The US Community College Model and Vietnam's Higher Education System

This paper is a report of research conducted to determine if the US community college model holds promise for addressing problems commonly faced in the higher education system of one developing country and thus potentially others as well. The study was accomplished by examining the higher education system in Vietnam and conducting a case study of Can Tho University in the Mekong Delta. First, common characteristics found among community colleges across the US were synthesized into a representative model. Secondly, multiple data collection methods were used to analyze the higher education system in Vietnam and to conduct the case study. The US community college model was then analyzed in relation to the CTU case study, Mekong Delta context, and success criterion developed from examining higher education related problems in the Mekong Delta region and Vietnam. Results of the study indicate that the US community college model has significant potential for relieving some of the difficult higher education challenges in the Mekong Delta. Although case studies cannot normally be generalized, Vietnam has a highly centralized education system and the problems faced by higher education in the Mekong Delta are reflective of those found throughout the country; therefore, the findings from this assessment can be considered significant for the rest of Vietnam. The research design and methods of this study could be used to conduct research on the potential effectiveness of the US community college model in other developing countries. 1 PERMISSION TO REPRODUCE AND DISSEMINATE THIS MATERIAL HAS BEEN GRANTED BY