Associate Prof. Dr. Huynh Thanh Hung, Vice Director of the Ho Chi Minh City Agriculture and Forestry, said that between 2008 and 2010, the university could only recruit 5-6 people to fill 10 places on their doctoral degree programme. This year, it applied new selection criteria and omitted the need for entrance exams to meet their target.

The Vietnam National University, Ho Chi Minh City, faced the same situation. In 2008, the University of Technology targeted to enrol 20 people for its doctoral course, but only 16 registered and only seven were admitted. In 2010, it only recruited 22 for a course capable of teaching 30.

The University of Natural Sciences has enrolled from one third to half its quota. The University of Economics and Law recruited six out of the targeted 10 in 2008, eight out of 12 in 2009 and six out of 12 in 2010.

Bad training quality

Associate Prof. Dr. Nguyen Thien Tong, Vice Director of Cuu Long University said, “Only a few universities in Vietnam had good quality in doctorates. Most of their training programmes are far too theoretical. I took part in selecting candidates for doctoral training courses for many years. I recognise the issue, and to be honest many postgraduates were not qualified enough, but were still admitted. People who have good knowledge are more interested in doctoral training programmes in other countries.”

The scientific research themes of doctoral training remains impractical, he added, noting that, “postgraduates have to be published in international academic publications. Their research should also be examined by foreign professors to raise quality.”

Many universities fail to meet basic infrastructure needs, discouraging postgraduates.

MA Tran Thi Nguyen Suong from Ton Duc Thang University, said postgraduates in foreign countries can focus on their doctoral training programmes, but those in Vietnam have to ensure both their jobs and training.

Many experts are afraid that the Government’s project to train an additional 20,000 doctors by 2020, including 10,000 trained locally, will fail, warning that many universities may force their students to join their doctoral training courses to ensure the target.

Professor Pham Phu from the Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology said a national council on doctoral training courses should be set up.

Currently, buying fake doctoral degrees from foreign countries, particularly from the US and Russia, has emerged. A number of websites have been set up selling these fake qualifications. Associate Prof. Duong Anh Duc, Director of the Ho Chi Minh City of Information and Technology University said, many the university lecturers have received invitations to buy the degrees.