Van Lang university representative presents at the national scientific conference on: “Quality Assurance of Online Education in Vietnamese Higher Education”

On May 30, 2024, Dr. Nguyen Huu Cuong, Director of the Quality Assurance Department at Van Lang University, delivered a presentation titled "Quality Assurance and Accreditation of Online Learning: Principles, Processes, and Standards” as a keynote speaker at the national scientific conference "Quality Assurance of Online Education in Vietnamese Higher Education". This significant event was organized by the Vietnamese Higher Education Quality Assurance Network Club in collaboration with Thai Nguyen University.

The conference was attended by Professor Ha Thanh Toan, Vice Chairman of Association of Vietnam Universities and Colleges; Professor Nguyen Dinh Duc, President of the Vietnamese Higher Education Quality Assurance Network Club, Chairman of the University Council at the University of Engineering and Technology, (Vietnam National University, Hanoi); Dr. Mai Van Trinh,  Deputy Director of the Vietnam Institute of Educational Sciences, along with nearly 200 delegates who are experts, managers, scholars, and representatives from various ministries, agencies, departments, universities, institutes, and accreditation centers.

The conference serves as an important forum to discuss the quality assurance of online education in Vietnam, aiming to assess the current situation and propose solutions to improve online learning quality, and to foster a culture of quality assurance in higher education institutions. This is a necessary step in the context of the 4.0 industrial revolution and the post-Covid-19 era when online education has become a crucial part of the Vietnamese education system.

In his speech, Dr. Nguyen Huu Cuong emphasized the essential role of establishing an internal quality assurance system within higher education institutions to meet diverse and flexible learning needs. Drawing from global experiences, Dr. Cuong highlighted strategies for ensuring and accrediting online learning quality, with a focus on fundamental principles, processes, and tools. In addition, he advocated for collaboration with reputable accreditation organizations, both domestically and internationally, to bolster the accreditation of online training programs.

Accordingly, Dr. Cuong provided several considerations for implementing the accreditation of online education and specific recommendations for stakeholders. For the Ministry of Education and Training, he proposed reviewing and revising Circular No. 39/2020/TT-BGDĐT dated October 9, 2020, issued by the Minister of Education and Training, which stipulates the standards for evaluating the quality of distance education programs at the university level, developing and issuing guidelines for implementing accreditation of online training programs, and setting a specific roadmap for this task. For educational accrediting organizations, he recommended organizing training courses to equip assessors with the knowledge and skills needed to assess online programs. For higher education institutions, he advised building an internal quality assurance system with a focus on the quality of online education, planning for accreditation, and registering for accreditation with recognized organizations both domestically and internationally.

Van Lang University Representative – Dr. Nguyen Huu Cuong, through his presentation, provided a comprehensive perspective and practical recommendations for state management agencies, as well as educational accrediting organizations. In addition, his insights have particularly aided higher education institutions in understanding and efficiently implementing such programs, contributing to improving education quality amid the 4.0 industrial revolution. Over the years, Van Lang University has consistently been an active member of the Vietnamese Higher Education Quality Assurance Network Club and the Vietnam Association of Universities and Colleges.

From the discussion of experts, scientists, scholars and both domestic and international experiences, the conference has created a solid foundation for building a strong and sustainable academic community, aimed at developing a higher education system that meets the demands of the 21st century.