Factors influencing the participation of industry professionals in Work-Integrated Learning in Vietnamese universities: a qualitative approach
Higher Education, Skills and Work-Based Learning
ISSN: 2042-3896
Article publication date: 2 November 2021
Issue publication date: 9 May 2022
Abstract
Purpose
This article explores factors influencing the participation of industry professionals in Work-Integrated Learning (WIL) in three Vietnamese public universities. The impact of the unique socio-cultural background of Vietnam on WIL is also addressed.
Design/methodology/approach
A qualitative approach that included three focus groups and 15 individual in-depth interviews was applied. In total, 30 key university and industry WIL stakeholders were involved. Thematic analysis was employed to identify enablers and inhibitors to the participation of industry professionals in WIL in Vietnamese universities.
Findings
Industry professionals faced more challenges than support when involved in WIL in three Vietnamese public universities. Four enablers of their participation in WIL stemmed from industry and nine inhibitors emerged from a variety of sources. The overwhelming number of inhibiting factors indicated difficulties associated with implementing WIL.
Originality/value
The rationale behind limited industry involvement in Vietnamese universities has not been explored previously. A holistic understanding of all key WIL stakeholders’ perceptions of factors influencing industry participation in a non-Western tertiary context may provide leads for higher education policy in Vietnam and add to the international literature.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
This work is part of a research project generously supported by a La Trobe University (Melbourne, Australia) Postgraduate Research Scholarship and a La Trobe University Full Fee Research Scholarship. The authors appreciate the voluntary participation of department leaders, lecturers, students, and industry representatives in the interviews and focus groups. Sincere thanks to Dr. Michael Brown for his great contribution to the foundation of this study.
Citation
Thi Ngoc Ha, N., Dakich, E. and Grieshaber, S. (2022), "Factors influencing the participation of industry professionals in Work-Integrated Learning in Vietnamese universities: a qualitative approach", Higher Education, Skills and Work-Based Learning, Vol. 12 No. 3, pp. 574-587. https://doi.org/10.1108/HESWBL-03-2021-0042
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
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