The English language proficiency requirement aims to equip students with the skills necessary to enter the global workforce confidently. According to the Ministry of Education and Training, the minimum English requirement for most universities is set at level B1, as per the Vietnam National Qualification Framework established in 2016. How are universities implementing this standard?

Dr. Thai Doan Thanh, Vice President of Ho Chi Minh City University of Food Industry, shared that while students may have completed all academic requirements for graduation, they must still meet the English and IT proficiency standards to receive their diplomas. While most students complete the IT requirement without difficulty, only about 50% fulfill the English requirement on time; the remaining 50% face delays.

“This is not about delayed graduation,” explained Dr. Thanh, “students have already graduated but are delayed in receiving their diplomas because they haven't met the English language requirement.” He added that once students meet this standard, they will be awarded their diplomas.

Dr. Thanh noted that while some students manage to complete the language requirement within a few months, others take up to 1-2 years. He also expressed concern over students' general neglect of this requirement, despite repeated reminders from universities.

"Many students tend to delay addressing the language requirement until the last semester, at which point they are already occupied with internships and thesis work,” said Dr. Thanh.

Dr. Thanh advised new students to have a clear plan for completing their English proficiency requirement, recommending that they aim to meet the requirement by their second year, while the language knowledge is still fresh from their coursework.

According to representatives from the University of Commerce, about 30% of recent graduates faced delays due to failing to meet the English requirement. Many of these students come from rural or economically disadvantaged backgrounds, which makes it harder for them to meet language standards.

"Many students are already weak in English, and the university-level curriculum is even more demanding. On top of that, they face time and financial pressures, as paying for additional language courses requires money. Some students have to work part-time to cover tuition fees, which only adds to the difficulty," said a university representative.

Given these challenges, many students complete all other course requirements first and focus on the language requirement afterward, leading to delays in receiving their diplomas.

Technical universities strive to overcome language barriers

Associate Professor Bui Hoai Thang, Head of Training at Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology, emphasized that foreign language proficiency is part of the national qualification framework. Students in the university’s standard program must meet a TOEIC score of 600, while those in English-taught programs must meet an IELTS score of 6.0.

Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology has implemented a system where students must meet the English requirement before being allowed to complete their final graduation project. This ensures that students who finish their graduation projects can receive their diplomas without delay.

Similarly, Dr. Nguyen Trung Nhan from Ho Chi Minh City University of Industry mentioned that while the school hasn’t compiled specific statistics, an estimated 5-10% of students from each cohort face delays due to the language requirement, especially in technical fields.

Dr. Nguyen Thanh Hung, Head of Training at Hanoi University of Science and Technology, also emphasized the importance of English proficiency, even for students in technical fields. The university’s requirement is designed to ensure that students can thrive in a globalized job market after graduation.

According to Dr. Hung, the majority of students facing delays in receiving diplomas due to the English proficiency requirement come from programs taught in Vietnamese. Those in English-taught programs rarely encounter this issue.

In line with the Vietnam National Qualification Framework, universities require that graduates achieve level 3/6 in English proficiency (equivalent to B1 under the Common European Framework of Reference or IELTS 5.0). For language majors, the requirement is level 5/6 (equivalent to C1 or IELTS 6.5).

Le Huyen - Thanh Hung