The internationalisation of higher education in Vietnamese universities

Abstract

This thesis seeks to develop an understanding of internationalisation in functioning universities in Vietnam, which has remained an under-researched area. Of particular interest are how the academics perceive the conceptions and practices of the internationalisation of higher education in Vietnam. Drawing on data from 25 semi-structured interviews, 263 questionnaires,and documentary analysis collected at two typical different universities in Vietnam, the general research findings yield both similarities and discrepancies of internationalisation regarding conceptual understandings, rationales, practices, risks, challenges and future priorities between the two cases from their academics’ perspectives. In particular, the findings reveal a wide variation in academic participants’ views regarding the conceptualisation of internationalisation. Additionally, a number of rationales for internationalisation of higher education of these two cases are brought to light, in which academic motives are clearly identifiable, economic, social,cultural or political objectives are also important in determining the institutional policy and orientation towards internationalisation. Subsequently, a number of risks and challenges confronting these institutional efforts in internationalisation are explored, mainly related to the absence of systematised strategies, finance, highly qualified academic staff, and infrastructure.While there are various differences in internationalisation practices undertaken between these two universities, the future strategic priorities suggested by their academics are similar. In general, this project contributes to understanding of the conceptualisation and characteristics of the internationalisation in higher education at the grassroots level in Vietnam.

Date of Award	Nov 2018
Original language	English
Awarding Institution	University of Portsmouth
Supervisor	Mark Field (Supervisor), Karen Heard-Laureote (Supervisor) & Nora Siklodi (Supervisor)