24/02/2025
On the morning of February 23, Thanh Do University held a seminar titled “Educational Quality Assessment and Accreditation: Regional and International Standards”, featuring valuable insights from Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyễn Hữu Cương, an expert in accreditation and quality assurance in higher education. The seminar aimed to provide key updates and essential information to support institutional accreditation processes in accordance with regional and international standards.
This focus reflects the University’s strategic direction in the coming years: to become one of Vietnam’s leading educational institutions, achieving international standards in key areas, gaining high reputation in training and international collaboration, and becoming a source of pride for students and the broader community.
To realize this vision and mission, unified commitment, determination, and effort are required from the University’s leadership, management, faculty, and students across all areas of operation.
Opening the seminar, Dr. Nguyễn Thúy Vân, Vice President of Thanh Do University, expressed sincere thanks to Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyễn Hữu Cương for attending and delivering a focused presentation that supports the university’s preparation for accreditation and its aspiration to become an applied university meeting regional and international standards.
Educational quality assessment and accreditation serve as a measurement framework encompassing all aspects of a higher education institution—from governance, human resources, and organizational structures to curriculum design, student support, and international cooperation. Accreditation is conducted based on various criteria established by recognized regional and international agencies, such as AUN-QA, QAA, HCERES, THE-ICE, ASIIN, AQAS, and FIBAA.
Through detailed analysis of models, standards, and criteria set forth by these agencies, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyễn Hữu Cương emphasized the importance of selecting the most appropriate model and developing an effective action plan accordingly.
The speaker offered a comprehensive presentation that covered both general and specific aspects of accreditation and quality assurance. He provided in-depth analysis of the frameworks and evaluation criteria used by three prominent accreditation organizations operating in Vietnam:
He stressed that these frameworks should be studied, adopted, and implemented by Thanh Do University in pursuit of its goal to achieve international accreditation.
“Before pursuing national or international accreditation, institutions must define the purpose of accreditation and the expected learning outcomes of their academic programs. Based on their mission and program outcomes, institutions should choose an accrediting agency that aligns with their goals,” he shared.
He also underscored the pivotal role of university leadership in driving systems development, noting that a shared commitment from all faculty and staff members is essential for fulfilling institutional objectives.
His insights sparked significant interest among attending scholars and lecturers, leading to an engaging discussion. Participants raised questions such as whether to prioritize national or international accreditation, how institutional and program-level accreditation differ, and how individual faculty members can prepare for the accreditation process.
In response, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyễn Hữu Cương reaffirmed that accreditation is an objective, external review process that enables universities to evaluate and enhance educational quality.
He cited the ABET standards, commonly used for accrediting engineering and technology programs in the U.S., as an example. Institutions aiming to train globally competent engineers may consider ABET accreditation. However, for those focused on traditional educational models, pursuing certain international standards may not always align with their institutional goals. Hence, choosing an accreditation model must be aligned with strategic priorities—not simply based on whether it is national or international.
Above all, the most critical component is a university’s internal quality assurance and self-assessment. Institutions must invest in quality assurance personnel, continuous program development, infrastructure, and equipment—ensuring sustainable improvement in educational quality.
Closing the seminar, Prof. Dr. Phan Thị Thanh Thảo, President of the University, posed thought-provoking questions to reinforce the central theme: What can each individual or the collective Thadoer community do to advance toward regional and international accreditation standards?
She emphasized that educational accreditation is a long-term, continuous process that requires genuine investment, dedication, and coordinated efforts. This seminar marks an important initial step in defining goals, setting directions, and creating momentum for the university’s journey toward growth and excellence.
