Vietnam higher education faces reform and graduation fee debates

Vietnam's higher education system is facing challenges regarding graduation rates and structural reform. At the Ho Chi Minh City University of Banking, a controversial policy regarding “overdue tuition” has sparked debate. The regulation requires students who fail to complete mandatory English or IT certifications within the prescribed timeframe to pay additional fees, which can range from 10 to 20 million VND depending on the program. Rector Nguyen Duc Trung stated that while the policy has existed since 2022, it has primarily served as a warning to help students complete requirements on time, noting that graduation delays previously reached 40-50% due to missing these specific outputs.

Broadly, the national higher education landscape is undergoing a push for restructuring. Experts suggest moving away from administrative management toward mission-based governance to improve quality. To compete globally, there is a call to focus resources on creating elite universities rather than spreading investment thinly. The Ministry of Education and Training is considering a three-tier organizational model: 3-5 elite institutions, 25-30 key institutions, and a remaining group focused on providing high-quality human resources for the labor market. Strengthening research capabilities is also identified as a fundamental requirement for developing leading universities.