. From Hanoi Metropolitan University, participants included Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyễn Vũ Bích Hiền, Rector; Dr. Nguyễn Văn Tuân, Vice Rector; MSc. Nguyễn Thị Thúy, Vice Chairwoman of the University Council, together with many scholars from inside and outside the university.

 Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyễn Vũ Bích Hiền, Rector of Hanoi Metropolitan University, delivering the opening speech

In her opening remarks, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyễn Vũ Bích Hiền emphasized that evaluating learners’ outcomes throughout the process or at each stage of study is the main method to determine the extent to which competency-based teaching goals are achieved. “This plays an important role in improving learners’ results, moving towards assessment for progress,” she said. She also noted that at Hanoi Metropolitan University, assessment reform has been carried out regularly, consistently, standardized, and continuously updated. According to her, learner assessment is important both at the general theoretical level and across all stages of education: preschool, primary, lower secondary, upper secondary, university, and postgraduate.

Dr. Sái Công Hồng, Deputy Director of the Secondary Education Department (Ministry of Education and Training)

Speaking at the seminar, Dr. Sái Công Hồng stressed that, in the context of educational reform focusing on developing learners’ qualities and competencies, assessment methods must be further discussed and clarified, especially at the levels of general, university, and postgraduate education. For pedagogy students, once they graduate, they will engage with the 2018 General Education Curriculum, applying new knowledge and modern science in actual teaching.

Ông Sái Công Hồng bày tỏ, với sứ mạng, tầm nhìn và giá trị cốt lõi của Trường Đại học Thủ đô Hà Nội, các thầy, cô giáo sẽ tiếp tục có những hoạt động, những nghiên để tham vấn cho cơ quan chức năng liên quan; từ đó có hiệu quả trong hoạt động đánh giá người học, đáp ứng yêu cầu đổi mới giáo dục.

He also expressed confidence that, with its mission, vision, and core values, Hanoi Metropolitan University will continue conducting research and providing recommendations to relevant authorities, thereby making learner assessment more effective and aligned with the requirements of educational reform.

In his presentation, Prof. Dr. Nguyễn Công Khanh from Hanoi National University of Education discussed competency-based assessment for school students and proposed several solutions for innovating testing and assessment to improve teaching and learning quality. According to him, assessment is an inseparable part of the teaching process, as it helps teachers clearly define lesson objectives, content, methods, and techniques appropriate to learners, ensuring quality outcomes in line with objectives and output standards. “Innovating assessment will drive other processes such as teaching methodology reform and educational management,” he remarked.

Prof. Dr. Nguyễn Công Khanh, Hanoi National University of Education

Emphasizing the importance of learner assessment as a crucial stage in teaching, Dr. Hoàng Văn Thái from Hanoi College of Tourism noted that although educational institutions are striving to innovate, there remain challenges in implementation. He discussed several issues regarding learner assessment, the philosophy of competency-based evaluation, and directions for reform in general teaching and in English for tourism.

During the preparation of the seminar, the organizing committee received 98 scientific papers and presentations from scholars and educators within and outside Hanoi Metropolitan University. These contributions reflected diverse approaches in theoretical and practical research, while also proposing solutions to improve quality in research, curriculum adjustment, and the organization of assessment processes.

Dr. Trần Thị Hà Giang, Dean of the Faculty of Education, presenting at the seminar

Discussion sessions at the seminar

The seminar featured one plenary session in the morning and four parallel sessions in the afternoon. Scholars and educational managers shared insights to clarify theoretical and practical issues in learner assessment. These contributions help address the demands of educational reform, meet social needs, and improve education quality in the era of integration, supporting the university’s mission of training high-quality human resources for Hanoi and the nation.

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