AN OVERVIEW OF THE CENTER FOR DISTANCE EDUCATION

In addition to its formal degree programs licensed by the Ministry of Education and Training across all levels—from undergraduate to doctoral studies—Ho Chi Minh City Open University has long been recognized as the largest distance education center in southern Vietnam, with nearly two decades of experience in this mode of delivery. Since 1996, the University has established its Distance Education Center to expand and professionalize its distance learning operations. This has provided learners with flexible educational options suited to their personal conditions and schedules, while also meeting the developmental needs of local communities.

Ho Chi Minh City Open University is a multi-disciplinary public institution with an applied orientation. Over the past 25 years of establishment and development, the University has become a reputable training institution among universities in Ho Chi Minh City, offering 17 programs ranging from undergraduate to doctoral levels. Notably, alongside the vigorous development of formal academic programs, the University also fulfills its mission of promoting lifelong learning through distance education.

The University is a pioneer in the field of distance education. As early as 1993, when it was known as the Institute of Open Education, it was authorized by the Ministry of Education and Training to pilot a distance learning program in Business Administration. Over more than two decades of development, the University has grown into a leading institution for distance education in southern Vietnam, marked by the following key achievements:

• In terms of training processes, the University established the Distance Education Center in 1996, which currently employs over 30 specialized staff members. The training activities—including curriculum planning, credit-based instruction, assessments, and the awarding of degrees—have been developed to achieve the same level of professionalism as formal education programs. Notably, the University provides complete learning materials for all distance learners, maintains a centralized test bank, and organizes supervised examinations across all test sites.

• In terms of academic programs, the University offers 13 undergraduate disciplines with 27 specializations through both distance learning and part-time study modes. These span across economic and management fields (e.g., Business Administration, Finance and Banking, Accounting and Auditing, Economic Law, Construction Management), engineering and technology fields (e.g., Civil Engineering, Computer Science, Management Information Systems, Biotechnology), and the social sciences (e.g., Economic Law, Sociology, Social Work, and English Language).

• In terms of training scale, in addition to its main campus-based programs, the University partners with more than 40 affiliated training units from Binh Dinh to Ca Mau provinces, several of which have thousands of enrolled students. Currently, the total student enrollment exceeds 27,000, of which over 20,000 are engaged in distance learning programs, and around 7,000 are enrolled in part-time study programs.

• Regarding faculty, the University has gradually developed a core teaching staff of over 400 full-time lecturers, including more than 100 PhD holders. At the same time, it continues to enhance a network of high-quality visiting lecturers drawn from both academia and industry.

• In terms of instructional methods, the University adopts multiple flexible approaches to meet learners’ needs. In addition to blended learning formats (providing materials and review sessions), the University has delivered educational content via radio broadcasts since 1997 and launched live satellite-based instruction in 2009. At present, it is actively developing and integrating internet-based learning into its programs.

• In international collaboration, particularly in distance education, the University is a member of numerous international organizations such as the Asian Association of Open Universities (AAOU), the International Council for Open and Distance Education (ICDE), and SEAMOLEC.

• Regarding learning outcomes, to date, the University has graduated approximately 40,000 students. Many alumni have attained leadership roles in governmental agencies, mass organizations, and enterprises. A considerable number of graduates from distance and part-time programs have gone on to pursue advanced degrees at the graduate level.