VIETNAM NATIONAL UNIVERSITYHO CHI MINH CITYQA POLICYATVIETNAM NATIONAL UNIVERSITYHO CHI MINH CITY
Dr. Le Quang Minh, Assoc. Prof.
Chair, QA Council

The ASEAN+3 Higher Education Quality Assurance Forum
Tokyo, 1 October 2013

OUTLINE

Challenges of HE in Vietnam
Vietnam National University
QA strategy and policy
Lessons learned

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CHALLENGES
Development pace of HE <<society/economics demands in QUANTITYAND QUALITY
selection ratio: 1/8 => public universities NO
PRESSURE to improve quality=> private universities (not for profit, just for money)
compromise: profit vs. quality

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CHALLENGES
 Top-down/centralized in power=> Lack of incentive from the departments=> Staff feeling: “another waiting-timebureaucratic exercise”=> No ownership of QA exercise=> Hatred of paper work in our genes=> Far from reality: changes in policy

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CHALLENGES
 Main focus of university => chronic andimmediate problems: staff income,equipment, quota, regulations from “above”,
entrance examination,…
=> extra incomes: teaching hours + a “left hand” job=> QA activities = loose extra incomes=> staff overloaded

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CHALLENGES Lack of internationally well accepted

concepts, norms, definitions, practices,
references,…
=> No clear definition or concept of quality (userdefined quality!)=> Confusions: term, process, approach,…
=> Shortage of REAL experts and architects <<brick laymen (tree vs. forest/inspector vs.
assessor)
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HIGHER EDUCATION REFORM AGENDA 75/25: “teaching” vs. research universities
 Quality Assurance University Management
 Teaching methodology

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QA IN VNU-HCM8

VNU STRATEGY => Top priority QA1.Top priority in VNU Strategic Plan towards
2015
2.TQM: all departments/all levels

3. More fund4.Commitment from leaders

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VNU STRATEGY => Focus on program level• easier to improveassessment =>improvement ofprograms (basedon AUN QA)• less resources
needed• impacts tomobilize the staff

LEARNING
ORGANIZATION• assistance fromAUN• government fundInstitutional levelRanking• competition• pressure from public

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VNU STRATEGY => Focus on program level
AUN criteria
and indicators
VNU strategicobjectives
VNU criteria
and indicatorsCollaboration withEurope, North
America,…

• can be improved in
6-12 months• 1-3 years• long-term.
continuously

RESOURCES

Int’lprofessional
accreditation
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QA STRUTURE
VNU QA
COUNCIL (VP
Scientific Affairs)

VP F&POP and Dept

VNU-QA
Center(President)

VP Academic

Rectors

Uni-QA
Center12

VNU STRATEGY => Carrot and stick• more fund for passed programs• end failed programs after 3 chances ofimprovement

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visionqualityculturestrategic
objectives
Research
Education
ServiceLEADER
ROLES

1. Priority
2. Resources
allocation

QA
frameworkprinciples

systematicapproach
Criteria
Indicators
Guidelines

1. Shapingfuture
2. Fire fighter

1.Quality assessment
NOT indicatorassessment
2. Improvement =>learningorganization
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LESSONS LEARNED• Commitment from the top• Strategic plan of the university, then QA• University visions and missions• Communication between different levels• Incentives for the faculty

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STUDENT MOBILITY16

QA in Strategies
Research
quality

Qualityassurance

Research
project
Industry
support

University
reputation
Top
student

International
collaboration
Studentmobility

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STUDENT MOBILITY• Out-going (study abroad) increased quickly:
60,000 students studying abroad (about 5,000in Japan, 5th)
• Supports from Japan: bi-lateral, universities,companies,…
• Viet Nam Government Fellowship Programs,
Regional Fellowship Programs (HCM 500,Mekong 1000, ECV 1000,…)• Self-finance• In-coming to VN
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SELECTION FACTORS• Internationally-recognized degrees(70%)• Culture(59%)• Fellowship or other financial supports (55%)• Job opportunity after graduation(48%)• Language(40%)

From TIEN PHONG News (1 Oct 2013)

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OPPORTUNITY• Viet Nam government policy:• Fellowship programs: 20,000 PhD• Foreign University Campus in VN• Join degree, double degree programs (2+2, 1+1)

• Foreign degree• Policy from host countries• AUN+3• Globalization• Culture20

Thank you