Exploring internal challenges for quality assurance staff in Vietnam: voice of insiders

• Published in: Quality assurance in education Vol. 29; no. 2/3; pp. 70 - 83
• Main Author: Nguyen, Cuong Huu
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Bradford Emerald Publishing Limited 27.09.2021; Emerald Group Publishing Limited
• Subjects: Accountability; Accreditation; Accreditation (Institutions); Barriers; Capacity Building; Communication Problems; Developing countries; Educational Administration; Educational Quality; English (Second Language); Evaluators; Foreign Countries; Higher Education; Human resources; Job Performance; Job Skills; Knowledge Level; LDCs; Learning Processes; Policy Formation; Professional Development; Quality Assurance; Quality control; Quality management; Second Language Learning; Specialists; Universities; Vietnam; Developing countries; Accreditation; Higher education; Quality assurance staff; Challenges
• ISSN: 0968-4883; 1758-7662
• DOI: 10.1108/QAE-07-2020-0080

Purpose This paper aims to determine how quality assurance practitioners in Vietnam describe their levels of professional knowledge and related skills, as well as identifying factors that interfere with the development of these skills. Design/methodology/approach Semi-structured were conducted with 22 quality assurance practitioners who were directly involved in quality assurance policy-making and implementation. Findings Thematic analysis identified that internal challenges for quality assurance staff were mostly related to their lack of knowledge, skills and experience in this area. Limited capacity in English communication was also reported as a major challenge for Vietnamese quality assurance specialists. Originality/value The paper concludes that regular capacity-building programmes can help quality assurance staff gain the necessary knowledge and skills to improve their work performance.