International integration of vietnamese higher education – general assessment of progress, viewpoints and policies

Abstract

International integration has been an outstanding trend of Vietnamese higher education for 20 years. The international integration of Vietnamese higher education is considered as a proactive step and has achieved many positive outcomes. By reviewing of relevant literature, this paper aims to basically assesses international integration process of Vietnamese higher education in terms of establishing viewpoints and policies. The findings show that international integration process of Vietnamese higher education has taken place later than the socio-economic fields but has rapid evolution. From the initial legal basis launched since 1998, higher education has continuously expanded its roadmap, institutionalized viewpoints and policies, and completed legal framework which lays a foundation for international integration. Despite some positive results, the Vietnamese higher education’s standards are still set low, which mainly involves the reform to build a better integration structure and start applying the global rules of higher education.