Mme Ton Nu Thi Ninh President, Founding Committee Tri Viet International University The Challenges of Starting a Vietnamese Private International University Colloquium on Canada-Viet Nam in Higher Education & Research Viet Nam National University - Ho Chi Minh City December 18-19,

The Challenges of Starting a Vietnamese Private International University I. Common issues when establishing a university II.Challenges facing a Vietnamese private university III. What makes an «international» university 2

I.Common Issues I. 1. A new university must be fully aware of: its vision: to promote creativity, knowledge its function: to provide skilled labor for the economy and society its social responsibility: to promote ecological protection and sustainable development, to expand access to higher education 3 The Challenges of Starting a Vietnamese Private International University

I. 2. Quality: the sine qua non requirement of a successful university Because of the current situation: -Faculty: not enough and not good enough -Teaching and learning methodology: outdated -Research, particularly in private universities: lacking in relevance and not meeting international standards -Accreditation: lacking independence and reliability -Need to identify attainable objectives in the Vietnamese context for each phase of development 4 The Challenges of Starting a Vietnamese Private International University

I. 3. Autonomy: the necessary driver of quality -Autonomy: differing perceptions in terms of level and extent -All universities (public and private) wish for more autonomy from MOET (re: academics, governance, human resources, and international partnership) -Autonomy not only in terms of self-financing but also to serve development -Academic autonomy must lead to quality 5 The Challenges of Starting a Vietnamese Private International University

I. 4. Administrative Procedures -Existing procedures: illogical, inadequate -Excessive requirements: re: financing, land, detailed planning, faculty, programming => hard to meet in Phase 1 (i.e., preliminary licensing) -Phase 2 (i.e., license for operation and enrollment): lacks effective evaluation 6 The Challenges of Starting a Vietnamese Private International University

II.Challenges Facing a Private University II. 1. Advantages Human resource autonomy Enrolment criteria autonomy Pilot nature of the project: propitious for innovation and for swift adjustment during implementation 7 The Challenges of Starting a Vietnamese Private International University

II. 2. Disadvantages 2.1. Nature and Structure -Overcome current perception: private means profit-seeking; private means poor quality -Strive to assert oneself as a true institution of higher education, not just an upscale vocational institution 2.2. Finance and Ownership -Design an appropriate fundraising structure (grants, investments, loans) to ensure shared vision of the university as a social enterprise -Establish a rapport between founders and investors through a structure ensuring the above-mentioned features and enhancing the parties’ respective roles and functions 2.3. Human Resources -Meet the challenge of building up a highly qualified full-time team of lecturers 8 The Challenges of Starting a Vietnamese Private International University

III. What makes an « International » University III. 1. How does «international» translate into the university context? in terms of faculty and students in terms of curriculum and methodogy in terms of partnership with foreign universities and research centers in terms of capital mobilization in terms of benchmarking and accreditation 9 The Challenges of Starting a Vietnamese Private International University

III. 2. International Partnership -Features: multilateral, multiform, multilevel -Activities: Building international programs Training trainers Expanding faculty body (with foreign lecturers) Conducting exchange programs for faculty and students Conducting cultural and professional exchanges Aiming towards degrees recognized internationally 10 The Challenges of Starting a Vietnamese Private International University

III. 3. Other Issues - Language of instruction: English; encourage students to master a second foreign language - Call for foreign financing, investment - Have regular international-standard quality assessment by independent institutions 11 The Challenges of Starting a Vietnamese Private International University

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