VietNamNet Bridge - The number of universities in Vietnam has increased rapidly, but the training quality has not, experts say.

The number of university students has increased rapidly

Duong Van Sau, Tourism Culture Dean of the Hanoi Culture University, said that Vietnam has many training establishments, but the training quality cannot satisfy society’s requirements.

“Too many universities have been launched into the market. Universities exist in every province. However, the training quality is problematic, thus creating ‘rubbish’ to society,” he said.

Sau went on to comment that Vietnam has shifted from elite university education to universal large-scale education, which generates ‘second-rate goods’ or ‘counterfeit goods’.

The mushrooming of university training establishments recently is the result of the policy on expanding higher education to increase the proportion of university students in the population.

Nguyen Ngoc Vu, director of Da Nang University, also commented that Vietnam has too many universities, but most of them are mostly small and single-disciplinary.

An analyst said the mushrooming of university training establishments recently is the result of the policy on expanding higher education to increase the proportion of university students in the population. 

University education was once considered ‘elite’ because universities were selective when enrolling students, and only the best could enroll at universities. 

Sau from the Culture University pointed out six problems of Vietnam’s higher education. First, the system is closed, with lack of connection among education levels and training modes. In addition, the curricula are unreasonable with too much academic and no practical knowledge.

Second, there is no close link between training and scientific research and production, which has resulted in the overabundance of bachelor’s degree graduates and deficiency in skilled workers. 

Third, the current university education does not pay appropriate attention to personality, morality, lifestyle and working skills.

Fourth, the training method being applied at most universities is out of date. Lecturers just give lessons and transfer knowledge, while there is no interaction and exchange of views between lecturers and students.

Fifth, there are big problems in the structure and number of teaching staff. Sixth, the policies on investments in higher education are unreasonable.

“In general, our university education quality is still low compared with the requirements in the renovation period. It is necessary to reform everything, including mindset,” Sau commented.

Do Van Dung, rector of the HCMC University of Technology Education, commented that though universities have been warned of the big impact from the 4.0 industry revolution, they are very slow to reform and the leaders’ thoughts do not change to catch up with the times.

Dung suggested that there should be a mechanism which allows schools to recognize credits granted by other schools. For example, students of other schools can go to HCMC University of Technology Education to obtain credits to be granted by the school.