Joint Programs in Vietnam in the Time of COVID-19 Pandemic: “A model” of Students’ Preference (What do Learners Care about?)

Abstract

This study is among the first attempts to provide an understanding of factors affecting students’ intention to choose the joint programs for undergraduate education in Vietnam in the time of new normal context (i.e. COVID-19 pandemic). A questionnaire-based survey was employed to collect data from high school and undergraduate students. The Partial Least Square-Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) method is used to analyze the data collected. Overall, results show that the joint programs that are attractive to Vietnamese students/pupils should have international standardized content, include subjects that are highly applicable, qualification of teaching staffs. In terms of COVID-19 pandemic effect, the COVID-19 pandemic increases the probability of student choosing joint programs. This finding predicts that there may be a significant drop in the number of students studying the joint programs in Vietnam after the COVID-19 is under control as they may go to study abroad.

Keywords:

Joint program, Vietnam, student’s preference, PLS-SEM.

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