DOCTORAL TRAINING PROGRAM IN TOURISM

PART I: GENERAL INTRODUCTION TO THE TRAINING PROGRAM

1. Some information about the training program

- Program name:

+ Vietnamese name: Tourism

+ English name: Tourism

- Name of the training program:

+ Vietnamese name: Tourism

+ English name: Tourism

- Training program code: 9810101

- Language of instruction: Vietnamese

- Standard training duration: 3 years for those with a master's degree, 4 years for those with a doctoral degree.

- Name of the degree awarded after graduation:

+ Vietnamese: Doctor of Tourism

+ English: Doctor of Philosophy in Tourism

2. Objectives of the training program:

2.1. General Objectives:

The goal is to help learners become highly qualified scientists, consultants, and managers who master modern theories of tourism science; possess the capacity for independent research, create new knowledge, and solve complex strategic problems in the context of global tourism; and demonstrate strong leadership skills and professional ethics in promoting the sustainable development of the tourism industry.

2.2. Specific objectives:

- Specific Objective 1 (O1): Master knowledge and scientific creativity, equipping learners with a comprehensive and multifaceted system of theoretical and practical knowledge in tourism science (tourism geography, tourism economics, tourism culture). Learners will be able to identify new research problems, design and implement groundbreaking research projects, and contribute new academic and practical values ​​to the domestic and international tourism industry.

- Specific Objective 2 (O2): Strategic management and practical problem-solving; developing analytical, forecasting, and policy planning capabilities for macro-level tourism or micro-level business strategy. Learners will have the skills to use advanced research methods to solve real-world challenges such as: managing environmental and social impacts, optimizing the economic efficiency of tourism, and applying technology in destination and business management.

- Specific Objective 3 (O3): To possess leadership skills and professional ethics, forming the character of a leading expert capable of leading research groups and providing independent consultation. Learners will be trained in academic integrity, committed to social responsibility in preserving heritage, culture, and the environment; and capable of integrating, publishing scientific papers, and engaging in professional debates in an international academic environment.

3. Admission Information

3.1. Admission method: Evaluation of professional documents according to the regulations of Vietnam National University, Hanoi (VNU).

3.2. Eligibility Criteria:

3.2.1. Requirements regarding diplomas, fields of study, and graduation classification

- Must have graduated with a Master's degree or a Bachelor's degree with excellent grades or higher in a relevant field, or have graduated with an equivalent level 7 qualification according to the Vietnamese National Qualifications Framework in certain specialized fields relevant to the Tourism industry. In cases where candidates require additional training, this must be completed before a decision is made to recognize them as doctoral candidates.

- Diplomas issued by foreign educational institutions must undergo recognition procedures in accordance with current regulations.

3.2.2. Requirements regarding research competence and experience

- Candidates must demonstrate research experience through a master's thesis from a research-oriented training program. Candidates with a master's degree in a relevant field must complete supplementary courses, or have a master's degree in an applied field. Candidates applying from a bachelor's program must be the author or co-author of at least one scientific publication. Scientific publications can be articles in specialized scientific journals or scientific reports published in the proceedings of national or international peer-reviewed scientific conferences or seminars, with relevant ISBNs related to the research field or topic, and recognized by the professorship/associate professorship council of the relevant field/interdisciplinary area.

- The research proposal should clearly state the proposed topic, research field; reasons for choosing the research field and topic; a brief overview of the research situation in that field domestically and internationally; research objectives; some key research contents; research methods and expected results; reasons for choosing the training institution; implementation plan during the training period; the candidate's experience, knowledge, understanding, and preparation for conducting the doctoral dissertation. The proposal may also suggest a research staff member to be the supervisor.

- A letter of recommendation from at least one scientist holding the title of professor, associate professor, or a doctorate in science or a PhD, who has collaborated professionally with the applicant and is knowledgeable in the field the applicant intends to research. The letter of recommendation must include comments and assessments of the applicant regarding:

+ Moral character, abilities and scientific research attitude, and professional qualifications of the applicant;

+ For scientists who meet the criteria for supervising doctoral students and agree to act as thesis supervisors, additional comments on the urgency and feasibility of the research topic and content should be included; and the ability to mobilize doctoral students for research topics and projects, as well as the available funding for the doctoral students' research activities (if any), should be clearly stated.

+ Other comments and levels of support and recommendations for the candidate to pursue doctoral studies.

3.2.3. Foreign language requirements

- Applicants who are Vietnamese citizens must meet the foreign language proficiency requirements (in one of the following languages: English, Russian, Chinese, French, German, Japanese, Korean, Thai) that align with the foreign language output standards of the training program, as evidenced by one of the following diplomas or certificates:

+ A university degree or higher awarded by a foreign educational institution, a branch of a foreign educational institution in Vietnam, or a Vietnamese educational institution to a full-time student studying in a foreign language;

+ A university degree in a foreign language or foreign language pedagogy awarded by a Vietnamese educational institution;

+ Possess a foreign language certificate equivalent to level 4 according to the 6-level Foreign Language Proficiency Framework for Vietnam, valid for 2 years from the date of the foreign language exam to the date of application, issued by institutions accepted by the Ministry of Education and Training and Vietnam National University, Hanoi.

- Applicants who are foreign citizens and register for a doctoral program in social work taught in Vietnamese must have a Vietnamese language certificate at least at level 4 or higher according to the Vietnamese Language Proficiency Framework for Foreigners, or have graduated from a university (or equivalent level or higher) where the training program is taught in Vietnamese, and must meet the requirements for a second foreign language as stipulated by the training program.

3.2.4. Other requirements

- A clean personal record, not currently serving a criminal sentence or subject to disciplinary action at the level of a warning or higher.

- I am healthy enough to study.

- I commit to fulfilling my financial obligations during the training period as stipulated by the University of Social Sciences and Humanities.

3.3. List of suitable industries

- This field belongs to the same industry group as Tourism.

- The field of study is defined in the training program standards issued by the Ministry of Education and Training.

- For cases where there are no established training program standards for the corresponding field or group of disciplines, the specialized unit must have a scientific and practical basis, determined by the Scientific and Training Council of the specialized unit and the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, to identify the discipline with the closest professional foundation to the training program and determine the corresponding supplementary courses (if needed); report to VNU before enrollment and be responsible for this professional evaluation.

3.4. Projected enrollment size:

- According to the quotas granted annually by Vietnam National University, Hanoi (expected to be 10-20 doctoral candidates per year).

- The admission plan follows the regulations and guidelines for postgraduate admissions of VNU, and the unit's admission plan approved by VNU (if any).

PART II: LEARNING OUTCOMES OF THE TRAINING PROGRAM

1. Requirements regarding thesis quality

- The dissertation is an independent scientific research work, containing new contributions to the theory and practice of tourism by discovering and solving new problems, increasing scientific knowledge, and fully addressing the issues within the research objectives of the dissertation, the arguments, and the research results that need to be defended.

- The dissertation must comply with the regulations on intellectual property protection stipulated in the Intellectual Property Law. The research results in the dissertation must be the work of the doctoral candidate, obtained primarily during their training period, and must not have been published in any research works of others. If using the results or materials of others, clear citations must be made. If the dissertation is a scientific work or part of a scientific work of a group in which the author made a major contribution, documents showing the consensus of the group members allowing the author to use the collective results to write the dissertation must be submitted.

- The doctoral dissertation should not exceed 300 A4 pages, excluding appendices, with at least 50% of the pages presenting the researcher's own research results and arguments. The dissertation abstract should accurately reflect the structure, layout, content, and include the full text of the dissertation's conclusions. The dissertation information sheet should present the basic content, new content, and most important contributions, and should be between 300 and 500 words in both Vietnamese and English.

2. Research competency requirements

- Enhance research capabilities; update knowledge related to research topics; possess the ability to identify and solve problems, derive principles and laws in the research process; propose valuable initiatives and assess their value; adapt to an internationally integrated work environment; possess leadership skills and influence the strategic development direction of the team; be able to make proposals as a leading expert based on solid scientific and practical arguments; and be able to make decisions on work plans, manage research activities, and develop new knowledge, ideas, and processes.

- The research results of the dissertation must be published in a specialized scientific journal as the main author (first name/corresponding author), with a total score of 2.0 points or more, calculated according to the maximum score stipulated by the State Council of Professors for each type of work (no point division when there are co-authors). International publications must be written in a foreign language; articles published in domestic specialized scientific journals included in the list stipulated by the State Council of Professors must have a minimum evaluation score of 0.75 points and must meet one of the following criteria:

+ Have at least one article published in a scientific journal listed in the Web of Science or Scopus database (hereinafter referred to as WoS/Scopus database);

+ Possess one granted patent/utility model and at least one international article/report in one of the following publications: (i) a reference book chapter published by a reputable international publisher, or (ii) a monograph published by a reputable international publisher, or (iii) a report in the proceedings of a peer-reviewed international conference with an ISBN, or (iv) an article published in a peer-reviewed, reputable foreign scientific journal with an ISSN;

+ Two international articles/reports in one of the following publications: (i) reference book chapters published by reputable international publishers, or (ii) monographs published by reputable international publishers, or (iii) reports in peer-reviewed international conference proceedings with ISBN, or (iv) articles published in peer-reviewed foreign professional scientific journals with ISSN.

3. Knowledge Output Standards

3.1. Supplementary course knowledge (for doctoral candidates without a master's degree)

PLO 1: Systematize interdisciplinary knowledge in the fields of social sciences and humanities, basic knowledge of science and technology, and in-depth and broad knowledge of the theory and research methods of the tourism industry in order to apply it to professional activities as well as continue studying at a higher level.

3.2. Knowledge of doctoral course modules, doctoral dissertations, and review essays

PLO 2: A synthesis of advanced theories on tourism, tourism management, and sustainable tourism.

PLO 3: Develop multi-dimensional research methodologies (quantitative, qualitative, or mixed) to address complex issues in tourism.

PLO 4: Evaluate theoretical/management models of tourism, understand the economic, cultural, social, environmental impacts and modern tourism trends.

4. Skill Output Standards

4.1. Supplementary course skills (for doctoral candidates without a master's degree)

PLO 5: Identify appropriate scientific theories, methods, and tools to serve tourism research and development; possess in-depth research skills in the field of tourism, including participatory observation techniques, in-depth interviews, semi-structured interviews, questionnaire surveys, rapid assessments, and focus group discussions.

4.2. Skills for doctoral coursework, doctoral dissertations, and review essays

PLO 6: Design and implement groundbreaking independent research projects; contribute new knowledge to the tourism industry through internationally published works and doctoral dissertations.

PLO 7: Proficient in presentation skills, scientific debate, and networking with domestic and international research institutions; capable of translating research results into policy advice or practical solutions.

5. Output standards regarding autonomy and responsibility.

PLO 8: Perform the role of an independent expert, capable of leading research teams or managing consulting and academic organizations in the field of tourism.

PLO 9: Commitment to adhering to the highest ethical standards in research; demonstrating responsibility for the preservation of heritage, the environment, and community interests in the process of tourism development.

PLO 10: Adaptable to all work situations, self-directed and capable of leading others; able to make expert decisions in the tourism field.

6. Job positions that students can take on after graduation.

Working in state tourism management agencies at all levels from central to local; Researcher or expert in tourism research institutes and centers; Lecturer or researcher at universities and colleges that teach tourism; Working in non-governmental, non-profit organizations, centers, and development projects; Working in units and organizations involved in tourism-related businesses...

7. Opportunities for further learning and professional development after graduation.

Graduates can enhance their skills and research capabilities by pursuing postdoctoral research positions or undertaking research projects in tourism and related fields.

PART III: TEACHING AND ASSESSMENT METHODS

1. Teaching methods

- Lectures: The lecturer gives a lecture on a given topic, and the students listen, take notes, and discuss as required by the lecturer.

- Group learning: The instructor divides the class into learning groups and assigns learning tasks. The groups complete the assigned tasks on time.

- Problem-based learning: instructors provide problems related to the learning content, and learners are assigned to solve these problems individually or in groups.

- Teaching through discussion: The instructor prepares discussion topics, learners present their personal views and discuss with group or class members, participating in analysis and contributing to other opinions. The instructor summarizes and concludes the issue.

- Students independently read materials, attend lectures, and search for and research relevant documents related to the course content.

- Students participate in classroom activities organized and guided by the instructor, engaging in group/individual activities.

- Students complete their master's thesis under the guidance of their supervising lecturer.

2. Evaluation methods

- Regular assessment: Attitude towards participating in theoretical classes + Discussion and group work.

- Midterm assessment: Individual or group assignments, Format: presentation or essay.

- Final exam/assessment: Essay (individual or group).

- For the Thesis: Evaluated by the Council, according to the requirements regarding the form, content, and quality of a master's thesis, as stipulated in the current postgraduate training regulations.

PART IV: TRAINING PROGRAM CONTENT

1. Summary of training program requirements

1.1. For PhD candidates with a master's degree

b) For PhD candidates who do not yet have a master's degree

2. Curriculum Framework

2.1. For PhD candidates with a master's degree

2.2. For PhD candidates who do not yet have a master's degree.

Note: One credit is equivalent to 50 hours of student-standard learning, including time spent observing lectures, guided learning, self-study, research, experiences, and participating in tests and assessments; for classroom teaching activities, one credit requires a minimum of 15 hours of lectures or 30 hours of practical work, experiments, and discussions, with one classroom hour counted as 50 minutes.

(1): Theory

(2): Practice, Experiment, Discussion

(3): Internship, Research, Self-study with assessment