Phung Xuan Nha, Minister of Education and Training speaks at the teleconference reviewing university recruitment for 2019 and setting tasks for 2020 in Hanoi. VNA/VNS Photo Thanh Tung

It was necessary for universities to make sure new academic programmes are in line with market demand before introducing new classes.

Nha was speaking at a teleconference to review university recruitment for 2019 and set tasks for 2020 held in Hanoi on Thursday.

He believes university recruitment for 2020 needs to resolve any problems encountered in the past 12 months.

Nha pointed out that a number of universities announced new academic programmes that were not relevant to labour demand and admission scores of some majors were extremely low, raising concerns over quality of training.

Nha said the ministry was compiling plans for high school exam and tertiary recruitment autonomy for 2021-2025 which would be submitted to the Government for approval.

He also emphasised the need for close collaboration between educational institutions and high schools to improve the quality of recruitment.

Nguyen Thi Kim Phung, director general of the Department of Tertiary Education, Ministry of Education and Training (MoET) said the new university recruitment regulations included expanding the autonomy of universities in organising recruitment exam to assure it was line with the state regulations.

The MoET would include regulations for all mode of study namely full-time and part-time as well as second bachelor’s degree into one regulation.

Because the standard for teachers has been raised, there would be no recruitment quota for teachers’ training at intermediate and college levels, except for pre-school education.

Tourism and Information Technology are the two majors that would be applied special recruitment quota, Phung said.

Strict regulations would be imposed on violating universities, officials, labourers and candidates, especially those related to fraud in exams or recruitment.

This year, the MoET will not regulate the collecting of fees for recruitment. It will be decided by education institutions. However, she said, the fee should be the same as that of previous years.
Reviewing recruitment for 2019, Phung said only 64 per cent of accepted candidates enrol in universities.

She blamed this on the fact that candidates did not want to study at the university but they were still advised to do so to improve the achievement for high schools.

“It was difficult for some majors in fulfilling their recruitment plans including agro-forestry and fisheries, natural sciences, social services and environment, requiring special attention from the state,” Phung said.

Each year, more than 900,000 candidates take high school exams and about 75 per cent of them register for university admission.

She said as the regulations relating to recruitment were improved, universities had been more proactive in recruitment, enhancing the healthy competitiveness between them. — VNS

Vietnam seeks solution to restructure university system

Many weak higher education establishments exist in Vietnam, but it is impossible to dissolve and restructure them overnight.

Vietnam vows to close low-quality educational establishments

Upgrading higher education quality rrequires restructuring the university system and shutting down low-quality establishments, experts say.