Observations on Undergraduate Education in Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, and Physics at Select Universities in Vietnam

Background The Vietnam Education Foundation (VEF) provides financial support through its VEF Fellowship program to the education of Vietnamese nationals in the fields of science, engineering, technology, and health sciences. These VEF Fellows receive graduate training in the U.S. and then return to Vietnam to become part of a new generation of highly-trained professors and researchers. To help build capacity in science and technology in Vietnam, this project aims at understanding how new models and approaches to undergraduate education can contribute to increased effectiveness in teaching and learning in the sciences, engineering, and technology in Vietnam.

Purpose The purpose of this project is multi-fold: (a) to review the strengths and challenges in undergraduate education in Vietnam in the fields of computer science (CS), electrical engineering (EE), and physics; (b) to develop recommendations for change intended to bring the quality of education in these fields in Vietnam to a competitive regional and international level; (c) to suggest potential pilot projects to the Vietnamese that would help to implement these changes, including cooperation with U.S. faculty and institutions; and (d) to use this experience to formulate a model of institutional, departmental, and curricular evaluation that can be applied to other fields in undergraduate education in the sciences and engineering.

Participating Organizations and Experts MOET representatives: Experts in the Ministry in science and technology, in higher education, and in assessment and evaluation U.S. experts: Experts in instructional design, in development and evaluation, and in the subject areas of CS, EE, and physics, organized by the National Academies in Washington, D.C. Vietnamese participants: Deans, faculty, students, alumni from CS, EE, and Physics departments of four select Vietnamese universities as proposed by VEF (Universities 1, 2, 3, and 4) as well as industry representatives in Vietnam, who have a high need for graduates of CS, EE, and physics. VEF Fellows provided recommendations regarding the Vietnamese universities and participants to include. Vietnamese co-sponsors: University of Social Sciences and Humanities (USSH), VNU- HCM, Southeast Asia Ministers of Education Organization Regional Training Center (SEAMEO RETRAC) in Vietnam, and Ho Chi Minh City Institute for Educational Research (IER).

Resources VEF provided logistical support and funding for the U.S. experts and the project consultant involved.

Research Design As this is a qualitative research study, the data includes online and other archival documents, interviews, observations, and follow-up correspondence.

Proposed Steps for the Program Evaluation Study

Phase One: January to August 2006 1. Proposal Development by VEF and the NA Organize a planning meeting with experts in instructional design, in development and evaluation, and in the subject areas. Design the program evaluation (a data collection and analysis, a plan of action and milestones, a list of who is responsible for what tasks, a list of support requirements, etc.). The proposed program improvement model includes four steps: Program review and evaluation by experts in instructional design, in development and evaluation, and in the subject areas and local participants; Development by departments of an achievable three-year program improvement plan with measurable goals, objectives, activities, and tasks (GOATs), based on results of the evaluation;Annual evaluation by the departments to determine where they are in achieving the GOATS, identifying what works and what does not work, and modifying the plan based on new developments;Comprehensive follow-up evaluation by departments at the end of the three-year improvement program. Agreements with Vietnamese Constituents by VEF Obtain an endorsement from MOET. Work out cooperative agreements with SEAMEO RETRAC; USSH, VNU-HCM; IER, and the presidents of the four select universities. Initial Program Review/Evaluation by VEF and the NA Conduct a program review and evaluation using experts in instructional design, development and evaluation and in the subject areas as well as local participants to assess CS, EE, and physics at the four universities. Complete the report including recommendations.

Phase Two: September 2006 to August 2009 The following are suggested activities that might be considered by the Vietnamese universities: Plan for Improvement Develop the program improvement plan with measurable GOATs by departments together with contributions from faculty members and input from U.S. experts provided in the Phase One report, entitled Observations on Undergraduate Education in Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, and Physics at Select Universities in Vietnam. Faculty Development Consider ways to fund recommended pilot projects, including potentially sending selected faculty members from the CS, EE, and physics departments of four pilot universities for train-the-trainer fieldwork study programs to the U.S., focusing on the following: (a) learning ways to implement the changes as proposed in the plan; and (b) improving the plan based on their fieldwork experience in the U.S. Program Improvement Implement the program improvement plan by CS, EE, and Physics departments. Consider ways to fund recommended pilot projects. Annual and Three-Year Evaluation Produce annual reports of progress on the program improvement plan by the CS, EE, and Physics departments. Conduct a comprehensive program evaluation after three years by the CS, EE, and Physics departments.