The Ministry of Education and Training (MoET), in an effort to improve higher education, has announced that universities will offer more diverse curriculum options for students by 2011.

There are currently 147 universities and 105 colleges in Viet Nam, with southern universities generally out-performing their northern and central region rivals in the implementation of broader curriculum-based higher education provision, according to Ngo Kim Khoi, an official from MoET’s University Department.

As part of the project to substantially renew Viet Nam’s tertiary education over the 2006-20 period, the replacement of year-based courses with credit-based curriculum aims to improve the higher education environment and raise standards to comparable regional levels by 2020.

While credit-based curriculum have long been used globally, the concept is still relatively new in Vietnamese universities.

Large numbers of higher education institutions still apply a fixed curriculum model, with students having to follow the same schedule and courses throughout their university life. Flexible credit-based curriculum provide students with a wider range of choice, allowing students to pick and choose their options and speed of learning.

Breath of fresh air

According to Professor Nguyen Ngoc Hoa, vice rector of the Law University in Ha Noi, credit-based courses help his students positively engage with their courses.

"When they manage their study themselves instead of studying in a pre-arranged timetable, they are more independent," he said.

Tran Dac Su, rector of the Transport University said credit-based curriculum would offer a breath of fresh air in terms of higher education development.

Students could shorten or lengthen their studies according to their abilities rather than finding themselves constrained by set university courses that might not be of interest to them, he said.

Nguyen Phuong Mai, a fourth year student of Phuong Dong University, which introduced the new style curriculum nine years ago, said: "I like the style of course. While all of my friends study Chinese, I can study Japanese instead as a foreign language."

"My friend studying in other university couldn’t choose their subjects, but instead had to follow the class schedule. They hate having to study compulsory subjects they have no interest in," Mai added.

The Natural Sciences University, part of the Ha Noi National University, is spending nearly VND1billion (US$56,000) on improving its 500 classrooms and investing in new text books for the new style of studying.

However, many universities lack the finances to introduce the new, broader educational model and they are hamstrung by a lack of government spending.

"Even though it would have been good to have introduced this higher education model a decade ago, I don’t think it would have been possible," said Phuong Dong University Rector Bui Thien Du. "We’re a private university with fewer students, so with our own funding it’s been easier to change our model," said Du.

Ha Noi University of Business and Technology is lagging behind in implementing the new system, according to Le Van Toan, vice rector of the university. Although his university is keen to introduce the new system, in order to ensure that the quality is high, time will be needed to ensure that the new courses get off to a good start.

Many universities currently face student dissatisfaction. Student Nguyen Thi Van Anh, at Viet Nam’s largest university, the 44,000- student Ha Noi National University, found in research for her final thesis that her fellow students lacked basic textbooks let alone additional reference books. As a result, 34 per cent of them borrowed books from libraries, 26 per cent loaned books from teachers and 20 per cent were downloading or reading books online. Of those students using library books, 60 percent of students thought the text books were out of date, said Van Anh.

While the new style curriculum is being met by academics and students with enthusiasm, it will mean additional pressure for student administrators, who already take care of classes of between 100 or 200 students currently on the same study schedule.

Phan Quang The, Vice Rector of Thai Nguyen University, agreed that management was the weak point in the shift to a more flexible curriculum, due to a lack of staff.

"Although the shift to the new model is set to be completed by 2011, more time, quality assurance and financial support will be needed to ensure that it will be successfully implemented in Viet Nam," said MoET official Ngo Kim Khoi.

Vietnamnet (28/09/2009)