Date: October 1, 2025
Venue: C305, VinUniversity
Speaker: Prof. Phan Manh Huong, Director of VinUni Center for Materials Innovation and Technology (VinCMIT)

On October 1, VinUniversity hosted a seminar titled “Navigating the Research Journey: Publications & Research Ethics,” led by Professor Phan Manh Huong, a globally recognized expert in advanced materials, specializing in nanomaterials and sensor technologies for applications in magnetic refrigeration, hyperthermia therapy, biodetection, and healthcare monitoring. The event was held in Room C305 and livestreamed via Zoom to enable broader academic participation. The seminar attracted active engagement from both faculty and students, with 34 participants attending in person and 14 joining online.

The session emphasized the vital role of integrity, transparency, and accountability in academic research. Prof. Huong and participants discussed key challenges faced by researchers today, ranging from the pressure to publish to authorship disputes, and explored best practices for maintaining credibility in science.

Seminar Highlights

Prof. Phan Manh Huong delivered an engaging session on the intersection of research publications and ethics, underscoring the importance of integrity, transparency, and accountability as the foundation of credible science. He illustrated the risks of data fabrication and falsification under the pressure to publish, and stressed the long-term damage these practices cause to both individual reputations and institutional credibility.

The discussion also addressed challenges of authorship and citation, including conflicts over contribution recognition and unhealthy practices such as excessive self-citation, with a strong call to prioritize quality over quantity in publications. Issues of collaboration, conflict of interest, and data management were examined, highlighting the need for clear policies to protect intellectual contributions, ensure transparency, and align with evolving journal requirements.

Finally, Prof. Huong explored the role of AI in research, noting its potential benefits for writing and analysis while cautioning against over-reliance without scientific judgment. He emphasized mentorship, realistic proposal design, and structured training as essential to building a culture of ethical research at VinUniversity, preparing students

Research Governance and Support at VinUniversity

At VinUni, the Scientific and Education Committee (SEC), Research Affairs Committee (RAC), and Institutional Review Board (IRB) collectively play an advisory and oversight role in areas such as research management, ethics, and conflict of interest (COI).

• The SEC advises the Provost on policies and directions related to training, education, and innovation — including curriculum development, research strategy, quality standards, and institutional accreditation.
• The RAC advises the Provost and Executive Board on research policies, regulations, and capacity-building initiatives, while identifying bottlenecks and opportunities to enhance the research and innovation ecosystem.
• The IRB ensures that all studies involving human participants adhere to ethical standards and relevant legal requirements.

Researchers who require support or clarification related to research procedures, ethics approval, or COI are encouraged to contact the Research Management Office (RMO) (at [email protected]) for guidance.

Acknowledgements

We sincerely thank Prof. Phan Manh Huong for his inspiring presentation and thoughtful guidance, which shed light on the vital intersection of research publications and ethics while offering practical insights for building a culture of integrity at VinUniversity.

Our gratitude also goes all faculty, students, and participants whose active engagement and thoughtful dialogue made this seminar a truly enriching and memorable experience