International Workshop “Internal Quality Assurance Implementation - For The Sustained Future Of Asean Higher Education”

22 Aug, 2025

On August 18-19, 2025, Vietnam Education Quality Management Agency (VQA-MOET), ASEAN University Network Secretariat, Southeast Asian Ministers of Education Organization Regional Centre specialising in higher education and development (SEAMEO RIHED), and University of Economics Ho Chi Minh City (UEH) successfully organized the international workshop "Internal Quality Assurance Implementation - for The Sustained Future of ASEAN Higher Education" was successfully organized. The conference aimed to bridge the gap between the perception and practical implementation of Internal Quality Assurance (IQA) systems within higher education institutions. Furthermore, it sought to promote an effective and sustainable IQA model in Vietnam and across ASEAN region.

The conference was attended by distinguished guests: Assoc. Prof. Dr. Hoang Minh Son - Deputy Minister of the Ministry of Education and Training (MOET) of Vietnam; Prof. Dr. Huynh Van Chuong - Director General of Vietnam Education Quality Management Agency, MOET; Prof. Dr. Su Dinh Thanh - President of the University of Economics Ho Chi Minh City; and Assoc. Prof. Dr. Thanapan Laiprakobsup - Executive Director of the ASEAN University Network (AUN).

Additionally, the event brought together numerous international quality assurance experts, notably: Dr. Choltis Dhirathiti - Centre Director of SEAMEO RIHED and former Executive Director of AUN-QA; Assoc. Prof. Dr. Dawisa Sritanyarat - Acting Deputy Executive Director of AUN-QA; along with representatives from the University of Malaya, Mahidol University, De La Salle University, the University of Santo Tomas, and the National University of Singapore. It also gathered representatives from Industrial University of Ho Chi Minh City and Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology and Education, with over 200 delegates from higher education institutions across Vietnam and the ASEAN region participating both in-person and online.

Overview of the Workshop

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Hoang Minh Son - Deputy Minister of the Ministry of Education and Training of Vietnam, asserted: “Today's workshop presents a significant opportunity for us to exchange ideas, collaborate, and collectively shape the future of a firm ASEAN higher education system, which must be grounded in the substantive and continuously improved internal quality assurance (IQA) of each higher education institution". Furthermore, the Deputy Minister emphasized that in the upcoming phase, Vietnam's Ministry of Education and Training clearly defines that ensuring the quality of higher education is not merely a task of accreditation. Instead, it is a system-wide responsibility to construct a quality ecosystem founded on internal assessment, objective monitoring, open data, and social feedback. The revised draft of the Higher Education Law formally establishes the IQA system as a legal obligation for educational institutions, which will be operated transparently, with the involvement of relevant stakeholders, in alignment with national standards and international practices (ESG, CHEA, UNESCO, etc.).

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Hoang Minh Son - Deputy Minister of the Ministry of Education and Training of Vietnam virtually gives opening remark

In his opening remarks at the Workshop, Professor Huynh Van Chuong, Director General Vietnam Education Quality Management Agency, the Ministry of Education and Training of Viet Nam, stated: "As of July 2025, Viet Nam has had 213 higher education institutions and 2,609 training programmes accredited, in accordance with both national standards and the standards of international accreditation organisations. However, despite these remarkable achievements, the quality assurance system in Viet Nam continues to face numerous challenges in the nation’s new era. During the 2025–2030 period, with a vision towards 2045, Viet Nam has been enacting a range of significant policies aimed at prioritising investment in and the development of education. Therefore, today’s Workshop plays an essential role as a platform for the exchange of experiences between Viet Nam and ASEAN countries in implementing Internal Quality Assurance (IQA) following the AUN-QA approach."

Professor Huynh Van Chuong, Director General Vietnam Education Quality Management Agency, the Ministry of Education and Training of Viet Nam gives opening remark at the Workshop

Professor Su Dinh Thanh - President of UEH, further emphasised: "For UEH, quality assurance is not solely a requirement, but a core value and a driving force for development. We have endeavoured to meet both national and international accreditation standards, participated in AUN-QA assessments, and collaborated with many prestigious universities worldwide. These efforts have elevated UEH’s standing within the ASEAN region and on the global education map. Hosting today’s workshop affirms UEH’s commitment to working alongside AUN and SEAMEO RIHED in fostering a sustainable quality culture, moving towards an innovative, integrated, and creative higher education system."

Professor Su Dinh Thanh - President of UEH gives opening remark at the Workshop

Building on the foundation of a robust internal quality assurance (IQA) system, the Workshop aims to provide strategic direction in bridging the gap between awareness and practical implementation of IQA in higher education institutions, while fostering the development of potential, effective, and sustainable IQA models in Viet Nam and the region.

In this context, the Workshop has created an opportunity for Viet Nam and other ASEAN countries to: (1) Introduce the new AUN-QA IQA Toolkit; (2) Connect policymakers, QA managers, external valuation experts, student representatives and employers to engage in discussions on the future of quality assurance in higher education across the region; (3) Reaffirm Viet Nam’s commitment to building a quality assurance system that is systematic - substantive - and sustainable.

Prof. Thanapan Laiprakobsup, Executive Director, ASEAN University Network (AUN) delivers speech at the Workshop

Over the course of two working days, the Workshop centred on the implementation of the Internal Quality Assurance (IQA) Framework and the IQA Management Toolkit developed by AUN-QA - a practical set of tools built upon the experience of leading ASEAN universities. This serves as a foundation enabling higher education institutions to:

+ Establish, strengthen, and operate their IQA systems effectively;

+ Design customised quality architecture models tailored to each institution;

+ Develop networks of cooperation and Communities of Practice in QA;

+ Contribute to promoting a sustainable quality culture within ASEAN higher education.

The first working day - 18/9

On the first working day, under the theme "Internal Quality Assurance (IQA) Good Practices: Experiences and Insights from Selected Best ASEAN Universities with IQA Systems and Practices", the practical sharing session and group discussions featured participation from six leading ASEAN universities. They presented their experiences in effectively implementing IQA, while also engaging in the strategic design of IQA frameworks, processes, systems, and structures tailored to the contexts of Viet Nam and the wider ASEAN region.

Dr. Choltis Dhirathiti, SEAMEO-RIHED Director presents “Background and Current Development of AUN-QA IQA Framework and IQA Management Toolkit”

Experts present the topic: "Internal Quality Assurance (IQA) Good Practices: Experiences and Insights from Selected Best ASEAN Universities with IQA System and Practices"

The Reflection and Open Forum Session

The delegates were divided into discussion groups and presented on the design of effective IQA strategies, processes, systems, and structures, with direct support and consultancy from 10 experts from Australia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam

The second working day - 19/8

On the second working day, through group discussion sessions on the “AUN-QA IQA Management Toolkit”, international quality assurance experts from Australia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam, along with top leaders from higher education institutions, continued to discuss, provide feedback, and propose reasonable policies for the development of the implementation tools from the IQA Toolkit. These tools will support individual universities in designing their own quality structure and governance solutions, as well as establish 12 Implementation Clusters to promote collaboration between universities in Vietnam.

Introduction, group discussion and presentation on AUN-QA IQA Management Toolkit

Over two working days, the International Workshop on “Internal Quality Assurance Implementation - for The Sustained Future of ASEAN Higher Education” yielded tangible outcomes:

+ Raised awareness among 31 leaders of Vietnamese universities regarding the role of IQA in sustainable development.

+ An IQA Implementation Toolkit customised to suit the specific conditions of each institution.

+ A tailored Quality Architecture framework designed for every higher education institution.

+ The establishment of a collaborative network - 12 Implementation Clusters - enabling mutual support among universities in their IQA development journey.

+ A preliminary monitoring index to track IQA implementation progress at both the institutional and national education system levels in Viet Nam.

The delegates take a commemorative photo together

The International Workshop on “Internal Quality Assurance Implementation - for The Sustained Future of ASEAN Higher Education” was not only a prestigious academic forum but also a strategic step in strengthening the quality assurance systems of the region’s higher education sector. With the participation of leading experts, higher education leaders, and international collaboration networks, the event created opportunities for universities in Viet Nam and across ASEAN to share experiences, build a quality culture, and promote sustainable development.

With the support of AUN, SEAMEO RIHED, the Ministry of Education and Training, and University of Economics Ho Chi Minh City, the conference reaffirmed the region’s collective commitment to enhancing quality, increasing competitiveness, and asserting ASEAN higher education’s position on the global education map.

Photos from the Workshop: