On 12th June 2017, Vietnam’s first four universities: The National University of Civil Engineering, Hanoi University of Science and Technology, Ho Chi Minh City University of Science and Technology (National University of Vietnam) and Da Nang University of Science and Technology (Da Nang University) were accredited by the HCERES (Haut Conseil de l’Évaluation de la Recherche et de l’Enseignement Supérieur) from France. According to the evaluation undertaken by the HCERES, these four universities have all met the highest standard for tertiary education quality and this recognition is valid within five years. This is a major event that has happened for the first time in Vietnam’s higher education system, as the evaluation of quality was conducted by an international evaluating agency.
Evaluation of higher education quality has been regarded as one of the important measures taken in order to renovate and enhance the quality of training programs offered by universities across the country, as a bold step to establish the reputation of that university based on quality in the era of internationalization and integration.
With a strategic vision “The National University of Civil Engineering will have become a leading university in Vietnam in civil engineering by 2030 and reach the regional as well as international standards in higher education”, the University has always been working very hard to highlight and emphasize its core values: Quality – Efficiency – Development – Integration. Since 1999, the National University of Civil Engineering has been developing a training program of excellence for engineers (abbreviated to PFIEV) with three other universities in Vietnam (Hanoi University of Science and Technology, Ho Chi Minh City University of Science and Technology – National University of Vietnam and Da Nang University of Science and Technology – Da Nang University) approved by the Ministry of Education and Training and officially sponsored by the French Government as determined in the protocol between the two governments of Vietnam and France. The three training programs run by the National University of Civil Engineering have been evaluated and recognized so far by the CTI (Commission des Titres d’Ingénieur), for the periods 2004 – 2010, 2010 – 2016 and 2016 – 2022.
The HCERES was founded in 2013 as a reputable international evaluating agency for tertiary education assessment. It works independently and focuses on evaluating the quality of teaching and research programs of all universities and institutes interested in this program. Annually, on average, the HCERES assesses and evaluates 50 universities and institutes, 630 research units, 600 undergraduate programs, 300 master’s programs and 70 PhD programs submitted from all over the world.
Previously, within the framework of an official working visit to France in February 2016, a delegation from the Ministry of Education and Training led by Deputy Minister decided to choose the HCERES to be an evaluating agency for the accreditation of four universities in Vietnam, including the National University of Civil Engineering. On 20th October 2016, a group of HCERES experts came to visit the National University of Civil Engineering and conducted a preliminary survey on the basis of a report on the University’s potentials and capacity submitted before. The group came to a conclusion that the University would be completely eligible for an official evaluation, and also gave all the instructions for a full evaluation process with a set of evaluation standards as well as the step-by-step preparation for a self-assessment. After this preliminary survey of the HCERES experts, the University prepared a self-assessment report established on six major domains, 17 standards and 29 criteria applicable to evaluation of overseas universities and research institutes, with reference to the instructions provided by the HCERES. The responsible staff worked intensively in order to finish the report and submit it to the HCERES in time.
Subsequently, on 27th February 2017, the HCERES experts came back to the University and undertook a comprehensive investigation into the University’s training programs as well as facilities. After a thorough review and comprehensive assessment with different evaluation stages, on 12th June 2017, the National University of Civil Engineering was officially recognized to meet the HCERES requirements to the highest standard with validity of five years.
The fact that the National University of Civil Engineering has been fully accredited by a prestigious international evaluating agency along with three high-caliber universities in Vietnam confirmed the University’s status as a leading institution across the country. It is a great honor and pride for all staff and students at the National University of Civil Engineering in particular, and for Vietnam’s higher education in general. This positive outcome has been secured with great efforts and achievements of all the University staff and students, and it marked a real milestone on the pathway for the University to develop and become a well-established university in Vietnam and Southeast Asia.
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