The government has just issued a Decision approving the adjustment of the planning for the network of universities and colleges from now until 2020. One of the planning principles is that the development of the network of universities and colleges must be consistent with the development strategy and socio-economic conditions, scientific and technological potential of the country, and linked to each region and locality.
Is it possible to get into the top 200 universities in the world?
According to this plan, by 2020 the network of universities and colleges will reach approximately 256 students per 10,000 people; about 70% - 80% of university students will be trained in vocational and applied programs, and about 30% - 20% of students will be trained in research programs;
By 2020, the average ratio of university and college students per lecturer will reach 17 to 26; the number of university lecturers with doctoral degrees is expected to reach approximately 21%, and the number of college lecturers with doctoral degrees is expected to reach approximately 4%.
Accordingly, after 2020, the land area and construction area of universities will meet the prescribed standards for average area per student; university zones will be established for foreign universities investing in Vietnam. By 2020, sufficient textbooks and materials will be provided to students as prescribed for all subjects and majors.
According to the plan signed by Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Thien Nhan, by 2015 there will be 10 universities, each with at least one faculty (department) or field of study meeting quality standards equivalent to those of prestigious universities worldwide; by 2020 there will be 20 universities meeting the above criteria, and by 2020 there will be one university ranked among the top 200 universities in the world.
The Vietnam National University Ho Chi Minh City and the Vietnam National University Hanoi will receive significant investment to become leading research universities in Vietnam and the region.
The goal was to attract over 1% of foreign students to study and conduct research in Vietnam in 2015 and 3% in 2020, compared to the total number of students nationwide.
Specifically, according to the Government's Plan for the Network of Universities and Colleges until 2020, the total scale of university and college training will reach approximately 2,200,000 students (an increase of about 1.8% compared to the 2010-2011 academic year) and the number of newly enrolled full-time students will reach approximately 560,000 (an increase of about 8.2% compared to 2010).
By 2020, the country had 460 universities and colleges, including 224 universities and 236 colleges.
Focus on the training scale of the two National Universities.
The government stipulates that the training scale of universities and colleges is determined based on ensuring conditions and factors affecting quality such as: the number and quality of lecturers, training facilities, classrooms, laboratories, practical training rooms, student dormitories, the ability to apply information technology in training and school management, etc., while also being balanced appropriately with the characteristics of the schools, training fields, training levels and management capacity to ensure that the quality of training is continuously improved.
Accordingly, the training scale target (number of students converted to the regular training format) for the two National Universities is assigned as follows: Hanoi National University and Ho Chi Minh City National University: approximately 42,000 students.
In addition, other key universities are expected to have a training scale of approximately 35,000 students by 2020. Universities and academies training in technical and technological fields, economics, law, education, and other fields related to economics and technology are allowed approximately 15,000 equivalent students. Universities and academies training in medical and cultural-social fields: Approximately 8,000 students. Universities and academies training in arts and talents: Approximately 5,000 students.
Multi-disciplinary colleges: Approximately 8,000 students. Technology-focused colleges and community colleges: Approximately 5,000 students. Colleges specializing in arts and crafts: Approximately 3,000 students.
The government has also identified priority training fields such as: natural sciences, social sciences and humanities; information technology; mechatronics and automation technology; biotechnology; new materials technology; and a number of technical and technological fields that meet the requirements of industrialization and modernization.
It is estimated that by 2020, the number of students in the industrial, transportation, and construction sectors will account for approximately 31%, while the natural science sector will...social sciences and humanitiesApproximately 14% of the total number of students are in the fields of education and educational management, about 10% in the fields of economics, business administration, accounting, finance, banking, law, and social assistance, about 31% in the fields of agriculture, forestry, and fisheries, about 5% in the fields of medicine and pharmacy, about 6% in the fields of arts, physical education, and sports.
The network of universities and colleges in different regions is also more rationally distributed. Specifically, in the Northern Midlands and Mountains region: By 2020, it is projected to have 57 institutions, including 15 universities and 42 colleges. In the Red River Delta region: By 2020, it is projected to have 157 institutions, including 91 universities and 66 colleges.
North Central and Central Coastal Region: By 2020, it is projected that there will be 88 schools, including 38 universities and 50 colleges. Central Highlands Region: By 2020, it is projected that there will be 15 schools, including 5 universities and 10 colleges. Southeast Region: By 2020, it is projected that there will be 93 schools, including 55 universities and 38 colleges. Mekong Delta Region: By 2020, it is projected that there will be 50 schools, including 20 universities and 30 colleges.
Regarding student distribution, the network of schools is divided into three key economic regions: North, Central, and South. The North accounts for 40% of the total student population nationwide, the Central region for 15%, and the South for 24% in 2020.
This plan was implemented in three phases. Phase 1, from 2011-2015, focused on consolidating and strengthening the conditions for ensuring the quality of training; maintaining the stability of training scale and the number of newly enrolled full-time students; and reducing the training scale and the number of newly enrolled full-time students annually at schools that did not meet the quality assurance requirements.
Phase 2, from 2016-2020, focused on increasing the scale of training by an average of approximately 0.3% per year and increasing the number of newly enrolled full-time students by an average of approximately 1.5% per year.
This decision takes effect from September 1, 2013.