Naming higher education institutions and branches: Standardizing regulations

GD&TĐ - The Ministry of Education and Training is seeking feedback on the draft Decree detailing and guiding the implementation of several articles of the amended Law on Higher Education, aiming to ensure the synchronized and effective implementation of the new regulations.

Notably, the draft has reviewed and added stricter principles for naming higher education institutions, especially with foreign language names, international transactions, and branch campuses.

Minimize misunderstandings.

According to Associate Professor Tran Xuan Nhi, Vice President of the Association of Vietnamese Universities and Colleges, the draft regulations on the naming of higher education institutions are necessary in the context of increasingly competitive admissions, where candidates and parents are often strongly influenced by the name and brand of the school.

Associate Professor Tran Xuan Nhi believes that establishing clear principles and conditions for Vietnamese names, foreign names, international transactions, and branch campuses will contribute to increased transparency and limit misunderstandings or deception of students. In reality, some institutions have used names that easily create a sense of internationalization or high academic quality, while their training capacity, degree-granting authority, and quality are not commensurate.

However, according to Associate Professor Tran Xuan Nhi, managing school names needs to be done with a flexible approach. If regulations are too rigid and applied mechanically, it could inadvertently restrict the autonomy of higher education institutions in building and developing their brands, especially those with established academic reputations or stable international cooperation networks.

Along with standardizing school names, Associate Professor Tran Xuan Nhi suggested that management agencies should focus more on tightening quality accreditation, building a clear and transparent system of criteria, and organizing serious and substantive evaluations, avoiding formality. Only when the quality of education is placed at the center will the name of a higher education institution truly reflect its value and prestige, contributing to building lasting trust in society.

Students of Phenikaa University. Photo: NTCC

A necessary step

Regarding specific regulations on naming higher education institutions, especially foreign-language names, international transactions, and branch campuses, Mr. Le Tuan Tu, a member of the 14th National Assembly , believes this is a necessary and correct step in the context of Vietnam's higher education system becoming increasingly integrated.

Clearly defining foreign-language names and international trade names also helps protect the reputation of the Vietnamese education system internationally, avoiding the phenomenon of "formal internationalization" that is not commensurate with actual capabilities.

Furthermore, regulations need to be designed to be flexible and phased. If applied rigidly without appropriate transition mechanisms, it could lead to significant adjustment costs and negatively impact foreign relations and international student recruitment.

Regarding the naming of the branch campuses, Mr. Le Tuan Tu agreed with the request to clarify the legal relationship with the main campus, but suggested that more specific guidance is needed on how to name them to ensure unified management while creating conditions for the branch campuses to fulfill their role in serving regional development. "Strict management is necessary, but the ultimate goal remains to support higher education institutions in developing sustainably, transparently, and effectively integrating," Mr. Le Tuan Tu emphasized.

According to Dr. Hoang Xuan Hiep, Rector of Hanoi University of Industry and Trade, in the context of international integration, the name is not only an identifying element but also directly affects the trust of students, partners, and society. Standardizing the school name will help limit the use of names that easily mislead about the level of training, nature, or scope of activities of higher education institutions.

However, the draft Decree avoids excessive interference with the autonomy of universities. Names, especially international trade names, need to ensure accuracy and legal compliance, while also creating space for higher education institutions to build their own identity and brand strategy. A balance between state management and autonomy will be the decisive factor in ensuring the policy's effective implementation.

According to a representative from the Department of Higher Education (Ministry of Education and Training), the draft Decree has reviewed and supplemented a stricter system of principles for naming higher education institutions, especially foreign-language names, international transactions, and branch campuses.

The draft emphasizes that the name of a higher education institution “must not cause confusion regarding the type, ownership structure, scope of operation, governing body, quality, or status of the higher education institution; and must not use words that indicate titles or rankings.” At the same time, the foreign-language name or international trade name “must be an equivalent translation of the Vietnamese name; and must not increase the level, status, or type compared to the Vietnamese name.”

Notably, for the first time, the draft regulations specifically address the naming of branch campuses of foreign higher education institutions in Vietnam and branch campuses of Vietnamese higher education institutions.

Accordingly, the name of a branch campus of a foreign higher education institution must clearly state the name of the higher education institution, the country where the campus is established, and the phrase "Branch Campus" followed by the geographical location. Furthermore, it "must not use names or terms that could be misleadingly interpreted as indicating a public institution, a national institution, or an institution sponsored by the Vietnamese Government." These regulations aim to avoid confusion regarding legal status, position, and degree-granting authority, thereby enhancing transparency for students and society.

According to Mr. Le Tuan Tu, standardizing names will contribute to increasing legal validity and limiting arbitrary naming practices that cause misunderstandings about the legal status, scale, and quality of training of higher education institutions.

Source: https://giaoducthoidai.vn/dat-ten-co-so-giao-duc-dai-hoc-va-phan-hieu-chuan-hoa-quy-dinh-post763081.html