'College' becomes 'university', is the diploma different?

Faced with the trend of universities becoming universities in Vietnam, many people still do not understand why there is such a confusing and confusing way of naming them. How are these two models different, are they similar to those in foreign countries, and how are graduation degrees awarded?

Structure and foreign names for "University" and "University"

Currently, there are 9 universities in Vietnam. Of these, 2 are national universities (Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City) and 3 are regional universities (Thai Nguyen, Hue and Da Nang). These universities were all established in the 1990s. 4 universities were established after the 2018 Law on Higher Education took effect, including Hanoi University of Science and Technology, Ho Chi Minh City University of Economics, Duy Tan University and National Economics University.

However, although they are all universities, the structure and naming of schools within the university are different. 2 national universities and 3 regional universities were established on the basis of gathering independent universities, called member universities. 4 universities were later established on the basis of development from that unit, have affiliated schools and are not called universities.

Professor Luong Van Hy, University of Toronto (Canada), commented: "In Vietnam, both university and member universities are translated as University, university director and principal of member universities are both translated as "President", so foreign universities find it difficult to understand."

However, according to Professor Hy, if the name is changed, for example "University" becomes "University Institute" as in the South before 1975, and the member universities still keep their old names, it will not be solved because the international community still finds it difficult to understand. In the South before 1975, there was a university institute model, such as Saigon University, but the members were called faculties, for example the Faculty of Letters, with a very large scale, and were not called universities.

Ho Chi Minh City National University

Professor Hy said that there are similar cases internationally, although they are extremely rare. For example, France's Université Paris Sciences et Lettres (PSL) was officially established in 2019. Among its member schools, Université Paris-Dauphine still retains its old name. The heads of Université Paris Sciences et Lettres and Université Paris-Dauphine are both called "President".

"On the international level, it is very strange and difficult to understand. But it is a historical heritage. If the international community finds it difficult to understand, they must try to understand history. Changing the name to something more reasonable is not a simple process, especially in Vietnam," said Professor and Doctor Luong Van Hy.

RMIT Vietnam is a member of RMIT University (Australia)

In Australia, Dr. Phan Hong Duc (RMIT University) said that if a university is F0, it is usually multidisciplinary and multi-field, including many member colleges (F1) and schools (F2). University is DH and school is school, and college in Vietnamese is translated as CĐ but it is not correct because many colleges still train bachelors, masters and doctors.

For example, Dr. Duc gave an example, under RMIT University there is the College of Business and Law (COBL). Under COBL there are schools - affiliated schools focusing on different areas of business, law and related fields. For example, School of Accounting, Information Systems and Supply Chain; School of Economics, Finance and Marketing... COBL in Melbourne can be considered a university in the concept of Hanoi University of Science and Technology or Ho Chi Minh City University of Economics in Vietnam because it has 5 affiliated schools, while RMIT is similar to Ho Chi Minh City National University or Hanoi National University because it has member schools.

Similarly, Dr. Ho Quoc Tuan, working at Bristol University (UK), also said: "The concept of university is understood according to the structure of countries like the UK and the US, as a large school with many small schools/colleges such as College of Business or Business School, School of Engineering, School of Education... This means that Western countries clearly use two different words: University and School/College. Meanwhile, the English names of Vietnamese universities still use the word 'University', which can easily cause confusion."

Not changed to university but still the most prestigious

Professor Luong Van Hy shared another case that is considered "difficult to understand" is Dartmouth College. Dartmouth College is in the Ivy League, a group of 8 prestigious universities in the US. "Dartmouth College offers doctoral training in many fields. But they did not change to Dartmouth University but kept the name Dartmouth College from the 18th century. Sometimes Vietnam translates it as CĐ Dartmouth, according to Professor Hy, this translation is wrong, because Dartmouth offers doctoral training in many fields. That is not the only case in the US that refuses to change "College" to "University".

Professor Hy also said that for many centuries, Dartmouth College, like Harvard College and Yale College, has been a 4-year college, not a 2-3 year college. They are not colleges that have changed to universities, but were universities from the beginning, but still use the word college in their names.

"Harvard University later originated from Harvard College. When it was named Harvard University, the name Harvard College remained as a member school, focusing on 4-year training, from natural sciences to social sciences and humanities. Other member schools of Harvard University (called faculty, school) have different functions, becoming member schools of Harvard University. Dartmouth College could do the same but they didn't," Professor Hy shared.

Who signs the diploma?

Regarding the graduation certificate, Dr. Duc informed that RMIT's diploma has the signature of the President of the University Council and the President of RMIT, the same for all member schools or schools under member schools, including RMIT Vietnam.

Member school diplomas signed by the President of the University Council and the President of RMIT

Thus, this degree is different from the degrees of Vietnam's national and regional universities, but similar to those of Ho Chi Minh City University of Economics or Hanoi University of Technology. Currently, graduates of member schools of Ho Chi Minh City National University are awarded degrees with the signature of the principal of the member school, for example, the degree of Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology is signed by the principal of the University of Technology, the degree of the University of Social Sciences and Humanities is signed by the principal of this school, not the Director of Ho Chi Minh City National University.

Before becoming a university, the diploma of Ho Chi Minh City University of Economics was signed by the principal. But after becoming a university, will the schools under Ho Chi Minh City University of Economics such as UEH Business School, UEH School of Economics, Law and State Management, UEH School of Technology and Design be signed by the principals of each school?

Diploma of Ho Chi Minh City University of Economics

"For the graduation certificates of students of the schools under the University of Economics Ho Chi Minh City, they will be signed by the Director of the University of Economics Ho Chi Minh City. The University of Economics Ho Chi Minh City has one legal entity and one seal, while the member schools of the National University and the Regional University have their own legal entities and seals, so the degrees are also different. As far as I know, universities such as the National University of Singapore, National Taipei University... all grant one degree, not each member or affiliated school grants a different degree," said Associate Professor, Dr. Bui Quang Hung, Deputy Director of the University of Economics Ho Chi Minh City.

Difference between college and university

According to the Law on Higher Education, universities and colleges differ in terms of functions, tasks, organizational structure, and autonomy.

In terms of functions and tasks, universities train at levels of higher education, conduct scientific and technological activities, and serve the community related to many industries (possibly in several fields), while colleges train at levels of higher education, conduct scientific and technological activities, and serve the community related to many fields.

Regarding organizational structure, a university has a university council, principal, vice principal; faculties, functional departments and other units (if any); while a college has a university council, director, vice director; member universities; functional departments/departments, faculties... and other units (if any).

Regarding autonomy, universities are autonomous in determining their goals, missions, and tasks in accordance with the provisions of law; autonomous in opening majors and training partnerships with foreign countries if they meet the conditions prescribed by law, based on the results of quality assessment.

Meanwhile, autonomous universities determine their goals, missions, and duties in accordance with the provisions of law. Member universities must unify the implementation of the common goals, missions, and duties of the university and their own goals, missions, and duties, in accordance with the provisions of law and the university. Universities are autonomous in opening majors and training cooperation with foreign countries if they meet the conditions prescribed by law.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/truong-dai-hoc-thanh-dai-hoc-bang-tot-nghiep-co-khac-185241209165323421.htm