DEVELOPING CRITICAL THINKING CAPACITY FOR THE ADVISORY TEAM IN ORGANIZATIONAL DEVELOPMENT OF THE COMMUNIST PARTY OF VIETNAM TODAY

MINISTRY OF EDUCATION AND TRAININGHANOI NATIONAL UNIVERSITY OF EDUCATION ----˜&˜----NGUYEN THI KIEU LINH DEVELOPING CRITICAL THINKING CAPACITY FOR THE ADVISORY TEAM IN ORGANIZATIONAL DE

MINISTRY OF EDUCATION AND TRAINING

HANOI NATIONAL UNIVERSITY OF EDUCATION

˜&˜ NGUYEN THI KIEU LINH

DEVELOPING CRITICAL THINKING CAPACITY FOR THE ADVISORY TEAM IN ORGANIZATIONAL DEVELOPMENT OF THE COMMUNIST PARTY

This research was completed at the Faculty

of Philosophy, Hanoi National University of Education

Supervisors: 1 Dr Senior Lecturer NGUYEN THI VAN

2 Assoc Prof Dr LE VAN ĐOAN

At time: hours , date month year 20

The dissertation can be accessed at:

- Library of Hanoi National University of Education

LIST OF PUBLISHED WORKS BY THE AUTHOR RELEVANT TO THE DISSERTATION TOPIC

1 Nguyen Thi Kieu Linh (2023), "The Regularities of Advisory Work in

Party Organization and Development Today", Proceedings of the

National Scientific Conference on Philosophical Issues in theSciences, Vietnam National University Publishing House, p 335

2 Nguyen Thi Van, Nguyen Thi Kieu Linh (2023), "The Importance of

Research on Political Theoretical Science for Party Building and Rectification in Vietnam Today", Proceedings of the Scientific

Conference on Developing Political Theoretical Science from thePerspective of the 13th National Congress of the CommunistParty, National Political Publishing House, p 429

3 Nguyen Thi Kieu Linh (2024), "Enhancing Critical Thinking

Capacity of Advisory Cadres in Party Organization and Development Today", Electronic Journal of Political Theory,

December 4, 2024

4 Nguyen Thi Kieu Linh (2024), "The Importance of Developing Critical

Thinking Capacity for Financial Advisory Cadres in Party Building Today", Communist Journal, December 12, 2024.

5 Nguyen Thi Van, Huynh Huu Phuc (Eds.), Nguyen Thi Kieu Linh et

al (2022), "Fostering Legal Awareness among Youth in Chau Thanh District, An Giang Province Today", Monograph, Youth

Publishing House

6 Nguyen Thi Kieu Linh (2022), "Enhance the role of the state in

sustainable development in Vietnam", International Journal of

Education Humanities and Social Science, Vol.5, No.02; 2022

1 The Urgency of the Topic

As we know, in order to overcome the severe socio-economic crisis ofthe 1980s, the 6th National Congress of the Communist Party of Vietnaminitiated a comprehensive and radical national reform, beginning with arenewal of thinking This marked a crucial turning point in the process ofbuilding and safeguarding the Socialist Fatherland

After nearly 40 years of reform, despite numerous difficultiesand challenges, our country has achieved significant progress inalmost all areas; people's living standards have improved, and theeconomy is increasingly integrating into the global market.Reflecting on the period when the nation was in crisis, we can fullyappreciate the pioneering value of unprecedented policies in theCommunist Party of Vietnam’s thinking This serves as evidencefor the thesis that the intellectual framework of a nation is always asolid foundation, a stronghold, and a crucial factor in national

defense On this point, Friedrich Engels once emphasized: "A nation that wishes to stand at the pinnacle of science cannot do so without theoretical thinking."

Reflecting on national development throughout the reform years, TheVietnamese people have deeply internalized a fundamental truth: renewingthinking is the "breakthrough" step in the comprehensive and profoundtransformation of the country toward a socialist-oriented development

In essence, thinking encompasses various forms, includingdialectical thinking, precise thinking, logical thinking, critical thinking,and synthetic thinking, among others These forms interconnect as aninseparable chain in the cognitive process and manifest across almostall aspects of human activity Particularly in the leadership activities ofthe Communist Party of Vietnam, critical thinking has always been a

guiding theoretical tool, playing a vital role in formulating andtranslating the Party’s policies and strategies into practice Criticalthinking highlights that in scientific research and activities, everyscholarly work must undergo rigorous evaluation before publication.The more objective, honest, and in-depth this evaluation process is, themore reliable the results become, ultimately enhancing the quality ofpractical leadership In this crucial stage, critical thinking assumes anessential and indispensable role.

On a broader scale, an individual with critical thinking abilitydemonstrates a heightened capacity for perception and thetransformation of the world Such an individual must be able toselectively process information, discard passive and one-dimensionalperspectives, and, most importantly, acquire and master scientificknowledge Those with critical thinking skills are constantly driven bythe pursuit of new ideas, fostering creativity and innovation Byemploying critical thinking, individuals develop a comprehensive andmultidimensional perspective when analyzing issues and events,allowing them to construct well-founded arguments to addressproblems in a scientific, creative, and optimal manner

The Party's advisory and organizational staff play a crucial role insupporting the Party, ensuring that its viewpoints and ideologies areconveyed truthfully and effectively across all domains of social lifeand even to the most remote regions of the country This team serves

as a vital link connecting the Party's will with the people's aspirations.Advisory work is inherently complex, demanding a high level ofexpertise, particularly for those involved in Party organization anddevelopment These individuals must not only be deeplyknowledgeable but also demonstrate integrity, independence,creativity, and adaptability to the dynamic realities of society

Over nearly four decades of national reform, the Communist Party

of Vietnam has placed great emphasis on enhancing the training,development, and refinement of its cadres’ thinking abilities In

particular, strengthening the critical thinking skills of Party advisoryand organizational staff has remained a top priority The 13th NationalCongress of the Communist Party of Vietnam explicitly stated: "Cadrework has undergone significant reforms, with the quality of cadresincreasingly meeting the demands of new circumstances The Party’sinspection, supervision, and disciplinary enforcement have beenstrengthened, yielding important results; discipline and order withinthe Party have been tightened, and the rule of law has been upheld."

In the current phase of national development, the Party iscommitted to fostering a strong cadre team equipped with bothintellectual capacity and revolutionary ethics, ensuring they meet thedemands of socialist-oriented development The critical thinkingabilities of Party advisory and organizational staff in Vietnam havemade significant strides These individuals exhibit analytical andevaluative skills, meticulously assessing the validity of arguments,opinions, and information They distinguish between sound reasoningand flawed logic, constructing well-founded arguments and identifyinglogical connections between various ideas and data Critical thinkinghas become an essential tool in problem-solving, particularly in Partyadvisory and organizational work, where objectivity, logic, flexibility,and constructive criticism are paramount

However, several barriers still hinder the development of criticalthinking among Party advisory and organizational staff in Vietnam Someindividuals maintain a superficial and subjective approach to issues, oftenoveremphasizing personal perspectives, which can lead to dogmatism andresistance to diverse viewpoints This mindset impedes the cultivation andenhancement of critical thinking, as it prevents individuals fromembracing new knowledge and perspectives, resulting in stagnation andsubjectivity Additionally, some cadres demonstrate reluctance oravoidance in engaging with complex discussions, presenting theirviewpoints, or actively participating in intellectual debates Over time, this

leads to a decline in confidence, responsibility, and intellectualengagement, fostering a passive attitude toward problem-solving.

Another persistent challenge is the prevalence of groupthink, whereindividuals conform to majority opinions rather than independentlyanalyzing issues In such an environment, the number of people agreeingwith a conclusion often holds more significance than the actual validity

of the argument In the long run, groupthink erodes individuality anddiscourages diverse perspectives within teams and organizations, asindividuals become hesitant to express differing opinions due to a lack

of confidence or fear of deviation from the norm Furthermore, asegment of cadres has shown signs of ideological and ethical decline,leading to errors in judgment and decisions that undermine personalcredibility and negatively impact their professional responsibilities

To successfully address the strategic political tasks of thishistorical juncture - an era of national resurgence - Party advisory andorganizational staff must provide accurate assessments of real-worldtrends and anticipate future developments that align with the country’sreform agenda Therefore, strengthening the critical thinking abilities

of these cadres is essential

For these reasons, I have chosen the topic "Developing CriticalThinking Competence Among Party Advisory and Organizational Staff inVietnam Today" as the subject of my doctoral research in philosophy

2 Research Objectives and Tasks

2.1 Research Objectives

Based on an analysis of general theoretical issues and an objectiveassessment of the current state of critical thinking development amongParty advisory and organizational staff in Vietnam, this dissertationaims to propose fundamental solutions for enhancing their criticalthinking competence These solutions are designed to meet thedemands of national construction and development in the present era

2.2 Research Tasks

First, conduct an overview of domestic and international studies

related to the dissertation topic

Second:

Analyze fundamental concepts and the connotations of criticalthinking, the development of critical thinking competence, and thecritical thinking competence of Party advisory and organizational staff

in Vietnam today

Examine the significance, essence, and influencing factors ofcritical thinking development among Party advisory and organizationalstaff in Vietnam

Third, objectively assess the current state of critical thinking

competence development among Party advisory and organizationalstaff in Vietnam

Fourth, propose fundamental solutions to enhance critical thinking

competence among Party advisory and organizational staff in Vietnam

3 Research Subjects and Scope

3.1 Research Subjects

This dissertation focuses on the development of critical thinkingcompetence among Party advisory and organizational staff inVietnam today

3.2 Scope of Research

- Spatial Scope: The dissertation focuses on researching and

surveying the development of critical thinking skills among advisorystaff in the Party organization and personnel work at central-levelagencies and units responsible for advising the Party on organizationaland personnel affairs, including: (1) The Central OrganizationCommission; The Central Inspection Commission; (2) The GeneralAffairs Department and the Organization and Personnel Department

of the Office of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of

Vietnam; The Organization and Personnel Departments of thefollowing Central Party Commissions: the Central PropagandaCommission, the Central Mass Mobilization Commission, theCentral Internal Affairs Commission, the Central EconomicCommission, and the Central External Relations Commission; TheParty Committee of the Central Agencies Bloc and the PartyCommittee of the Central Enterprises Bloc; Ho Chi Minh NationalAcademy of Politics; The Central Theoretical Council; The ScientificCouncil of the Central Party Committees; The Department of PartyWork and Political Affairs under the Party Committee of the CentralPublic Security; The Organization Department under the GeneralDepartment of Politics, Vietnam People's Army; The OrganizationCommissions of Provincial Party Committees and Municipal PartyCommittees under the Central Government.

- Regarding the timeframe: The study primarily examines the

period from 2016 to the present (spanning the 12th and 13th NationalParty Congresses) The 12th National Congress term issuedresolutions and vigorously implemented policies on organizationalrestructuring and personnel work

4 Theoretical Basis and Research Methodology

4.1 Theoretical Basis

The theoretical foundation for this dissertation is based onMarxism-Leninism, Ho Chi Minh's thought, the viewpoints of theCommunist Party of Vietnam, and the policies and laws of theSocialist Republic of Vietnam related to the research topic

The dissertation studies, selectively inherits, and absorbs theachievements of previous scientific research works related to thedissertation's subject matter

4.2 Research Methodology

- This dissertation is based on the methodological foundation of

dialectical materialism and historical materialism, with a particularemphasis on objectivity, comprehensiveness, historical specificity,development, and the unity of theory and practice, as well as therelationship between the general and the specific, the universal and theparticular in the research process.

- The dissertation employs the following specific research methods:+ Deductive, inductive, logical-historical, analytical, synthetic, andcomparative methods These fundamental methods are appliedthroughout the research process, particularly in Chapter 1, where thedissertation analyzes, synthesizes, and compares existing researchworks related to the topic From this, it generalizes key findings,identifies research gaps, and highlights areas that require furtherinvestigation Chapter 2 primarily employs historical-logical andinductive methods to analyze the theoretical aspects of the topic.+ Sociological survey method, with a sample of 200 respondents.This method is extensively used in Chapter 3 to provide additionalscientific evidence for an objective and accurate assessment of thecurrent state of critical thinking capacity among Party organizationaladvisory officials in Vietnam, as well as to identify pressing issues thatneed to be addressed

5 Significance of the Dissertation in Theory and Practice

5.1 Theoretical Significance

The dissertation systematizes and contributes to clarifying thetheoretical foundations of developing critical thinking capacity amongParty organizational advisory officials in Vietnam today

It helps to elucidate key conceptual frameworks, analyze influencingfactors, and propose fundamental solutions to enhance the effectiveness

of developing critical thinking capacity among this group of officials

5.2 Practical Significance

The dissertation provides an objective assessment of the currentstate of critical thinking capacity development among Partyorganizational advisory officials in Vietnam, identifying both successfactors and limitations that need to be addressed It also highlightsemerging challenges and proposes feasible solutions for improvingcritical thinking capacity in practice.

6 Significance of the Dissertation

The dissertation can be used as a reference material for learning,research, and teaching philosophical topics related to the dissertation atcolleges, universities, political schools, and relevant institutions in Vietnam

7 Structure of the Dissertation

Apart from the introduction and references, the dissertationconsists of four chapters with a total of 15 sections

Chapter 1 OVERVIEW OF RESEARCH RELATED TO THE

DISSERTATION TOPIC 1.1 Group of Studies on Thinking and Critical Thinking

1.2 Group of Studies on Thinking Competence and Critical Thinking Competence

1.3 Group of Studies Related to the Development of Thinking Competence and Critical Thinking Competence for Party Organizational Advisory Officers

1.4 General Assessment of Related Studies and Issues for Further Research in the Dissertation

1.4.1 General Assessment of Studies Related to the Dissertation

Through an extensive review of scientific studies related to thetopic "Developing Critical Thinking Competence for AdvisoryOfficers in Party Organizational Affairs in Vietnam Today," theresearcher observes that these studies exhibit diverse content andvarious methodological approaches Although differing in scope,perspective, purpose, and research focus, these studies share valuablecontributions and exhibit several notable points of consensus:

First, previous studies have clarified fundamental concepts ofthinking, critique, and critical thinking, as well as competence andcritical thinking competence in general They identify essential skillsfor effective critical thinking, including observation, analysis,reasoning, and, particularly, decision-making and problem-solving inresponse to information, viewpoints, and events in work and life.These studies contribute to elucidating the nature of thinking asinherently subjective, continuously creative, and evolving They alsoexplore the formation of theoretical thinking and its keycharacteristics, such as generalization and abstraction, which reflectthe essence of phenomena and exhibit a creative dimension

Second, existing research highlights the role of practice in thedevelopment of thinking and critical thinking competence Since thehuman brain, as a highly organized material entity, produces thought,thinking emerges through practical human activity Objective reality

serves as the subject of thought and determines human cognitiveprocesses Consequently, the way individuals interact with realitydirectly influences their modes of cognition Practice, in a broadsense, dictates thought, and the evolution of practice also dictates theevolution of thought.

Third, the studies emphasize the role of thinking and criticalthinking in:

Analyzing and critically evaluating information to assess thevalidity of arguments, opinions, or data encountered This allowsindividuals to distinguish between sound reasoning and fallacious orunfounded arguments

Constructing logical arguments by identifying logicalrelationships between ideas and information This process aids informing well-grounded arguments, organizing key points, providingrational evidence, and drawing logical conclusions

Serving as a crucial tool in problem-solving by helping individualsbreak down complex problems, assess potential solutions, and select themost optimal one based on logical reasoning and evidence

Encouraging self-questioning and independent examination ofperspectives, assumptions, and values, thereby fostering a deeperunderstanding of one's cognitive limitations and biases

Fourth, some studies analyze methods, requirements, andessential skills for fostering critical thinking competence in practicalactivities, particularly among specific target groups such as students,officers, and professionals Several works discuss common obstaclesencountered in developing critical thinking skills in education,scientific research, professional tasks, and daily life-challengesrelated to observation, evaluation, analysis, creativity, problem-solving, and open-mindedness

In summary, prior research provides invaluable resources for thisdissertation However, while many studies examine thinking, criticalthinking, and its significance across various domains, very few-f any-

have specifically explored the development of critical thinkingcompetence for advisory officers in Party organizational affairs inVietnam, particularly in the current context Therefore, research onthis issue holds profound theoretical and practical significance,especially in light of the resolutions from the 13th National Congress

of the Communist Party of Vietnam, which emphasize that Partybuilding and rectification must remain a central task

1.4.2 Issues that the Dissertation Needs to Further Research and Clarify

First, contribute to clarifying and systematically organizing the

general theoretical issues related to critical thinking and thedevelopment of critical thinking skills for the advisory staff in Partyorganization and building in Vietnam today Analyze the concepts ofcritical thinking, critical thinking competence, and the development

of critical thinking competence for the advisory staff in Partyorganization and building in Vietnam Examine the importance,content, subjects, methods, target groups, and influencing factors onthe effectiveness of developing critical thinking competence for theadvisory staff in Party organization and building in Vietnam

Second, objectively and truthfully analyze and assess the

achievements as well as the existing limitations in the criticalthinking competence of the advisory staff in Party organization andbuilding over recent years: 1) The ability to receive and processinformation, the capacity to identify new issues, the proficiency inhandling information to detect problematic situations, effectivelyaddressing arising issues, and the ability to eliminate misleadinginformation; 2) Evaluate the achievements, limitations, andunderlying causes related to the critical thinking competence of theadvisory staff in Party organization and building in Vietnam today; 3)Summarize the existing contradictions in critical thinkingcompetence for the advisory staff in Party organization and building

in Vietnam or the challenges that need to be addressed

Third, based on an objective analysis of the current situation, its

causes, and the challenges posed by existing shortcomings, thedissertation proposes key solutions to effectively enhance the criticalthinking competence of the advisory staff in Party organization andbuilding in Vietnam These solutions aim to meet the requirements ofprofound and comprehensive cognitive innovation and contribute todeveloping a cadre that is both ideologically steadfast andprofessionally competent.

Chapter 2 DEVELOPING CRITICAL THINKING COMPETENCE FOR THE ADVISORY STAFF IN PARTY ORGANIZATION

AND BUILDING IN VIETNAM TODAY

-SOME THEORETICAL ISSUES 2.1 Some Fundamental Concepts

2.1.1 Development, Competence, Thinking, Criticism, Critical Thinking

* Concept of Development

Development is a philosophical category that generalizes theprocess of movement from a lower to a higher level, from lesscomplete to more complete, encompassing nature, human society,and human thought

Development is the general tendency of all things and phenomena,representing the universal law of motion in nature, human society, andthought, including critical thinking Like general thinking, criticalthinking is also "an innate characteristic in the form of human capacity."However, for this "innate characteristic" to be effective in social life, itmust be awakened, stimulated, and developed

According to the author, development is a process of movement and transformation from lower to higher, from simple to complex, from less complete to more complete in nature, human society, and