LANGUAGE PROGRAMS AT IS-VNU: A CASE STUDY OF INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION IN HIGHER EDUCATION Ngô Tự Lập, PhD Dean, Dept. of Social Sciences, Humanities and Economics, International School Vietnam National University, Hanoi (Vietnam) STUDY AND CREATE WITH THE WORLD www.is.vnu.edu.vn www.khoaquocte.vn
Vietnam National University, Hanoi ¹ I häc quèc gia hµ néi The University of Indochina (1906) VNU (1993): on the basis of amalgamating the Univ. of Hanoi and other leading universities in Hanoi VNU reports directly to the Prime Minister High autonomy in organization, personnel, academic programs, scientific research, technological development, planning, finance, and international relations.
VNU S COLLEGES, SCHOOLS & TRAINING CENTERS ¹ I häc quèc gia hµ néi College of Science College of Social Sciences and Humanities College of Foreign Languages College of Technology College of Economics College of Education School of Law School of Business School of Graduate Studies International School Training Center for Teachers of Political Theory
TEACHING FOREIGN LANGUAGES IN VN ¹ I häc quèc gia hµ néi Chinese invasion (111 BC): Shi Xie (137-226), established Chinese styled schools with Chinese as instruction language National independence (AD 938): First Mandarinal examinations (1075) and National College (1076); Chinese remains instruction language French domination (1858-1945): Westernstyled education system, with French as instruction language. August Revolution (1945): Hồ Chí Minh s Government Vietnamized the education system and fought against illiteracy. Reunified Vietnam (1975): adopted the Soviet education model, main foreign languages taught in Vietnamese schools were Russian, Chinese, English, and French.
Joint International Programs As Special Free Academic Zones ¹ I häc quèc gia hµ néi Special Free Economic Zones: free oases in which capital, technology and human recourses flow freely without disturbing the old system. Special Free Academic Zones : Joint Programs are free academic oases allowing Kant s ideas of Modern University to be realized despite limitations of old education systems Invented by the Malaysian Chinese decades ago, JPs now popular in most Asian countries. Numerous JPs have been conducted at ISVNU
VIETNAM S EDUCATION IN 2002 In 1986: Vietnam launched the Doi Moi (Renovation) policy, adopting market economy and opening the country to outside world. In 1989: Collapse of the Soviet bloc. In the 1990s: globalization and integration pose before Vietnam s education new problems. Socio-economically: Education cannot produce qualified human resources for the market oriented and increasingly globalized economy. Politically: Standard curricula set by the Government are too ideological. Pedagogically: Long tradition of Confucian education with its imposing and indoctrinating method of teaching.
ESTABLISHMENT OF ISVNU Education Reform and modernization cannot be done overnight. Rich families have sent their children to study abroad: 38.500 Vietnamese students now studying in over 40 countries (USA, Australia, Japan, France, UK, China, Russia, and South Korea ) Studying abroad is too expensive for most for most Vietnamese people. Joint-Programs are solution.
JOINT PROGRAMS AT ISVNU All curricula, textbooks & teaching materials provided by foreign partners. All subjects taught fully in foreign languages. Foreign lecturers teach a part of the programs. All courses accredited and delivered in accordance to the partners standards. Assessment & quality assurance controlled by partner universities. Students awarded degrees of partners universities.
ISVNU s development In 2002: one undergraduate program in Russian (43 students) In 2010: over 2000 students in a dozen of joint undergraduate programs conducted in English, Russian, French and Chinese (136 are Canadian, Chinese, or Russian) Over 400 students in graduate programs About 300 students transferred to ISVNU s partner universities (Australia, Holland, England and Malaysia).
ISVNU s Language Programs: an Overview Language barrier is the biggest difficulty for the Vietnamese students ISVNU offers foreign language preparatory programs in English, Russian, French and Chinese. ISVNU also assists and supports students in taking international language tests (IELTS or TOELF (English), TRKI (TORFL for Russian), TCF (French), HSK (Chinese)
English Preparatory Program 5 levels, 20 hours/ week & 10 weeks/ level. The program incorporates IELTS exam preparation. Students classified on the basis of the placement test. Curriculum designed by IS-VNU & approved by partner universities.
Russian Preparatory Program Russian proficiency & basic knowledge to follow programs in Accounting, Analyzing and Auditing; Five months long, 30 class hours/ week & prolongs to the first semester of degree year 1, 15 class hours/week. For students who wish to go to Russia, IS- VNU provides programs according to their fields with 1,095 class hours, including 735 hours of Russian and 360 hours of fundamental sciences. The Association of Russian Universities sends experts to ISVNU to conduct tests in order to give the certificate of Russian.
French Preparatory Program Enables students to have a good French language to follow undergraduate programs conducted in French. Up to 1000 hours of French language training Experienced Vietnamese and French lecturers.
Chinese Preparatory Program To help students achieve HSK certificates, levels 3-6, or Meet the requirements of language proficiency of undergraduate programs at IS-VNU s partner universities in China and Taiwan. 1,000 class hours Experienced Vietnamese and Chinese lecturers.
Huge Market for Language Teaching Population of 86 millions, 60% of which are younger than 30; 24 millions learners at different levels, from Kindergarten to PhD. Vietnam s economic success
Difference between languages and writing systems. Textbooks Challenges Language environment
Students Achievements First prize in Olympiad in Russian organized by Vietnamese MOET & Russian Ministry of Science and Education; Second prize in Olympiad in English organized by VNU Full scholarships from HELP University College (Malaysia); Full scholarships for undergraduate programs in Russia awarded by Vietnamese MOET & Russian Ministry of Science and Education; Scholarships from the Government and Mayor of Chongqing City (China); Scholarships from the Rector of Chongqing Jiaotong Univ. (China).
Placement Rate Placement rate within the first 6 month after graduation: 90% Placement rate within 1 year after graduation:100% Most working for international organizations or Joint-Ventures, where foreign languages are required.
the end THANK YOU! STUDY AND CREATE WITH THE WORLD www.is.vnu.edu.vn www.khoaquocte.vn