Transformative education as an orientation for sustainable development of higher education in Vietnam: An exploratory study

Abstract

Transformative education is recognized as a relevant theory for educational development in many countries. Scholars have noted that transformative education can help learners to become more critical, responsible, and autonomous. However, there is no such empirical evidence available in Vietnam to date. There is also a gap between theoretical construct and practical application of transformative education in Vietnam. This study aims to explore the current understanding of transformative education and clarify its impact on learners. To address the gap, the authors assess the status of higher education in Vietnam and propose why transformative education can be a solution to improve the quality of higher education. Our study used a qualitative approach to explore the knowledge and experience of respondents related to transformative education. Data collection used Focus Group Discussion (FGD) and In-Depth Interview (IDI). Two FGDs were performed with students and alumni from universities in Binh Duong Province and Ho Chi Minh City exploring the learning experience in class. Three IDIs were implemented with experts in higher education management and quality assurance exploring the consistency and application of transformative education in Vietnam. The findings indicate that learning activities at several universities in Vietnam are still heavy on theory, and students lack experimental activities. Respondents also reported that transformative education is consistent with the sustainable development of higher education in Vietnam. Our study also provides several suggestions regarding to how to apply transformative education in Vietnam in the long term.