What will become of universities and colleges when their governing ministries merge?

After many ministries merged or consolidated, what happened to the universities and colleges that were directly managed by these ministries?

Candidates seek admissions information at the Vietnam Aviation Academy's consultation booth. Following the merger of governing ministries, the Vietnam Aviation Academy is now under the Ministry of Construction - Photo: Vietnam Aviation Academy.

Following the mergers and consolidations of governing ministries, universities and colleges also experienced changes in their governing bodies.

Currently, there are 244 higher education institutions nationwide. Of these, 172 are public higher education institutions and 67 are private higher education institutions. In addition, there are 20 teacher training colleges (3 under the Ministry of Education and Training , and 17 under local authorities).

Previously, two national universities were under the direct control of the Government; now, it is proposed that they be transferred to the Ministry of Education and Training. The Ministry of Education and Training will directly manage 45 universities and regional universities. The remaining universities will be under the direct control of relevant ministries, sectors, or provincial and city People's Committees.

Number of universities directly managed by ministries before 2025 - Source: Ministry of Education and Training

In addition, as of 2023, the country had 416 colleges, 376 vocational schools, and 728 vocational training centers. These vocational education institutions were managed by the Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs (before March 1, 2025).

In this arrangement, the Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs merged with the Ministry of Interior, transferring the state management function for vocational education to the Ministry of Education and Training. Thus, hundreds of colleges and vocational education institutions will be managed by the Ministry of Education and Training.

On February 28th, the Ministry of Education and Training took over the management of three universities: Nam Dinh University of Technology and Education, Vinh University of Technology and Education, and Vinh Long University of Technology and Education, along with 14 colleges.

Following the merger and consolidation of the Ministry of Transport and the Ministry of Construction into the Ministry of Construction, universities were also transferred to the new governing ministry.

Before the merger, the Ministry of Construction had four universities: Hanoi University of Architecture, Ho Chi Minh City University of Architecture, Central Vietnam University of Construction, and Western Vietnam University of Construction.

Following the merger, the Ministry of Construction's website lists eight universities and academies in the education and training sector. Among them are four institutions formerly under the Ministry of Transport: the Vietnam Aviation Academy, the Vietnam Maritime University, the Ho Chi Minh City University of Transport, and the University of Transport Technology.

In addition, this ministry also directly manages six central transportation colleges, numbered I to VI.

The education and training sector of the Ministry of Construction after the merger has many schools transferred from the former Ministry of Transport - Screenshot

Similarly, after the merger of the Ministry of Planning and Investment with the Ministry of Finance to form the Ministry of Finance, the former Academy of Development Policy of the Ministry of Planning and Investment became a public service unit under the Ministry of Finance. The Academy of Ethnic Minorities is under the Ministry of Ethnic Minorities and Religion.

The Ministry of Industry and Trade currently directly manages 9 universities and 24 colleges. The Ministry plans to merge 8 colleges into 4, leaving it with 9 universities and 20 colleges.

In addition, some universities and academies under the Ministries of Agriculture and Rural Development and Information and Communications were also transferred to the new governing ministries after the mergers and consolidations.

Source: https://tuoitre.vn/truong-dai-hoc-cao-dang-di-dau-ve-dau-khi-bo-chu-quan-sap-nhap-20250305114224454.htm