Hanoi (VNS/VNA) - Private highereducation plays an important role in promoting human resource quality, however,policies to develop private universities still face obstacles.

Educational experts think that the key goal isto address obstacles in the relations between the State and private sector toreduce pressure on public universities.

Vietnam’s education strategy in the 2009-2020period aims to expand private higher education institutions so that 40 percentof students select private universities. However, this target seems out ofreach as in recent years, the number of students enrolling in privateuniversities has kept declining. It is estimated that currently only 15 percentof students nationwide register for private higher education. A lot of majorsat private universities no longer exist because they did not enroll enoughstudents.

Vietnam’s experiences run counter to an emergingtrend in developing countries in which public education investment drops andprivate education grows.

Nguyen Dieu Thanh, principal of State-owned QuangBinh University, said that there was a common perception among Vietnamesepeople that public universities are better than private ones. Changing themindset of society on that issue is difficult and will take time.

“Private universities must have their own uniquefeatures and outstanding training quality to compete with public institutions,”she said.

Another weakness of private universities waslacking a long-term vision. This had posed a challenge for private universitiesand explained why many, despite being established a long time ago, were stillunable to create their own “brand”, she said.

According to educational experts, privateuniversities have grown in number but remain low-quality. Weak academicstandards and lecturers along with poor infrastructure pose big obstacles forthese private institutions.

Professor Dang Ung Van, from Hoa BinhUniversity, said that a large number of public and private universities whichwere newly established or upgraded from colleges contributed to an excess inslots for students. This meant low-ranked universities struggled to attractstudents. Some universities were willing to accept students simply because theyhad graduated from high school.

Associate Professor Nguyen Huy Vi from theUniversity of Social Sciences and Humanities of the Vietnam NationalUniversity, HCM City, said that unclear, irrelevant and difficult legalrequirements would prevent investors from making investments in private highereducation.

According to Dr Dang Van Dinh from theAssociation of Vietnam’s Universities and Colleges, resolving difficulties forprivate universities is an urgent task and a vital solution to develop highereducation in Vietnam.

“The State should grant the private sector equalpreferential opportunities as its public peer. Investors in privateuniversities should be allowed to have the right to select their own managementmodel and invite other sides to join the management council,” he said.

“Privatising higher education is considered tobe the only and the best solution to reduce financial pressure on State budget.The private education sector helps diversify training programmes and create competitivenesswith the public sector,” he said.

Associate Professor Nguyen Huy Vi said that therole of the State should be changed from one of management to supervision.

The State should set up policies to managehigher education and create an equal playing field for public and privateuniversities. Both public and private higher education must operate in an openand transparent manner, following quality assessments and ranking, he said.

Thanh from the Quang Binh University said thatprivate schools should have mechanisms to attract local and foreign lecturersto address a labour shortage. The Government should give private universitiesautonomy but at the same time closely supervise their training quality.-VNS/VNA