Training on self-assessment of educational quality for undergraduate journalism programs.

Attending the conference were Dr. Mai Thi Quynh Lan, Dr. Tran Thi Hoai, and Ms. Vu Mai Anh from the Institute for Educational Quality Assurance, VNU Hanoi; Assoc. Prof. Dr. Tran Thi Minh Hoa, Vice Rector of the University; Assoc. Prof. Dr. Dang Thi Thu Huong, Head of the Faculty of Journalism and Communication; and faculty members from the Faculty.

A panoramic view of the conference.

Speaking at the conference, Associate Professor Dr. Tran Thi Minh Hoa stated: Self-assessment may seem simple, but it will be difficult for those who have never encountered it before. It is necessary to identify both positive aspects and limitations in order to conduct effective self-assessment of quality. The goal is to have all 23 undergraduate programs of the university accredited by 2020, with one-third of them accredited according to AUN standards.

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Tran Thi Minh Hoa delivered a speech at the conference.

The conference focused on listening to reports from representatives of the Institute for Educational Quality Assurance, Vietnam National University, Hanoi. The content revolved around explaining and discussing the 11 standards in the ASEAN University Network Quality Assurance (AUN-QA) standards for evaluating the quality of training programs.

The purpose of establishing these self-assessment standards for training quality is to improve the quality of education, serving as a basis for relevant authorities to evaluate and recognize universities that meet educational quality standards. Students will gain an overview of the training programs in various fields, enabling them to make appropriate choices. Employers will also gain insight into the workforce they are seeking.

The evaluation criteria include 11 standards revolving around the following areas: the university's mission and objectives; training programs; organizational management; faculty and staff; facilities; and international cooperation activities.

Dr. Tran Thi Hoai explains the standards of the AUN Training Quality Assurance Model.

During the explanation of the standards, staff from the Institute for Quality Assurance, VNU Hanoi, and faculty members from the Faculty of Journalism and Communication discussed and pointed out the strengths and weaknesses in the quality of training in order to find timely solutions for improvement.

Evaluating the strengths of the Faculty of Journalism and Communication, Associate Professor Dr. Dang Thi Thu Huong stated: The curriculum incorporates the expertise of journalists who are employers, drawing from real-world experience into the teaching. This allows employers to understand the skills students need and opens up many opportunities for students to collaborate with media organizations.

Associate Professor Dr. Dang Thi Thu Huong shared about the outstanding achievements of the Faculty.

Following the explanation of the standards, Ms. Vu Mai Anh (Institute for Educational Quality Assurance, VNU Hanoi) presented the guidelines for writing a self-assessment report according to the AUN-QA standards. Ms. Mai Anh clearly outlined the requirements and regulations for submitting a report.

"A common drawback in those reports is that they only provide descriptions, with superficial analysis. Furthermore, a data archiving culture hasn't been established. Although information sources exist, incomplete evidence will be detrimental to the self-assessment process," Ms. Mai Anh said.

The training session helped faculty members of the Faculty of Journalism and Communication understand the core content and essential requirements for a self-assessment report. Assoc. Prof. Dr. Dang Thi Thu Huong expressed her gratitude to the staff of the Institute for Educational Quality Assurance, VNU Hanoi, for sharing and providing much useful information to the conference.