Some solutions to improve the quality of online political theory education at universities in Vietnam in the context of the current industrial revolution 4.0

1. Introduction

The Industrial Revolution 4.0 with virtual intelligence, digital era and rapid development of new technologies has been having strong effects on all aspects of social life, including the field of higher education in general and political theory education in particular. The Industrial Revolution 4.0 is a knowledge revolution, which requires the universities in Vietnam to comprehensively innovate and implement the online training method to meet the needs of developing high-quality human resources in the current digital era.

2. Overview of online political theory education

Online education is a term quite commonly used in the field of education and training today. Depending on different perspectives and approaches, there are now many different interpretations of E-learning. It can be understood generally as a term to describe learning and training on the basis of information and communication technology, especially information technology. From a modern point of view, E-learning means Online education which is the delivery of learning contents using modern electronic tools such as computers, computer networks, satellite networks, Internet, Intranet, etc. in which learning contents can be recorded from websites, CDs, video tapes, audio, etc. through a computer or video. As a result, lecturers and students can communicate with each other on the online training system through different forms such as email, online discussion (chat), forum, conference, video, etc. without having to meet face-to-face.

Political theory subjects in the higher education program now have an important position in the training program of universities. These subjects help students to establish a scientific worldview, a revolutionary outlook on life, a method of dialectical thinking and a method of scientific action, and build political courage, civic consciousness and mastery capacity in economic, political, cultural and social activities.

Currently, the quality of political theory education for students at universities has achieved certain results, but there are still many limitations. The curricula, contents, methods and facilities of political theory education at universities still have to been slow innovate and have not kept up with the development level and requirements of society. Teaching method is mostly traditional with one-way style “the teacher reads, the students listen and take notes”. The interaction and exchange between lecturers and students is still little, failing to create not creating real excitement for students to help them promote their positivity, initiative and creativity in learning.

In the context of the Industrial Revolution 4.0, traditional political theory education reveals many shortcomings and limitations, especially in the context of the current extremely complicated Covid pandemic that has stalled production, circulation and disrupted classroom learning, traditional political theory education is not enough and often interrupted by external factors. Online political theory education is an inevitable training trend and an optimal solution for universities in Vietnam in the current period.

3.  Advantages of online political theory education at universities in Vietnam today

In recent years, the Party, the State, the Central Propaganda Department and the Central Theoretical Council have paid special attention to innovation of education in general and political theory education in particular at universities. With the motto of promoting the development and application of information technology in teaching subjects at universities in general and political theory subjects in particular, the Party and the State have issued many different documents guiding universities in the management and organization of online teaching.

Resolution No. 29-NQ/TW of the 8^th Plenum of the Party Central Committee, 11^th tenure on: “Radical and comprehensive renovation of education and training” clearly shows our Party's point of view on changing from learning mainly in the classroom to diverse forms of learning and promoting the application of information and communication technology in teaching. Resolution of the 13^th Party Congress affirmed: “Create a breakthrough in radical and comprehensive renovation of education and training, science and technology, develop high-quality human resources, attract and utilize talents, and strongly apply the achievements of the Fourth Industrial Revolution” (Document of the 13^thNational Congress of Delegates, 2021) and “Create radical and powerful changes in the quality and effectiveness of education and training. Focus on training and retraining lecturers in order to meet the requirements for radical and comprehensive innovation of education and training. Strongly shift the educational process from mainly equipping knowledge to comprehensively developing learners' capabilities and qualities, from learning mainly in the classroom to organizing diverse forms of learning, and paying attention to online teaching and learning via the internet and television”(Document of the 13^th National Congress of Delegates, 2021).

The Ministry of Education and Training has issued Circular No. 12/2016/TT-BGDDT dated April 22^nd, 2016 stipulating the application of information technology in management and organization of online training and Circular No. 10. /2017/TT-BGDDT dated April 28^th, 2017 promulgating regulations on distance learning for university degree. In 2021, the Ministry of Education and Training issues Circular No. 09/2021/TT-BGDDT dated May 26^th, 2021 on the management and organization of online teaching in general education institutions and continuing education institutions. In addition, the Prime Minister issued Decision No. 117/2017/QD-TTg approving the Project “Strengthening the application of information technology in managing and supporting teaching, learning and scientific research activities to contribute to improving the quality of education and training in the period of 2016-2020, with an orientation to 2025” (Decision No. 117/2017/QD-TTg).These are favorable conditions, an important premise to help universities organize the implementation of educational activities in general and online political theory education activities in particular in the current period.

Grasping the development trend of the era and immersing in the flow of the Industrial Revolution 4.0, over the years, the Party Committees, Boards of Rectors of universities as well as management and leadership teams of the units at universities have always consistently advocated reforming methods of education in general and political theory education in particular in a modern direction, increasing the application of information technology in teaching as a priority direction and an inevitable trend. In order to create favorable conditions and proactive attitude for lecturers when implementing online political theory education methods, universities have organized training and fostering courses on knowledge and skills in applying information technology as well as the method of using software in online teaching under the guidance of leading experts in this field. Universities have also cooperated with prestigious domestic and international training institutions to learn from experience, find appropriate directions in online political theory education at universities in the coming time. Universities have also organized many scientific seminars and conferences to enhance exchanges and share experiences in the implementation of political theory education at universities in Vietnam in the context of international integration and the current Industrial Revolution 4.0.

Most of the lecturers at universities now have high professional qualifications, prestige and competence, and are capable of teaching online and guiding students clearly. In the process of implementing online political theory education, lecturers can use technology software, audio and video lessons, etc. to convey learning contents to students, and make political theory lectures become livelier and more attractive to arouse students’ interest, positivity, initiative and creativity in learning.

The curriculum and content of online political theory education is a matter of great concern to our Party and State. In 2019, the Ministry of Education and Training coordinated with the Central Propaganda Department to develop a set of curricula and textbooks for 5 political theory subjects taught at universities in Vietnam. The new curriculum has increased the length and number of credits between the curriculums specializing and not specializing in political theory. The Ministry of Education and Training also compiles electronic theory textbooks and electronic political theory lectures with streamlined and innovative content, omitting parts of repetitive knowledge and contents that are no longer relevant to reality and adding new contents such as the Industrial Revolution 4.0.

Currently, there are many diverse and rich online political theory education methods. An online political theory topic or lecture, besides using the traditional presentation method, can integrate many modern political theory education methods to create a modern and interactive learning environment such as online discussion, teamwork, case-study, mind-map, game, visualization, etc... Flexible combination of many methods in the online education process integrated with vivid images and live lectures and the use of modern media will bring the dry political theory lectures to life and make the online political theory lectures lively and attractive, creating interest and enthusiasm in learning for students.

Forms and facilities of online political theory education are also very diverse and rich. The use of websites will be a place to connect many places, many faculties and many localities, to store electronic lectures and software that allows lecturers and students to exchange lesson information and lecturers to provide exercises to students. In addition, lecturers can transmit audio and video contents via broadband with LAN, Wifi, WiMax connections, etc.

Most university students are dynamic, flexible, responsive to change, easily accessible to new achievements of science and technology, and have high political consciousness. Education in general and political theory education in particular when delivered through mode, is certainly not only interesting to students, but also more effective with the above characteristics and qualities online learning encourages, students to be proactive and active to maximize the effectiveness of the online education model to improve learning outcomes, gradually creating interest and passion for political theory subjects.

4. Difficulties and challenges in online political theory education at universities in Vietnam today

Although the Party, the State, the Central Propaganda Department and the Central Theoretical Council have issued many guiding documents on regulations and new education method - online education, the current regulations on online education in general and political theory education in particular are still quite modest, not enough to create a legal corridor for education in general and online political theory education in particular to develop.

Besides young lecturers who are proficient in using the internet and social networks and always ready to change to contribute to improving the quality of online political theory education, there is also a group of old university lecturers who, have a lot of experience, high professional experience but are afraid to change. They are not proficient in using the internet and social networks as well as applying software in teaching political theory online. The design of online political theory education scenarios, the construction of images, video clips, and the integration of screen pages, etc. is still quite new for many lecturers teaching political theory. This is also a barrier that puts more pressure on lecturers in the process of implementing online political theory education compared to the traditional political theory education model.

The contents and curricula of political theory subjects are highly specific, so it is often difficult to design online political theory lectures because the design of online lectures depends greatly on the content of the lesson. Therefore, the design of an online political theory lecture is not as easy as other general subjects such as Mathematics, Informatics, English, etc.

The online theory education method requires a combination of the traditional lecture - based method, with other modern online political theory education methods. This model requires the proficient use of information technology applications, which is a big challenge for lecturers teaching political theory subjects online. The flexible use and diversification of online political theory education methods to suit the characteristics and qualifications of university students is currently a significant barrier when universities develop the online political theory education model.

The form and facilities of online political theory education will inevitably pose issues related to cybersecurity as well as issues related to intellectual property. Especially, with this form and facilities, if the lecturer is not careful in giving examples and evidence, it will easily reveal state secrets and information that is not allowed to be shared widely. Although the facilities of online political theory education have been invested by universities, they lack uniformity and many universities still lack an online program management system.

In general, a number of students at universities are already familiar with the traditional political theory education method, so they have a passive and dependent mentality in studying political theory subjects. Many students have not yet formed the capacity to make their own study plans and self-study and self-research skills according to the new online education method. In addition, the level of information technology use of students is uneven, some students have limited or no access and use of modern technology due to difficult family economic conditions or living in remote, isolated areas, etc. This affects the students’ quality and results in learning these subjects.

5.  Some solutions to improve the quality of online political theory education at universities today

Firstly, increase the interest of leaders and managers in online political theory education

The Ministry of Education and Training should encourage universities to develop the online political theory education method, research, supplement, promulgate their own regulations on this issue, and create a legal corridor for universities to promote online political theory education.

The Central Propaganda Department and the Central Theoretical Council need to collaborate with the Ministry of Education and Training to create conditions for lecturers teaching political theory online at universities to access to new information on political theory through seminars, refresher courses, etc. so that lecturers obtain updated scientific contents and convey them to students.

The Central Propaganda Department and the Ministry of Education and Training direct the development of curricula, textbooks, electronic lectures, videos, software, digital data warehouse for political theory education, etc. help universities have a solid and official foundation to develop online political theory education.

It is necessary to strengthen the attention and coordination of the Party Committee, the Board of Directors (the Board of Rectors), the Training Management Board, the Dean's Board of the universities. Leaders plan to regularly organize scientific seminars on online theory education in the context of the Industrial Revolution 4.0 and refresher courses on online political theory education using information technology and modern techniques in online political theory education with the guidance of leading experts in this field so that lecturers can exchange, learn from teaching experiences, organize tests, evaluate, summarize and learn from experience on online political theory education.

Secondly, improve the quality of online political theory lecturers at universities.

The lecturers must have high professional qualifications, dedication to their profession, strong political courage and skills in using modern facilities and information technology in political theory education to arouse students' passion, positivity, initiative and creativity in learning these subjects which are considered dry and difficult to learn. In teaching political theory subjects online, lecturers need to design lesson plans and electronic outlines in a compact, succinct, and coherent manner without covering many issues to help students easily understand, remember and grasp the lecture content and form the habit of self-studying, self-researching materials and reading more references according to the suggestions and orientation of the lecturer.

Thirdly, innovate the content and the curriculum combined with the innovation of online political theory education methods. 

The content and the curriculum of online political theory education need to be innovated so that it is compact, succinct and concise and the topics should be separated or subdivided but still follow a certain logical sequence. Online political theory education method is the key and the handbook to contribute to improving the quality of online political theory education. There is no optimal online political theory education method, in the process of teaching political theory online, lecturers use a combination of many modern methods such as online group discussion, game, mind-map, visualization, case-study, etc. The flexible and diverse combination of many online political theory education methods integrated with vivid and attractive video lectures will make the online political theory lectures lively and attractive, creating excitement, passion and positivity in learning process of university students.

Fourthly, universities need to increase investment in modern facilities for online political theory education.  

Universities need to invest in modern facilities such as building and designing scientific, lively and attractive websites, thereby providing information, textbooks, books and references for the subject. Students only need a computer or smartphone with an internet connection to access a wide range of learning materials. Lecturers can transmit audio and illustrations of lecture content via broadband with LAN, Wifi, WiMax connections, etc. to transmit political theory knowledge to students.

Fifthly, promote the positivity, initiative and creativity of students in online political theory education 

In the context of the Industrial Revolution 4.0, students - the future owners of the country must possess knowledge by themselves, and at the same time must form and develop the ability to think independently and creatively, explain and be highly adaptable to the rapid and complicated changes of reality. In addition, students need to be proactive, self-conscious, and form a habit of self-studying and self-researching political theory education materials. They also must determine that the motivation for learning political theory is to acquire advanced political theory knowledge of the era to equip themselves with the right worldview and methodology of outlook on life which play the role of a preparation for useful and effective practical activities in the context of the Industrial Revolution 4.0. The above solutions, if implemented synchronously, will contribute to improving the quality of online political theory education for university students in Vietnam today in the context of the Industrial Revolution 4.0.

6. Conclusion 

Online education in general and online political theory education in particular at universities are now an inevitable trend in the context of the Industrial Revolution 4.0. In order to keep up with the era and not be left behind, universities in Vietnam must really “enter into” the implementation of the online political theory education model, contributing to improving the quality of online political theory education at universities in Vietnam today./.

REFERENCES

1. Communist Party of Vietnam. (2021). Document of the 13^th National Congress of Delegates (pp.37-146). Truth National Political Publishing House.

2. Ministry of Education and Training. (2016). Circular No. 12/2016/TT-BGD-DT dated April 22^nd, 2016, on regulations on application of information technology in management and organization of online training.

3. Ministry of Education and Training. (2021). Circular No. 09/2021/TT-BGD-DT dated May 26^th, 2021, regulating the online management and teaching in general education institutions and continuing education institutions.

4. Prime Minister. (2017). Decision No. 117/2017/QD-TTg dated January 25^th, 2017 on strengthening the application of information technology in managing and supporting teaching, learning and scientific research activities to contribute to improving the quality of education and training in the period of 2016-2020, with an orientation to 2025.