NHG organizing the panel discussion about higher education future

On September 5th, in order to create education forums as well as increase the value of knowledge for the system, Nguyen Hoang Group (NHG) coordinated with FBNC television channel to connect professionals and organize the panel discussion named "Vietnam universities - integration & development".

In line with the program for “famous speakers and guest”, the event has shared personal ideas about the higher education future in Vietnam, including both opportunities and challenges. There were 200 lecturers and managers in NHG university affairs attending the discussion. The event was also live streamed on FBNC channel.

From left to right: Dr. Tran Duc Canh (Harvard University, US), member of National council for human resource education & development; Ms Dam Bich Thuy, Fulbright University Vietnam; Dr. Pham Thi Ly, member of National council for human resource education & development and the host Mr. Bui Van, director of FBNC.

The mission of Vietnamese education

Attending the event, there were 3 leading educational experts, including: Dr. Tran Duc Canh (Harvard University, US), member of National council for human resource education & development; Ms Dam Bich Thuy, Fulbright University Vietnam; Dr. Pham Thi Ly, member of National council for human resource education & development. They had shared their opinions about the future vision of Vietnamese universities, emphasizing on: trends and integration; opportunities of private universities; non-profit model orientation; internationalization and the era of industrial revolution 4.0.

Dr. Pham Thi Ly (the third from the left) suggesting that universities need to show their mission and values in order to gain the trust of society.

According to Dr. Pham Thi Ly, the development history of private higher education can be temporarily divided into 4 phases. “In phase 1 from 1975 to 1988, Vietnam did not have any private university. Phase 2 from 1988 - 2000 could be called the 'people-founded' phase, in which education was no longer a monopoly of the goverment and policy-makers had begun to change the approach and renew the form of education. From that phase, many universities like Thang Long, Dong Do, Van Lang, Hung Vuong, etc. had established. The founders were prestigious teachers so the management process was not much different from public schools at all. The next phase from 2000 to 2013 can be named 'private' stage, in which private universities were legal. Some professional investors got involved into the education industry so then we have RMIT University, FPT or Nguyen Tat Thanh University. The last phase is from 2014 until present, marking by the mergers and acquisitions (M&A) phenomenon”. This process has shown that the pathway of private higher education development in Vietnam are following a consistent trend of socialization.

Dr. Tran Xuan Thao, Deputy CEO in charge of education research and development, supposing that “interaction means education, and NHG will create many more forums as well as connect experts to share more and more”

Working in education to educate

Management in financial and academic autonomy is an important factor for universities. In the context of the technological revolution affecting traditional thinking, universities are now the slowest place to change - comparing to other areas of society. We cannot develop without integration, and internationalization is the good way for universities to pursue their values”, Dr. Tran Duc Canh shared.
Ms. Dam Bich Thuy said: “In some developing countries, almost private higher education system is non-profit. Many professors at Harvard University shared their wish to build in Vietnam an non-profit and liberal arts university. Therefore, I am working as an educator, trying to find a new way.

Dr. Tran Duc Canh said that it would be hard to apply the non-profit model or donation to private universities in Vietnam.

“What does NHG work in education for? Profit or non-profit? Needless to say, NHG works in education to educate. So, education is business or welfare? In the opinion of NHG, education is a service, a hi-class, humane and responsible service”, NHG representatives shared.

Overview of the discussion "Vietnam universities - integration & development" at Hong Bang International University (HIU).

The speakers sharing about the ranking of Vietnam's higher education system in the World Economic Forum 2018 list.
 
Participants asking questions and discussing with the speakers.

BRANDING AND COMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENT