Hien Nguyen | Simon Fraser University (original) (raw)
Papers by Hien Nguyen
The International Journal of Knowledge, Culture, and Change Management: Annual Review, 2010
The author has further granted permission to Simon Fraser University to keep or make a digital co... more The author has further granted permission to Simon Fraser University to keep or make a digital copy for use in its circulating collection (currently available to the public at the "Institutional Repository" link of the SFU Library website <www.lib.sfu.ca> at: <http://ir.lib.sfu.ca/handle/1892/112>) and, without changing the content, to translate the thesis/project or extended essays, if technically possible, to any medium or format for the purpose of preservation of the digital work. The author has further agreed that permission for multiple copying of this work for scholarly purposes may be granted by either the author or the Dean of Graduate Studies. It is understood that copying or publication of this work for financial gain shall not be allowed without the author's written permission. Permission for public performance, or limited permission for private scholarly use, of any multimedia materials forming part of this work, may have been granted by the author. This information may be found on the separately catalogued multimedia material and in the signed Partial Copyright Licence. While licensing SFU to permit the above uses, the author retains copyright in the thesis, project or extended essays, including the right to change the work for subsequent purposes, including editing and publishing the work in whole or in part, and licensing other parties, as the author may desire.
Canadian Journal of Educational Administration and Policy, 2021
This paper presents an update of a 2010-literature review on class size research completed as bac... more This paper presents an update of a 2010-literature review on class size research completed as background in preparation of an affidavit on class size provided by the lead author in the case of British Columbia Teachers' Federation v. British Columbia, argued before the Supreme Court of British Columbia in 2010, appealed ultimately to the Supreme Court of Canada and ruled on November 10, 2016. We find that smaller classes can improve teacher-student interactions and individualized instruction, decreasing time spent on discipline issues, leading to better student behaviour, attitude, and efforts. Smaller classes generally have greater advantages for younger students, and effects are more observable in class sizes of less than 20. Small classes may shrink achievement gaps, decrease dropout rates, and increase high school graduation rates, and appear to enhance academic outcomes, particularly for marginalized groups. Researchers have detected class size effects many years later. Small classes have been found to boost teachers' morale and job satisfaction. While some studies have found effects at the secondary and post-secondary level, results are generally inconclusive at this level. Finally, some researchers have argued that class size reductions are an inefficient use of funds which might be better spent elsewhere in the system. The paper concludes with a brief reflection on the process of providing this research for Supreme Court case.
The impact of globalization on higher education in developed nations has been well documented by ... more The impact of globalization on higher education in developed nations has been well documented
by scholars over the past 20 years (Slaughter & Leslie, 1997; Slaughter & Rhoades, 2004;
Marginson & Considine, 2007). This study examines the impact of globalization on higher education
in a developing nation—Vietnam. It provides valuable insight to the history of education in Vietnam
and extends the current critique of the marketization and neo-liberal agendas to the context of higher
education in developing nations. The paper begins with a historical description of the changes that
have occurred in higher education over the past 20 years in Vietnam. Then, using a reflective analysis
framework, the researchers draw on institutional documents from the Vietnam National University—
Hanoi and key informant interviews to critically assess national policies and institutional practices.
The interviews and documents illustrat the ways in which the post-secondary institution, and thereby
sector, was pivotal national reconstruction and economic revitalization strategies. Findings suggest
that neo-liberal marketization forces were at work, even within a Marxist political structure. Future
studies might examine these forces across the full range of postsecondary institutions in Vietnam to
determine if there have been similar changes in practices. Finally, an international comparative examination might provide useful evidence of lesson drawing (Rose, 1993) across developing nations or
isomorphism across institutions.
Using a qualitative research approach, this study investigates how a neoliberal policy agenda and... more Using a qualitative research approach, this study investigates how a neoliberal policy agenda and the global trend of marketization in higher education have influenced higher education policies in Vietnam. The major part of this study analyzes national policy documents and related literature to identify policy determinants and policy trends at the national level. The secondary part provides a critically reflective analysis of institutional responses to national policies, drawing on documents and interviews with a senior university administrator, a dean, department heads, a teacher and a student at the Vietnam National University in Hanoi (VNU-Hanoi).
This study finds that globalization and pressure by global trends in favour of the market place are external determinants while social demand for higher education as well as the Government’s budget rationalization agenda are internal determinants for Vietnam to adopt marketization policies in higher education. The institutional responses to the marketization included privatization, massification, and the corporatization of university management through competitive student recruitment and adoption of corporate culture. The privatization included tuition-charging practice, commercialization of research activities and other revenue-generating schemes.
With nearly 1,000 years under the Chinese imperial rule prior to its independence in 938, Vietnam... more With nearly 1,000 years under the Chinese imperial rule prior to its independence in 938, Vietnam has in subsequent centuries continued to be strongly influenced by Chinese Confucian ideas and the ideology of its neighbour, leaving indelible impacts on Vietnamese education and culture that still persist today. Accelerating globalisation since 1980 has affected the approaches of individual states, including China and Vietnam, toward economic and social policies. The shift from a subsidised and centralised economy to market-oriented socialism, along with open-door policies, have been driving forces behind the reconstruction of the Chinese and Vietnamese economies and social systems. The countries’ increasing integration into the world economy has resulted in two of the fastest economic growths in the world, with Vietnam’s GDP growing 8.5% in 2005, and China’s at 10.2%. This has put new pressures on their education systems to keep up with the market demand for knowledge workers. This paper reviews and analyses within a comparative framework six peer-reviewed articles written by Chinese and Vietnamese scholars from 2002 to 2006 about the reform of higher education in China and in Vietnam in the context of globalisation, with the focus on policy and practice. This study determines how globalisation has influenced the policy making in both countries, and how it is impacting their respective education systems. Although the focus here is on globalisation of education, the implications are wider with the emerging privatisation and decentralisation of social services. This paper also discusses how global trends of decentralisation and marketisation have affected not only, educational governance, educational financing and delivery, but also curriculum change, student enrolment and graduate assignments. The author finds that for both education systems in China and Vietnam these impacts have included the merging of higher educational institutions, abandonment of state monopolies in education, increasing diversity in education provision, re-orienting curricula to meet market needs, and introducing competition into the educational sector in order to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of the educational services.
The International Journal of Knowledge, Culture, and Change Management: Annual Review, 2010
The author has further granted permission to Simon Fraser University to keep or make a digital co... more The author has further granted permission to Simon Fraser University to keep or make a digital copy for use in its circulating collection (currently available to the public at the "Institutional Repository" link of the SFU Library website <www.lib.sfu.ca> at: <http://ir.lib.sfu.ca/handle/1892/112>) and, without changing the content, to translate the thesis/project or extended essays, if technically possible, to any medium or format for the purpose of preservation of the digital work. The author has further agreed that permission for multiple copying of this work for scholarly purposes may be granted by either the author or the Dean of Graduate Studies. It is understood that copying or publication of this work for financial gain shall not be allowed without the author's written permission. Permission for public performance, or limited permission for private scholarly use, of any multimedia materials forming part of this work, may have been granted by the author. This information may be found on the separately catalogued multimedia material and in the signed Partial Copyright Licence. While licensing SFU to permit the above uses, the author retains copyright in the thesis, project or extended essays, including the right to change the work for subsequent purposes, including editing and publishing the work in whole or in part, and licensing other parties, as the author may desire.
Canadian Journal of Educational Administration and Policy, 2021
This paper presents an update of a 2010-literature review on class size research completed as bac... more This paper presents an update of a 2010-literature review on class size research completed as background in preparation of an affidavit on class size provided by the lead author in the case of British Columbia Teachers' Federation v. British Columbia, argued before the Supreme Court of British Columbia in 2010, appealed ultimately to the Supreme Court of Canada and ruled on November 10, 2016. We find that smaller classes can improve teacher-student interactions and individualized instruction, decreasing time spent on discipline issues, leading to better student behaviour, attitude, and efforts. Smaller classes generally have greater advantages for younger students, and effects are more observable in class sizes of less than 20. Small classes may shrink achievement gaps, decrease dropout rates, and increase high school graduation rates, and appear to enhance academic outcomes, particularly for marginalized groups. Researchers have detected class size effects many years later. Small classes have been found to boost teachers' morale and job satisfaction. While some studies have found effects at the secondary and post-secondary level, results are generally inconclusive at this level. Finally, some researchers have argued that class size reductions are an inefficient use of funds which might be better spent elsewhere in the system. The paper concludes with a brief reflection on the process of providing this research for Supreme Court case.
The impact of globalization on higher education in developed nations has been well documented by ... more The impact of globalization on higher education in developed nations has been well documented
by scholars over the past 20 years (Slaughter & Leslie, 1997; Slaughter & Rhoades, 2004;
Marginson & Considine, 2007). This study examines the impact of globalization on higher education
in a developing nation—Vietnam. It provides valuable insight to the history of education in Vietnam
and extends the current critique of the marketization and neo-liberal agendas to the context of higher
education in developing nations. The paper begins with a historical description of the changes that
have occurred in higher education over the past 20 years in Vietnam. Then, using a reflective analysis
framework, the researchers draw on institutional documents from the Vietnam National University—
Hanoi and key informant interviews to critically assess national policies and institutional practices.
The interviews and documents illustrat the ways in which the post-secondary institution, and thereby
sector, was pivotal national reconstruction and economic revitalization strategies. Findings suggest
that neo-liberal marketization forces were at work, even within a Marxist political structure. Future
studies might examine these forces across the full range of postsecondary institutions in Vietnam to
determine if there have been similar changes in practices. Finally, an international comparative examination might provide useful evidence of lesson drawing (Rose, 1993) across developing nations or
isomorphism across institutions.
Using a qualitative research approach, this study investigates how a neoliberal policy agenda and... more Using a qualitative research approach, this study investigates how a neoliberal policy agenda and the global trend of marketization in higher education have influenced higher education policies in Vietnam. The major part of this study analyzes national policy documents and related literature to identify policy determinants and policy trends at the national level. The secondary part provides a critically reflective analysis of institutional responses to national policies, drawing on documents and interviews with a senior university administrator, a dean, department heads, a teacher and a student at the Vietnam National University in Hanoi (VNU-Hanoi).
This study finds that globalization and pressure by global trends in favour of the market place are external determinants while social demand for higher education as well as the Government’s budget rationalization agenda are internal determinants for Vietnam to adopt marketization policies in higher education. The institutional responses to the marketization included privatization, massification, and the corporatization of university management through competitive student recruitment and adoption of corporate culture. The privatization included tuition-charging practice, commercialization of research activities and other revenue-generating schemes.
With nearly 1,000 years under the Chinese imperial rule prior to its independence in 938, Vietnam... more With nearly 1,000 years under the Chinese imperial rule prior to its independence in 938, Vietnam has in subsequent centuries continued to be strongly influenced by Chinese Confucian ideas and the ideology of its neighbour, leaving indelible impacts on Vietnamese education and culture that still persist today. Accelerating globalisation since 1980 has affected the approaches of individual states, including China and Vietnam, toward economic and social policies. The shift from a subsidised and centralised economy to market-oriented socialism, along with open-door policies, have been driving forces behind the reconstruction of the Chinese and Vietnamese economies and social systems. The countries’ increasing integration into the world economy has resulted in two of the fastest economic growths in the world, with Vietnam’s GDP growing 8.5% in 2005, and China’s at 10.2%. This has put new pressures on their education systems to keep up with the market demand for knowledge workers. This paper reviews and analyses within a comparative framework six peer-reviewed articles written by Chinese and Vietnamese scholars from 2002 to 2006 about the reform of higher education in China and in Vietnam in the context of globalisation, with the focus on policy and practice. This study determines how globalisation has influenced the policy making in both countries, and how it is impacting their respective education systems. Although the focus here is on globalisation of education, the implications are wider with the emerging privatisation and decentralisation of social services. This paper also discusses how global trends of decentralisation and marketisation have affected not only, educational governance, educational financing and delivery, but also curriculum change, student enrolment and graduate assignments. The author finds that for both education systems in China and Vietnam these impacts have included the merging of higher educational institutions, abandonment of state monopolies in education, increasing diversity in education provision, re-orienting curricula to meet market needs, and introducing competition into the educational sector in order to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of the educational services.