Building a Close Connection between Higher Education and Industry for a Better Education Outcome for Vietnam
Main Article Content
Abstract
Abstract:Vietnamese higher education has received massive criticism as its graduates do not seem to satisfy employers’ needs. It is suggested that the outdated professional knowledge provided by universities and the poor soft skills university students develop during the time at the university are the direct reasons for the unsatisfaction among employers. This paper, however, aims to challenge this common criticism. It summarises the research outcomes of a doctoral thesis on the topic of “enhancing graduate employability in Vietnam” and suggests that shifting the responsibility for graduate unemployment onto the higher education system in Vietnam is convenient but simplistic. Bridging the gap between the higher education system and the employment market will require the goodwill and efforts from a range of stakeholders. First and foremost, there is a need to develop a close cooperation and connection between the higher education system and industry. This is essential for the building of a practical curriculum to develop students’ enterprise skills desired by employers. It requires the effort of not only the educational system, but also of the employer in enhancing graduate employability in Vietnam.
Keywords:Higher education, industry, unemployment, responsibility, human resource management.References
References
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[2] Ketels, C., Nguyen Dinh Cung, Nguyen Thi Tue Anh, & Do Hong Hanh. (2010). Vietnam competitiveness report. Hanoi: Central Institute for Economic Management.
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[19] Trinh Thi Hoa Mai. (2008). Liên kết đào tạo giữa nhà trường đại học với doanh nghiệp ở Việt Nam (Education association between universities and enterprises in Vietnam). Journal of Economy - Law, Vietnam National University, Hanoi, 24(2008), 30-34.
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[28] Omar, N. H., Manaf, A. A., Mohd, R. H., Kassim, A. C., & Aziz, K. A. (2012). Graduates” employability skills based on current job demand through electronic advertisement. Asian Social Science, 8(9), p103.
[29] Truong Quang Duoc. (2006). Quality of business graduates in Vietnamese institutions: Multiples perspectives. Journal of Management Development, 26(7), 629-643.
[30] Tran Thi Tuyet. (2013b). Limitation on the development of skills in higher education in Vietnam. Higher Education, 65(5), 631-644.
[31] Beckett, D., & Mulcahy, D. (2006). Constructing professionals” employ-abilities: Conditions for accomplishment. In P. Hager & S. Holland (Eds.), Graduate attributes, learning and employability. Dordrecht, The Netherlands: Springer.
[32] Holland, S. (2006). Synthesis: A lifelong learning framework for graduate attributes. In P. Hager & S. Holland (Eds.), Graduate attributes, learning and employability. Dordrecht, The Netherlands: Springer.
[33] Lowden, K., Hall, S., Ellio, D. D., & Lewin, J. (2011). Employers” perceptions of the employability skills of new graduates. London: Edge Foundation.
[34] Smith, E., & Comyn, P. (2003). The Development of employability skills in novice workers. Adelaide: National Centre for Vocational Education Research.
[35] Hayden, M., & Lam Quang Thiep. (2007). Institutional autonomy for higher education in Vietnam. Higher Education Research and Development, 26(1), 73-85.
[36] Tran Thi Tuyet. (2014). Governance in higher education in Vietnam – a move toward decentralization and its practical problems. Journal of Asian Public Policy, 7(1), 71-82.
[37] O”Leary, S. (2013). Collaborations in higher education with employers and their influence on graduate employability: an institutional project. Enhancing Learning in the Social Sciences, 5(1), 37-50.
[38] Cooper, L., Orrell, J., & Bowden, M. (2010). Work integrated learning: A guide to effective practice. New York: Routledge.
[39] Ferns, S., Campbell, M., & Zegwaad, K. (2014). Work integrated learning. In S. Ferns (Ed.), Work integrated learning in the curriculum (pp. 1-6). Milperra, N.S.W: Higher Education Research and Development Society of Australasia HERDSA.
[40] Council in Higher Education. (2011). Work-integrated learning: good practice guide. South Africa: Pretoria.
[41] Huynh Ngoc Long. (2012). Đào tạo đáp ứng nhu cầu thị trường lao động (Training for the employment market). Paper presented at the Đào tạo, nghiên cứu khoa học và chuyển giao công nghệ gắn kết với nhu cầu doanh nghiệp (Training, research and technology transfer vs enterprise demands), Dong Nai, Vietnam.
Pham Thi Ly. (2013). Quan điểm của doanh nghiệp về hợp tác với các trường đại học ở Việt Nam (Enterprises” perspective of the collaboration with universities in Vietnam). Hanoi: POHE project, Ministry of Education and Training.
[1] The World Bank. (2008). Vietnam: Higher education and skills for growth (pp. 195). Hanoi: Human Development Department East Asia and Pacific Region.
[2] Ketels, C., Nguyen Dinh Cung, Nguyen Thi Tue Anh, & Do Hong Hanh. (2010). Vietnam competitiveness report. Hanoi: Central Institute for Economic Management.
[3] Montague, A. (2013). Vocational and skill shortages in Vietnamese manufacturing and service sectors, and some plausible solutions. Asia Pacific Journal of Human Resources, 51(2), 208-227.
[4] Pham Thi Huyen. (2008). Higher education in Vietnam: A look from labour market angle. Hanoi: Vietnam Development Forum.
[5] Jarvis, P. (2002). The changing university: Meeting a need and needing to change. Higher Education Quarterly, 54(1), 43-67.
[6] George, E. S. (2010). Higher education in Vietnam 1986-1998: Education in transition to a new era? In G. Harman, M. Hayden & Pham Thanh Nghi (Eds.), Reforming higher education in Vietnam (pp. 31-50). London: Springer.
[7] Tran Ngoc Ca. (2006). Universities as drivers of the urban economies in Asia: The case of Vietnam. Policy Research Working Paper: World Bank.
[8] Le Chien Thang, & Truong Quang. (2005). Human resource management practices in a transitional economy: A comparative study of enterprise ownership forms in Vietnam. Asia Pacific Business Review, 11(1), 25-47.
[9] Nguyen Van Lịch. (2009). Solutions for diminishing the non market driven factors in Vietnamese economy (Khắc phục yếu tố phi thị trường trong nền kinh tế Việt Nam hiện nay). Journal of Economic Management (Tạp chí Quản Lý Kinh tế), 28(9/10), 13-20.
[10] Tran Quang Trung, & Swierczek, F. W. (2009). Skills development in higher education in Vietnam. Asia Pacific Business Review, 15(4), 565-586.
[11] General Statistics Office. (2012). Higher education statistics. Retrieved 28 May, 2014, from http://www.gso.gov.vn/default.aspx?tabid=395&idmid=3&ItemID=11406
[12] Evans, K., & Rorris, A. (2010). Optimising the impact of Vietnam”s higher education sector on socio-economic development. In G. Harman, M. Hayden & Pham Thanh Nghi (Eds.), Reforming higher education in Vietnam: challenges and priorities (pp. 167-182). London: Springer.
[13] Hayden, M., & Lam Quang Thiep. (2010). Vietnam”s higher education system. In G. Harman, M. Hayden & Pham Thanh Nghi (Eds.), Reforming higher education in Vietnam (pp. 15-30). London: Springer.
[14] The Southeast Asian Ministers of Education Organization. (2007). Vietnam higher education system. Retrieved 03 April, 2014, from http://www.rihed.seameo.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=32&Itemid=41
[15] Fatseas, M. (2010). Research-Industry cooperation supporting development in Vietnam: the challenge of translating policy into practice. In G. Harman, M. Hayden & Pham Thanh Nghi (Eds.), Reforming higher education in Vietnam: Challenges and priorities (pp. 103-116). London: Springer.
[16] Mai Trong Nhuan, & Hoang Van Van. (2009). Enhancing graduate employability at Vietnam National University, Hanoi: A case study Sri Lanka: University of Kelaniya.
[17] Scheele, T. H., Pruitt, R., Johnson, A., & Xu, Y. (2011). What do we know about educating Asian ESL nursing students? A literature review. Nursing Education Perspectives, 32(4), 244-249.
[18] Tran Thi Tuyet. (2013a). Count the uncounted: Rumors, corruption and luck in job seeking by Vietnamese university graduates. Journal of Asian Critical Education,2, 3 -12.
[19] Trinh Thi Hoa Mai. (2008). Liên kết đào tạo giữa nhà trường đại học với doanh nghiệp ở Việt Nam (Education association between universities and enterprises in Vietnam). Journal of Economy - Law, Vietnam National University, Hanoi, 24(2008), 30-34.
[20] Truong Quang, & Ha Kim Dung. (1998). Human resource development in state-owned enterprises in Vietnam. Research and practice in human resource management, 6(1), 85-103.
[21] Nguyen Phuong Anh, & Robinson, A. G. (2010). Managing continuous improvement in Vietnam: Unique challenges and approaches to overcome them. Quality Management Journal, 17(2), 27-41.
[22] Baker, G., & Henson, D. (2010). Promoting employability skills development in a research-intensive university. Education+ Training, 52(1), 62-75.
[23] Harvey, L. (2000). New realities: The relationship between higher education and employment. Tertiary Education and Management, 6, 3-17.
[24] Speight, S., Lackovic, N., & Cooker, L. (2013). The contested curriculum: Academic learning and employability in higher education. Tertiary Education and Management, 19(2), 112-126.
[25] Casner-Lotto, J., & Barrington, L. (2006). Are they really ready to work? Employers” perspectives on the basic knowledge and applied skills of new entrants to the 21st century US workforce. Washington DC: The Conference Board, Inc.
[26] Cox, S., & King, D. (2006). Skill sets: An approach to embed employability in course design. Education and Training, 48(4), 262-274.
[27] Hart, P. D. (2008). How should colleges assess and improve student learning? Employers” views on the accountability challenge” Association of American Colleges and Universities Report. Washington, DC: Peter D. Hart Research Associates, Inc.
[28] Omar, N. H., Manaf, A. A., Mohd, R. H., Kassim, A. C., & Aziz, K. A. (2012). Graduates” employability skills based on current job demand through electronic advertisement. Asian Social Science, 8(9), p103.
[29] Truong Quang Duoc. (2006). Quality of business graduates in Vietnamese institutions: Multiples perspectives. Journal of Management Development, 26(7), 629-643.
[30] Tran Thi Tuyet. (2013b). Limitation on the development of skills in higher education in Vietnam. Higher Education, 65(5), 631-644.
[31] Beckett, D., & Mulcahy, D. (2006). Constructing professionals” employ-abilities: Conditions for accomplishment. In P. Hager & S. Holland (Eds.), Graduate attributes, learning and employability. Dordrecht, The Netherlands: Springer.
[32] Holland, S. (2006). Synthesis: A lifelong learning framework for graduate attributes. In P. Hager & S. Holland (Eds.), Graduate attributes, learning and employability. Dordrecht, The Netherlands: Springer.
[33] Lowden, K., Hall, S., Ellio, D. D., & Lewin, J. (2011). Employers” perceptions of the employability skills of new graduates. London: Edge Foundation.
[34] Smith, E., & Comyn, P. (2003). The Development of employability skills in novice workers. Adelaide: National Centre for Vocational Education Research.
[35] Hayden, M., & Lam Quang Thiep. (2007). Institutional autonomy for higher education in Vietnam. Higher Education Research and Development, 26(1), 73-85.
[36] Tran Thi Tuyet. (2014). Governance in higher education in Vietnam – a move toward decentralization and its practical problems. Journal of Asian Public Policy, 7(1), 71-82.
[37] O”Leary, S. (2013). Collaborations in higher education with employers and their influence on graduate employability: an institutional project. Enhancing Learning in the Social Sciences, 5(1), 37-50.
[38] Cooper, L., Orrell, J., & Bowden, M. (2010). Work integrated learning: A guide to effective practice. New York: Routledge.
[39] Ferns, S., Campbell, M., & Zegwaad, K. (2014). Work integrated learning. In S. Ferns (Ed.), Work integrated learning in the curriculum (pp. 1-6). Milperra, N.S.W: Higher Education Research and Development Society of Australasia HERDSA.
[40] Council in Higher Education. (2011). Work-integrated learning: good practice guide. South Africa: Pretoria.
[41] Huynh Ngoc Long. (2012). Đào tạo đáp ứng nhu cầu thị trường lao động (Training for the employment market). Paper presented at the Đào tạo, nghiên cứu khoa học và chuyển giao công nghệ gắn kết với nhu cầu doanh nghiệp (Training, research and technology transfer vs enterprise demands), Dong Nai, Vietnam.
Pham Thi Ly. (2013). Quan điểm của doanh nghiệp về hợp tác với các trường đại học ở Việt Nam (Enterprises” perspective of the collaboration with universities in Vietnam). Hanoi: POHE project, Ministry of Education and Training.