Recently, Ho Chi Minh City National University launched a warm-up electronic education program for bachelor and master’s degrees in IT engineering. Meanwhile, the Hanoi University of Commerce and the Ho Chi Minh City Informatics Technology College have both opened brand-new electronic commerce faculties.
However, the libraries of the above-mentioned universities and colleges are not equipped with the appropriate digital levels required for real electronic education. In general, universities and colleges nationwide usually have even worse-equipped libraries.
Another issue is that both teachers and students are currently not ready for new ways of teaching and learning in a network environment. They remain using traditional methodologies, which cannot be used when studying and researching via computers.
At present, the modest IT infrastructure is also a big hindrance to universities that would like to convert to a new electronic training system.
A few years ago, domestic Internet Service Provider FPT Communications set up an online training portal aiming to prepare for university e-learning access. Still, up to now, the portal is only available for English training for Harvard University’s English Language Certificate.
As a comparison, 80 percent of U.S. colleges and universities currently apply e-training methodology. In Singapore, the rate is even higher, up to 87 percent.
While Vietnam is still waiting for the authorities to approve its first online university, another Asian nation, the Republic of Korea, proudly announced its ninth online university recently.
With the present dim outlook on electronic education, visions of future e-commerce and e-government appear too gloomy.
Autor: Reported by Trong Phuoc – Translated by Quynh Nhu
Quelle: Thanh Nien Daily, 18.08.2005
