VietNamNet Bridge – Although the total number of licensed universities has far exceeded the targeted number, Vietnam still needs more training faculties in the arts and culture.

In 2007, the Prime Minister approved a school network development program that called for 573 universities (four- to five-year training) and junior colleges (three-year training) by 2020.

But in June 2013, the Prime Minister decided to adjust the program, stipulating that Vietnam would have 460 universities and junior colleges by 2020, or 100 schools fewer than the number stipulated in the 2007 program.

However, by July 2014, Vietnam had 472 schools, more than the number targeted for 2020.

In a short period from 2007 to 2013 alone, 133 universities and junior colleges were established.

While the number of newly set up schools has been increasing rapidly, the number of lecturers has not risen accordingly. A report of the Ministry of Education and Training showed that Vietnam has only 286 lecturers with a professorship title, 8,519 PhDs and 28,037 MAs.

There are 472 universities and junior colleges, and only 30 schools majoring in specific fields such as culture and art, architecture and tourism.

Most of the schools set up in recent years are economics schools which provide training in several “fashionable” majors.

The existing culture and arts schools now train students in nearly 20 majors, including design, music, theatre & cinema and criticism.

There are only 10 universities nationwide focused on arts and culture, accounting for 4.5 percent of the total 221 existing universities, a very modest proportion if compared with the large numbers of economics and technical schools.

In HCM City, one of the two biggest cities in Vietnam, there are 35 universities, but there are only four arts and culture universities.

A report of the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism (VNAT) showed that the tourism industry needs 40,000 workers with a university degree every year from now to 2020, but the existing schools can produce only 15,000 graduates a year, and of these, only 12 percent have junior college and university degrees. There are only five schools providing staff to the tourism sector.

According to Tran Anh Tuan, deputy director of the HCM City Job Center, HCM City alone needs 21,600 workers in the culture, art and tourism sectors annually in the 2015-2020 and 2020-2030 periods. Meanwhile, the universities in the city can satisfy only half of the recruitment demand.

It is expected that HCM City will have one more arts & culture university if the plan of the Saigon Culture, Art and Tourism Junior College on upgrading itself into a university gets approval from the government.

The plan has been advocated by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the Ministry of Education and Training.

Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam has said that although Vietnam now restricts the establishment of new universities, it plans to set up more schools offering specific majors, including in technology fields which lack staff, and in culture & arts.

GDVN