MoET will inspect a number of joint training programmes in August. If training programmes sponsored by foreign providers in association with Vietnamese universities don’t meet the Ministry of Education and Training’s quality requirements, the degrees or certificates they grant will not be recognized. MoET will inspect a number of these joint training programmes in August, reports Dan Tri

Nguyen Xuan Vang, Director of MOET’s International Education Development Department

Nguyen Xuan Vang, Director of MOET’s International Education Development Department, was interviewed by the online newspaper.

Dan Tri: A lot of joint training programmes have been set up in Vietnam. What are their advantages and disadvantages?

Director Nguyen Xuan Vang: The globalization process has impacted all aspects of our society, including education. Lately there’s been huge growth in the number of training programmes conducted jointly by Vietnamese schools with foreign partners. Obviously there’s high demand for them. Through joint training programmes, it’s possible for Vietnamese schools to learn from foreign partners about education management. These programmes have also helped renovate our schools’ curriculums, upgrade teaching methods and apply world-standard assessment methods.

However, there are risks. Bad quality programmes have also infiltrated from some countries, and these pose risks to Vietnam’s education system.

Dan tri: Can MoET regulate all the joint training programmes now available in Vietnam? How has management of the joint training programmes been implemented?

Nguyen Xuan Vang: The ministry has delegated the right to evaluate joint training programs to our two national universities (Hanoi and HCM City) and three regional universities (Thai Nguyen, Hue city and Da Nang). Other universities must obtain a license from MoET for their joint training programmes.

The national and regional universities take responsibility for examining and inspecting the programmes, then report to MOET. In principle, all training establishments must take responsibility for the joint training programmes they run.

When a training programme is licensed by MOET, the Vietnamese institution must submit an annual report to the ministry.

Dan Tri: Vietnamese newspapers have pointed out that many of our schools now cooperate with “bogus” foreign partners – entities that are not accredited in foreign countries. Does MoET agree? What will it do?

Vang: It is not quite correct to say that “many Vietnamese schools cooperate with ‘bogus’ foreign partners.” MoET only licenses joint training programmes which have foreign partners accredited by their home countries.

Some establishments not under MoET’s control have been cooperating with foreign partners without asking for our permission. Some of these entities have no expertise or mandate for training, but nonetheless advertise joint training programmes. Some other agencies have gotten involved in granting licenses; that’s caused difficulties for our management.

Unauthorized joint training programmes are illegal. We need to crack down on them. Such training establishments must immediately stop enrolling students, follow correct procedures to apply for licensing, and act in the interest of their learners. If these programmes cannot meet our requirements in training quality, if the foreign partners are not accredited, we will not recognize the diplomas of the programmes.

MoET will inspect some joint training programmes in August, especially ones that have been questioned by local newspapers.

Dan Tri: Has MoET yet punished any violators?

Vang: In 2009, MoET dealt with some cases. For example, ‘Skills Group Vietnam,’ a unit of the ‘Danish Skills Group,’ spontaneously enrolled students and organized a 20 student class without getting permission.

This year the ministry has refused to license a programme where the foreign partner was not accredited.

Source: Dan tri