Minister of Education and Training Phung Xuan Nha has directed universities to make English the second language on campus. Following this model, students would be required to make all presentations and hold all discussions in English, while staff would speak English at all of their meetings.

He directed 61 universities, academies, and colleges under the Ministry of Education and Training (MoET) to be pioneers in creating teaching standards that meet ASEAN standards. For remaining universities that are autonomous, Professor Nha asked them to review and report on difficulties in making English the second language and suggest solutions. Non-autonomous universities must be active in learning from the experience of other institutions and prepare their own plans.

To improve English quality at universities, Minister Nha asked them to improve the application of technology in training and managing students, and accelerate education globalization and international links in promoting the use of English.

Earlier this year, MoET announced that English would be a compulsory subject from Grade 3 in 2018 under its language plan to 2020. And English is now a compulsory subject for students from Grade 10 onwards in high school.

Source: http://english.vietnamnet.vn/fms/education/157915/english-to-be--second-language--in-universities.html

Commentary from Nga Bui, Education Services Manager, British Council Vietnam

At the moment, there is an increasing number of students in major cities acquiring good level of English while it generally remains far poorer in outer cities and rural areas.

Once English becomes a second language at universities rather than just a foreign language, international cooperation in the education and training area will become much easier. In particular, it will be more favourable for local institutions to work with UK institutions to run trans-national programmes with strict entry requirements.  One of the main reasons for the current under-recruitment for TNE programmes is that students do not meet the English level requirement of UK TNE programmes.

The trend will enhance the demand for practical English learning This trend should also pave the way for increased student exchange in English. UK institutions can promote their summer English courses, and English language providers may want to consider opening a branch campus in Vietnam for student training or capacity building for academics.