Mr. J. David Armstrong, Jr., Honorary President of Keiser University Vietnam, spoke at the event.
PHOTO: NGOC LONG
On the morning of May 18th, speaking to Thanh Nien newspaper on the sidelines of the memorandum of understanding signing ceremony between Keiser University Vietnam (KUV), Saigon Business School (SBS), and Sedbergh International School Vietnam in Ho Chi Minh City, Mr. J. David Armstrong, Jr., President of Keiser University Vietnam, said that studying abroad is becoming increasingly challenging, partly due to rising travel and living costs following the impact of fuel prices - especially in the US.
The 9th edition of the Emerging Futures report, published by IDP in mid-May, also indicated that the top three reasons why students no longer want to study abroad are all related to financial factors, most notably tuition fees exceeding their financial means (50% of respondents agreed), living expenses becoming too expensive (35%), and visa application fees being too high (27%).
The remaining two reasons are the difficulty in obtaining a student visa (26%) and the increasing attractiveness of domestic study options (14%).
This is the result of a survey of over 5,800 students from 118 countries and territories conducted from the beginning of March to the end of April. The survey group included prospective students, those who were rejected, those applying for overseas programs, those currently studying abroad, and graduates. This group included 150 Vietnamese students.
The survey results also indicate that visa eligibility has become a screening factor for potential applicants from the outset, rather than an obstacle at the end of the application process. "Visa barriers are also increasing as procedures become more difficult and fees rise, causing many students to change their destination or postpone their study abroad decisions, even contributing to an increase in the number of students who completely abandon their study abroad plans," the report states.
A new report published by Studyportals, Oxford Test of English, and NAFSA provides insights from over 250 universities worldwide. It shows that educational institutions in traditional destinations including the US, Canada, Australia, and the UK have all recorded a decline in spring semester enrollment, both at the undergraduate and postgraduate levels.
When asked specifically, 73% of schools cited restrictive government policies and visa difficulties as the main reasons for this situation, while 49% cited unreasonable tuition and living costs in the current context. "Visa uncertainty, rising costs, and unstable policies have had a significant impact," the report stated.
These factors prompted KUV – a joint training program with Keiser University in Florida (USA) – to launch a four-year training program right in Vietnam last year, instead of the previous two-year program of studying in Vietnam followed by two years of transfer to the US to receive a bachelor's degree from Keiser University. According to Mr. Armstrong, this option helps students save 70-80% of the cost compared to studying in the US for four consecutive years.
The IDP report also points to a similar trend, stating that transnational education (TNE) programs are increasingly attracting the attention of potential learners. Specifically, 52% of survey participants shared their willingness to study at the international campuses of foreign universities, followed by joint degree programs (51%). The Studyportals report also indicates that up to 30% of universities are looking to expand online programs – another form of TNE.
All of the above options allow students to obtain internationally recognized qualifications right here in Vietnam.
Mr. Armstrong further shared that current students, whether graduating from public, private, or international schools, are quite adaptable to foreign educational programs. However, a limitation for some students is their English proficiency, which may not be suitable for the academic environment, as the requirements of high school differ from those of international universities. In addition, they also need to cultivate a strong foundation in some basic science subjects and mathematics.
The signing ceremony for the cooperation agreement between three educational institutions: Keiser University Vietnam (KUV), Saigon Business School (SBS), and Sedbergh International School Vietnam in Ho Chi Minh City.
PHOTO: NGOC LONG
KUV, SBS, and Sedbergh International School Vietnam have also announced a new collaboration plan, allowing graduating high school students to be considered for early admission to KUV or SBS. They may also be considered for scholarships covering up to 40% of tuition fees during their studies in Vietnam.
Within the framework of the cooperation, students also participate in the Career Preparation Program (CRP) to experience university lectures early and accumulate credits from high school. "We believe that the future of education lies not in students learning more, but in learning meaningful things that are more relevant to real life," said Dr. Nguyen Quang Minh, Academic Director of Sedbergh International School Vietnam, at the event.
Mr. Nguyen Xuan Ha, Director of the KUV and SBS International University Program, further affirmed that the aforementioned support is not just about numbers, but a commitment from the two organizations to reduce the pressure of transitioning between levels, guaranteeing a safe pathway and opening the door to global integration.
Source: https://thanhnien.vn/bai-toan-du-hoc-thoi-visa-that-chat-and-chi-phi-tang-cao-185260518170734629.htm
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