Sharp increase in foreign-graduated masters and doctors coming to Vietnamese universities

T INCREASES YEAR BY YEAR

Statistics from many universities in recent times show that the number of people with foreign degrees being recruited has increased sharply. For example, in the past 5 years, Ho Chi Minh City University of Industry has recruited about 150 civil servants who graduated from abroad.

Member schools of Ho Chi Minh City National University have programs to attract outstanding young scientists to work. In the photo : Working space at the microchip and high-frequency system laboratory at the University of Technology

From 2020 to 2024, Ho Chi Minh City University of Economics also attracted 65 PhD graduates from many countries.

Preliminary statistics at Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology also show that the number of lecturers who graduated from abroad and returned to work at the school accounts for about 20% of the total number of recruited lecturers.

Notably, this figure at Ho Chi Minh City University of Industry and Trade has increased sharply over the years. Specifically, in 2022, there were 9 people (7 PhDs and 2 Masters). This number continued to increase to 16 people in 2023 (14 PhDs and 2 Masters) and to 25 people in 2024 (14 PhDs, 11 Masters). Thus, this year the number of foreign-graduated lecturers working at the school increased 3 times compared to the previous 2 years.

As of November 2023, Ho Chi Minh City National University has a total of 6,000 employees, of which nearly 1,600 have doctoral degrees (the ratio of lecturers with doctoral degrees to the total number of lecturers is about 54.42%). Last year, the University implemented the VNU350 program to attract, retain and develop excellent young scientists and leading scientists to work. The goal is to attract 350 excellent young scientists and leading scientists by 2030, with priority given to those who graduated from abroad. After 2 recruitment rounds, Ho Chi Minh City National University's VNU350 program has attracted many scientists who graduated from abroad. Specifically, in the first round, 13/14 successful candidates all graduated from abroad with doctoral degrees. In the second round of recruitment, out of 7 successful candidates, 6 also graduated from abroad with doctoral degrees.

Not only Vietnamese people graduated with PhDs abroad, statistics from Ho Chi Minh City National University also show that the number of foreign lecturers and experts working at the unit in 2023 is over 140 people. Of which, teaching accounts for nearly 80%; the rest come to study, research, attend conferences, seminars, work on program projects, etc.

SPENDING BILLIONS TO IMPLEMENT ATTRACTION POLICY

Along with the policy of attracting talented graduates from abroad, universities have their own preferential policies for this group.

Associate Professor, Dr. Bui Quang Hung, Vice President of Ho Chi Minh City University of Economics, said that the school has its own policy to attract highly qualified personnel. For example, the sponsorship to attract PhDs is 100 million VND/person. At the same time, the University also creates conditions for personnel to participate in training and development such as supporting training costs, improving qualifications, capacity, and professional skills in accordance with the requirements of the job position; exemption/reduction of standard hours, scientific research norms for lecturers sent for training/development abroad; rewards for lecturers who complete their doctoral training program on time or ahead of schedule and other support when officials complete the training program. In addition, there are regimes and policies to support and encourage scientific research activities, international publications, etc.

Associate Professor Dr. Nguyen Xuan Hoan, Rector of Ho Chi Minh City University of Industry and Trade, said that the results achieved in attracting foreign graduates to work at the school are thanks to the school's policies. In particular, PhDs working at the school are initially supported with 100 million VND, associate professors with 150 million VND and professors with 200 million VND. As for masters graduates from abroad, the school does not support initial funding but only prioritizes recruitment.

"However, attracting and retaining talented people is not only about the initial attraction policy but also about a stable income, especially a transparent mechanism so that workers have the best working conditions," Associate Professor Hoan said.

A representative of Ho Chi Minh City University of Industry also said that according to the internal spending regulations, the school is currently applying a bonus policy of 100 million VND for PhDs, 200 million VND for associate professors and 350 million VND for professors when they return to work at the school. In the near future, the expected bonus level may fluctuate between 100 - 200 million VND for PhDs, 200 - 300 million VND for associate professors and 350 - 450 million VND for professors when they return to work at the school. This policy is especially preferential for candidates who have graduated from abroad, have suitable capacity and meet the recruitment standards according to the school's regulations.

Dr. Nguyen Quoc Anh, Vice Principal of Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology, also said that the school has its own policies on good salary to attract and retain doctors who have graduated from abroad and have good experience and capacity. In addition, the school also has policies to encourage and create conditions for teachers to study abroad to improve their qualifications. When teachers working at the school go abroad to study for a doctorate and return to the school, they will be rewarded 100 million VND/person.

Some schools have invested billions of VND to implement the policy of attracting talented people to work. For example, in the VNU350 program of Ho Chi Minh City National University, successful candidates receive general support policies from Ho Chi Minh City National University and specific support policies from each recruiting unit. According to information from Ho Chi Minh City National University, after two recruitment rounds in 2024, a total of 21 topics of young scientists and leading scientists have been approved for funding in 2024 and 2025. The total funding for the topics is nearly 6.5 billion VND, focusing on the fields of mathematics, biochemistry, biotechnology and many other advanced scientific fields.

In addition, candidates also enjoy the income and treatment policies of each unit where they work. For example, the one-time attraction policy when coming to work alone is up to 350 million VND/professor, 250 million VND/associate professor, 150 million VND/doctor at the University of Economics and Law; 60 million VND/person at An Giang University...

Candidates admitted to the VNU350 program of Ho Chi Minh City National University receive general support policies from Ho Chi Minh City National University and specific support policies from each recruiting unit.

ILLUSTRATION: NGOC DUONG

COMPETITIVE INCOME

Dr. Ha Thuc Vien, Vice Principal of Vietnam-Germany University, said that of the total 229 people working at the school, over 6% are foreigners. Of the total of more than 200 Vietnamese people, 74 graduated from foreign universities.

According to Dr. Vien, an important factor in attracting talent is the corresponding salary policy. "In the coming time, the school will research and issue internal policies to attract and retain employees. This includes improving salary and income regimes, moving towards a competitive income level compared to international universities in Vietnam and in the region," Dr. Vien added.

In the first 9 months of 2024, over 5,500 applications needed diploma certification, 3 times more than in 2013.

Recently, at a training workshop on diploma and certificate management organized by the Ministry of Education and Training in Ho Chi Minh City, a representative of the Diploma Recognition Center of the Department of Quality Management (Ministry of Education and Training) shared data on the status of applications for diploma recognition from 2008 to present. Accordingly, in just 9 months of this year, the whole country had over 5,500 applications, 3 times higher than in 2013. From January 2017 to the end of November 2023, the Department of Quality Management (Ministry of Education and Training) received a total of 37,436 applications for recognition. Currently, diploma recognition mainly serves the recruitment, appointment and enrollment needs of Vietnamese educational institutions when learners want to continue studying in Vietnam at a higher level.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/tang-manh-thac-si-tien-si-tot-nghiep-nuoc-ngoai-ve-truong-dh-vn-185241104192650224.htm