Vietnam Govt Approves Development Plan for Distance Learning till 2020

Vietnamese prime minister has given the nod to a project on developing distance learning in the 2015-2020 period, aiming to verify all programs of this kind by the date. Particularly, the plan seeks to encourage all educational establishments currently providing distance learning to get certified by prestigious international accrediting agencies and recognized by authorized agencies. As part of the process, Vietnam will train auditor teams to conduct the evaluation and accreditation of distance learning programs. The history of distance education in Vietnam dates back to the mid-1950s, when many colleges and universities established correspondence programs. In 1988, the Vietnamese government established the first higher education institution specializing in distance learning, the Vietnam Institute of Open Learning (VNIOL), which then paved the way for the creation of Open Learning Institutes in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City. Vietnam has a number of universities with distance education programs. However, the major providers are the two open universities in Hanoi and HCMC. (Nhan Dan – The People Sept 21 p8)