MOET proposes transferring many universities to local management

According to the draft, the system of public higher education, vocational training, and continuing education institutions will be further reorganized and restructured. Vocational and continuing education centers are expected to be merged into regional vocational secondary schools, reducing the number of entities and eliminating intermediate layers to streamline governance.

MOET will directly manage key national universities and higher education institutions, especially those specializing in technology and engineering, as well as colleges that serve as regional or national training hubs. The Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism will oversee institutions with specialized, sector-specific training programs.

Most remaining universities will be transferred to local management while being guaranteed full institutional autonomy regardless of financial self-sufficiency. The draft also proposes merging research institutes with universities, except for certain designated public science and technology organizations.

As of March 2025, Vietnam has about 200 public universities under more than 60 managing bodies. Of these, MOET manages around 60 universities; 23 provinces manage 26 institutions; and more than 20 other ministries and agencies manage about 110 universities.

The draft specifies that the managing authority will appoint directors, deputy directors, rectors, and vice rectors. For national universities, the Prime Minister will make appointments based on MOET’s recommendation. During the transitional period when university councils are abolished, the Minister of Education and Training will determine standards, criteria, terms, and the number of deputies for each leader.

At the provincial level, directors of local Departments of Education and Training will have the authority to recruit, assign, and manage teachers, staff, and education administrators in public preschools and general schools. MOET will issue standards and criteria for department leadership to ensure capable and qualified candidates are appointed.

This proposal aligns with Politburo Resolution 71 and Government Resolution 281, which call for restructuring the higher education system, merging or dissolving non-compliant institutions, removing intermediate layers, merging research institutes with universities, and transferring some institutions to local governments to improve efficiency and better meet local workforce needs.