From Cooperation to Integration? The Limits of Internationalization in Vietnamese Higher Education

Abstract

This paper examines the trajectory of higher education internationalization in Vietnam since the Đổi Mới reforms (1986), with the aim of clarifying the extent to which the system has transitioned from “international cooperation” to “system-level integration”. Drawing on theoretical frameworks of internationalization and globalization in higher education, and employing document and policy analysis, the study found that Vietnam has achieved significant progress in expanding the scale and diversifying the forms of internationalization. This is reflected in the growth of joint training programs, the expansion of English-medium instruction, and increased international research collaboration. However, the process continues to face structural constraints, including limited university autonomy, insufficient governance and financial capacity, and uneven quality of academic staff. Notably, a considerable gap persists between policy orientation and actual implementation, alongside a continued dependence on international models and standards. These factors give rise to developmental paradoxes such as “rapid expansion without depth” and “formal integration without structural transformation”. Based on these findings, the paper argues for a reconceptualization of internationalization toward a system-integrated approach, emphasizing a shift from passive reception to proactive co-creation. Such a transformation is essential for advancing comprehensive reform and ensuring the sustainable development of Vietnamese higher education in the context of globalization.

https://doi.org/10.26803/MyRes.2026.26