Internationalizing Higher Education (HE) in Vietnam: Insights from Higher Education leaders – an exploratory study
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to increase knowledge of the key drivers, and challenges, of the internationalization of Higher Education (HE), especially in the transitioning economy of Vietnam.
Design/methodology/approach
An exploratory qualitative research design used semi-structured interviews. Nine senior institutional leaders from five Vietnamese universities were interviewed. Thematic analysis, informed by the literature, was undertaken on English-translated transcripts.
Findings
The findings shared senior HE leader perspectives on how internationalization of HE in Vietnam was being conceptualized and operationalized, as well as insights as to how these processes might be improved. Further research to monitor the success of internationalization processes in Vietnam, and beyond, is recommended.
Research limitations/implications
This was an exploratory qualitative study including nine interviews with senior HE leaders from Vietnamese Universities. Exploratory findings only are shared.
Originality/value
No previous studies exploring internationalization of HE in Vietnam have been located. Vietnam is a nation in economic transition from a state-based to market-driven economy, and is different culturally, economically and socially, to its Asian neighbors. Internationalizing HE is considered essential to the global integration and development of Vietnam.
Keywords
Citation
Nguyen, D.P., Vickers, M., Ly, T.M.C. and Tran, M.D. (2016), "Internationalizing Higher Education (HE) in Vietnam: Insights from Higher Education leaders – an exploratory study", Education + Training, Vol. 58 No. 2, pp. 193-208. https://doi.org/10.1108/ET-08-2015-0072
Publisher
:Emerald Group Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2016, Emerald Group Publishing Limited