National Policies on Skilled Labour and the Cross-border Student Market, with a Focus on Vietnam

Abstract

Rapid socio-economic change in Vietnam Vietnam has resulted in increasing numbers of Vietnamese pursuing overseas study. The dramatic rise in self-funded students is largely the result of Vietnam’s increasingly affluent middle-class choosing overseas study over a domestic tertiary system that is lacking in both capacity and quality. A key consequence of this rise in international student mobility is the trend for Vietnamese students to remain abroad post graduation. This trend poses significant challenges for the Vietnamese government which must develop policy that will allow the country to capitalize on the many positive consequences associated with increased international student mobility, while minimizing any potential negative ramifications. This chapter considers the factors that have led to the growth in overseas study in Vietnam Vietnam and examines various policy responses that aim to manage international student mobility.