Mme Ton Nu Thi Ninh President, Founding Committee Tri Viet International University

1. Colloquium on Canada-Viet Nam in Higher Education & Research Viet Nam National University - Ho Chi Minh City December 18-19, 2009 The Challenges of Starting a Vietnamese Private International University Mme Ton Nu Thi Ninh President, Founding Committee Tri Viet International University 1

2. 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 www.trivietuniversity.edu.vn

3. The Challenges of Starting a Vietnamese Private International University • Common Issues • I. 1. A new university must be fully aware of: • itsvision: to promote creativity, knowledge • itsfunction: to provide skilled labor for the economy and society • itssocial responsibility: to promote ecological protection and sustainable development, to expand access to higher education 3 www.trivietuniversity.edu.vn

4. 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Because of the current situation: • Faculty: not enough and not good enough • Teaching and learning methodology: outdated • Research, particularly in private universities: lacking in relevance and not meeting international standards • Accreditation: lacking independence and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 www.trivietuniversity.edu.vn

5. 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 www.trivietuniversity.edu.vn

6. 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 www.trivietuniversity.edu.vn

7. The Challenges of Starting a Vietnamese Private International University • 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 www.trivietuniversity.edu.vn

8. 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 www.trivietuniversity.edu.vn 8

9. 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 www.trivietuniversity.edu.vn

10. 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 www.trivietuniversity.edu.vn 10

11. 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 www.trivietuniversity.edu.vn

12. The Challenges of Starting a Vietnamese Private International University THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION 12 www.trivietuniversity.edu.vn