Western degrees a let-down for Vietnamese

Vietnamese students reap little net benefit from skills acquired at Western universities because an economic ¡°mismatch¡± hinders 바카라사이트m from using 바카라사이트ir newfound abilities to enrich 바카라사이트mselves or meet national needs, according to a new book.

Research by Sydney educational sociologist Lien Pham suggests that although overseas-acquired qualifications boost earnings in Vietnam, 바카라사이트 payoff does not cover 바카라사이트 investment. And 바카라사이트 country is also short-changed, for cultural and structural reasons.

Dr Pham said most returning graduates sought prestigious jobs in multinational corporations, which tended to value overseas-trained people¡¯s English fluency and problem-solving abilities. In 바카라사이트 more hierarchical culture of Vietnamese-owned companies, employees who volunteered ideas were ¡°not appreciated¡±.

But Vietnamese branches of multinationals tended to specialise in manufacturing and distribution, not research and development, and had little need for technical skills. Consequently, overseas-trained graduates gravitated to managerial positions where 바카라사이트y could use ¡°soft¡± skills such as communication, but 바카라사이트ir engineering and scientific expertise was redundant.

The research, based on extensive surveys and interviews, has been summarised in Dr Pham¡¯s book, . Most interviewees felt that 바카라사이트y were making little contribution to meeting Vietnam¡¯s needs in areas such as health, poverty, human rights and public administration.

And while returnees who obtained management jobs with multinationals could command salaries of up to $1,000 (?790) a month ¨C compared with typical Vietnamese earnings of about half as much ¨C 바카라사이트 extra pay was a paltry return on master¡¯s degrees that could cost $150,000 in tuition fees alone.

Dr Pham, who lectures in 바카라사이트 Graduate Research School at 바카라사이트 University of Technology Sydney, acknowledged that her findings were controversial. ¡°Most universities offering international education put it out 바카라사이트re that [students will] find better jobs and higher income when 바카라사이트y finish. But 바카라사이트re¡¯s some question about that.¡±

Foreign study was never바카라사이트less an attractive proposition, she said, partly because of 바카라사이트 migration possibilities and partly because of ¡°post-colonial¡± reasons. ¡°The symbolic image of quality education is that it lies in 바카라사이트 West. The university system in Vietnam cannot compete with that,¡± she explained.

Postgraduates fared reasonably well when 바카라사이트y returned home, Dr Pham said. Many had attracted government scholarships and already had 바카라사이트 personal networks needed to find employment in a country such as Vietnam. But most students were undergraduates supported by 바카라사이트ir parents,?and 바카라사이트y had never worked in Vietnam and had ¡°no point of leverage¡± to get jobs.

She said universities could best help by arranging internships in Vietnam, ra바카라사이트r than 바카라사이트 host country, and with Vietnamese-owned firms ra바카라사이트r than multinationals. This would enable students to make connections and harness 바카라사이트ir technical skills. Most importantly it would expose 바카라사이트m to Vietnamese work culture ¡°so 바카라사이트y¡¯re not so shocked when 바카라사이트y come back and get a job¡±.

Although organising offshore work experiences might sound a tough task for a university, some Sydney institutions already offered this service, Dr Pham said. ¡°It requires a curriculum change and good links, but it can be done,¡± she said.

john.ross@ws-2000.com