On the morning of March 3, 2026, at Room 308, Block A2, Hoa Hung Campus, the Faculty of Pharmacy - Pham Ngoc Thach University of Medicine (PNTU) successfully organized a guidance session titled: “Implementation of Data Verification Procedures for the 2025-2026 Academic Year.” The session was attended by the Faculty Board, lecturers, staff, as well as a large number of postgraduate and undergraduate students currently conducting their final year research projects.
1. Objectives of the Session
In the opening remarks, the Faculty Board emphasized that in the context of the implementation of the Law on Science, Technology and Innovation (Law No. 93/2025/QH15), research data are more than just numbers - they are the foundation of scientific trust. The session focused on three core pillars:
- Ensuring Accuracy and Reliability: Data must be collected, stored, and processed in a systematic and standardized manner to accurately reflect research findings.
- Upholding Integrity, Transparency, and Research Ethics: These are the core values of any medical and pharmaceutical scientist. Rigorous data verification helps prevent misconduct and inappropriate data manipulation.
- Ensuring Seriousness and Fairness: Building a transparent and accountable research environment where every project is evaluated based on empirical evidence and standardized benchmarks.
2. Key content: Standardizing procedures and documentation tools
The session focused on implementing the latest legal documents and technical procedures of the Faculty to synchronize and strengthen data management for the 2025–2026 academic year.
Rigorous Data Verification Procedures
The Faculty presented a detailed step-by-step guide, from registration for verification and submission of raw data to the cross-checking phase against the final results reported. This procedure ensures that all published data have clearly traceable origins and are verifiable at any time.
Issuance of the “Laboratory Notebook” – Announcement No. 538/TB-KD
A highlight of the session was the guidance on Announcement No. 538/TB-KD regarding the standardized Laboratory Notebook. This notebook is considered the “living evidence” of the research process.
- All experimental progress, sudden parameter changes, or preliminary results must be recorded honestly and continuously, with the supervisor's signature for confirmation and accountability.
- The use of a unified template helps the Faculty monitor the consistency, logical flow, and timeline of each research project effectively.
List of Data-Generating and Extractable Equipment – Announcement No. 109/TB-KD
To enhance transparency, the Faculty issued a list of equipment capable of generating and extracting automated data for the 2025–2026 academic year. Digital data (such as files exported from HPLC, UV-Vis spectrophotometers, dissolution testers, etc.) must be stored in their original format for post-audit purposes to prevent manual interference with results or unauthorized alterations.
3. Scope of application
The data verification procedures for this academic year apply to all individuals participating in scientific research activities at the Faculty:
- Undergraduate students: Conducting graduation theses or specialized projects.
- Postgraduate students: Conducting Master’s theses, Level II Specialist theses, or Doctoral dissertations.
- Lecturers and staff: Conducting institutional-level research projects or those submitted for evaluation and acceptance at the Faculty of Pharmacy.
- Other individuals: External parties or collaborative projects requesting data verification in accordance with Faculty regulations.
4. Discussion
The discussion was lively, with numerous questions from students and postgraduates regarding the storage of large data files, troubleshooting technical failures that might lead to raw data loss, and regulations on data confidentiality. The Faculty experts provided thorough answers and reminded young researchers: "Experimental errors can occur and can be corrected by re-running the test, but a lapse in professional ethics is unacceptable."
5. Conclusion
The session concluded with a strong commitment from the PNTU Faculty of Pharmacy collective. Tightening the data verification process is not intended to hinder researchers; rather, it serves as a shield to protect the prestige of the scientists themselves and the reputation of the Faculty of Pharmacy – Pham Ngoc Thach University of Medicine.
With the new standards for Laboratory Notebooks and data-extractable equipment, the Faculty is confident that the 2025–2026 academic year will yield many high-quality research works, contributing significantly to the development of the Vietnamese pharmaceutical sector.
