The Vietnamese Ministry of Education and Training (MOET) has unveiled its strategic higher education plan for 2021–2030, with a vision to 2050, focusing on optimizing university structures and enhancing priority disciplines that align with national development goals.

In an interview with VietNamNet, Deputy Minister of Education and Training Hoang Minh Son emphasized that the plan seeks to optimize the structure and distribution of university programs while ensuring efficient investment in education and research.

Strategic restructuring of universities

One of the key objectives of the new plan is to ensure that universities meet national standards in terms of campus size, infrastructure, and academic facilities.

The government will prioritize investment in national key universities, regional universities, and specialized institutions focusing on:

STEM fields (science, technology, engineering, mathematics)
Health sciences
Teacher education
Fundamental sciences
Computer science and information technology
Architecture and construction

These core disciplines are seen as crucial for driving technological innovation, digital transformation, and economic development. In addition, training programs will be aligned with the regional economic development plans outlined in Resolution 57 of the Politburo.

Deputy Minister Son explained that institutions failing to meet national standards may face restructuring, mergers, or even dissolution, in line with Resolution 19 on higher education reform.

Expanding research universities and doctoral programs

By 2030, Vietnam aims to establish 50-60 universities capable of offering doctoral programs, with 50% of them focusing on research-driven education.

“If we cannot develop at least 25-30 strong research universities, it will be challenging to cultivate high-level scientific and technological talent needed to achieve national innovation and digital transformation goals,” Son noted.

This move is aligned with Resolution 57, which emphasizes breakthroughs in science, technology, innovation, and digital transformation as essential for Vietnam’s global competitiveness.

Reducing the number of universities while strengthening institutions

A key aspect of the plan is reducing the number of universities through mergers and consolidations, making governance and funding allocation more efficient.

Under the Higher Education Law, institutions will be evaluated based on:

Educational and research performance
Competitiveness
Alignment with national and regional needs

Universities that excel in these areas will receive increased state funding, while those failing to meet standards may be merged into larger institutions or face dissolution.

The government is also considering creating more regional universities by merging smaller institutions, forming large, multi-disciplinary universities that better serve regional economies and improve education accessibility.

However, Son stressed that mergers should not be done mechanically - the goal is to strengthen institutions, not just reduce numbers.

“Institutions must merge in a way that makes them stronger and more capable,” Son emphasized. “If a university is underperforming, it should be merged into a better institution to create a stronger, more effective system.”

Vietnam’s higher education reforms are designed to:

Encourage competition among universities
Improve the quality of teaching and research
Ensure universities align with workforce demands

Thanh Hung