Vietnam National University of Agriculture (VNUA) announced regulations on student affairs on 23/4. The new policy mandates that students participate in at least one of the school's more than 80 clubs for a minimum of two years, applicable from the K69 cohort (second-year students) onwards. However, the regulation does not specify any penalties for non-compliance.

The announcement, posted on several of the school's information channels, immediately drew significant attention. For instance, one post garnered over 1,600 interactions, with 1,200 of these being "angry" reactions.

The central building of Vietnam National University of Agriculture. Photo: VNUA

Hoang Anh, a second-year student in economic science and management, finds mandatory club participation unreasonable. According to her, extracurricular activities should inherently be based on passion, practical needs, and a voluntary spirit. She also noted that club involvement can be costly, as members often contribute to funds for events like parties.

"Forcing participation will lead to superficial engagement, creating pressure, waste, and ultimately reducing the quality of club activities," Hoang Anh shared.

While acknowledging the benefits of clubs, Tran Huong believes the mandatory nature of the policy is inappropriate. She explained that K69 students are preparing for their internship phase. If they have not participated in clubs previously, their final two years would require them to juggle internships, part-time jobs, certification exams, and extracurricular activities at the university.

"I want to focus on external activities that help increase my income and work experience," Huong stated.

Additionally, some students who aim to graduate in 3,5 years are questioning whether only 1,5 years of club participation would violate the new regulation.

Responding to VnExpress on the evening of 24/4, Mr. Giang Trung Khoa, head of the student affairs department at Vietnam National University of Agriculture, explained that the school's policy aims to innovate training for comprehensive student development. This includes fostering: soft skills, scientific research capabilities, entrepreneurial spirit, teamwork skills, and adaptability to the labor market.

According to Mr. Khoa, club participation does not significantly affect students' study and daily life plans, as it typically requires only two to three hours per week and does not involve fees.

He further clarified that club involvement can take many forms, such as: scientific research, social activities, experiential projects, entrepreneurship, and innovation. Although mandatory, the school has not issued forms of punishment for non-compliant students, ensuring they will still be considered for graduation.

For students graduating in 3,5 years, meaning they would only participate in clubs for 1,5 years, Mr. Khoa confirmed that their graduation progress will not be affected.

"Students who accumulate enough credits are eligible to graduate; there is no reason for them to stay to participate in club activities for another half year," Mr. Khoa affirmed. "Students can be completely assured."

On the afternoon of the same day, the executive committee of the Vietnam National University of Agriculture Youth Union issued a notice, encouraging students to provide feedback and ask questions through official channels for clarification.

Vietnam National University of Agriculture was established in 1956, enrolling about 8,000 students annually. Besides traditional majors, the school also offers training in technology and engineering fields.

Thanh Hang

*Student names have been changed