INDUSTRY LINKS FOR HIGHER EDUCATION IN VIETNAM: DISCUSSION FOR SOLUTIONS

Abstract

In recent years, industry link is considered as one of important criteria to evaluate training programs of higher education institutions. Meanwhile, industry/companies need to cooperate with higher education institutions and engage in their training programs to translate their practical requirements into such training programs, to ensure that the trained graduates could meet their practical requirements. Therefore, industry link or university-industry cooperation is a must for both universities and industry/companies due to mutual benefits for both sides. This paper aims to discuss important issues and possible solutions to develop industry links in higher education. Secondary research method was employed to synthesize relevant issues of industry links, expert research method was employed to analyse the experience of enhancing industry links of universities in the world and Vietnam. Several solutions are proposed including: Diversifying lecture/researcher as tenure position in universities, diversifying master/doctoral training toward professional work, legally allowing universities to form the joint venture companies, policies to force companies for salaried student internship. The solutions would help promote industry links and thus improve the effective development of Vietnam’s higher education.