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107EDUCATIONAL MIGRATION IN VIETNAM: CHALLENGES AND NEW OPPORTUNITIES
Nguyen Minh Huyen Trang
Vietnam National University, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam E-mail: nmhtrang@vnuhcm.edu.vn
DOI: https://doi.org/10.19181/demis.2022.2110
For citation: Nguyen Minh Huyen Trang. Educational Migration in Vietnam: Challenges and New Opportunities. DEMIS. Demographic Research. 2022. Vol. 2. No. 1. Pp. 127-141. DOI: https://doi.org/10.19181/demis.2022.2.1.10
Abstract. Along with the general trend in the world, international migration activities of Vietnamese citizens are increasing rapidly with millions of people entering and leaving the country each year and Vietnamese living in more than 100 countries and territories around the globe. Vietnam ranks 8th among the countries with the most international students in the world. In the trend of globalization, to get closer to "world civilization," studying abroad is the choice of many Vietnamese families. Many parents have grasped the trend of studying abroad to create conditions for their children to come close to the "paradise" education of developed countries. Studying abroad is an opportunity, it opens up a whole new horizon full of hope for changes, promising a better life in the future. The 4th industrial revolution and the strong digital transformation process create the need to fundamentally change the strategy and method of organizing science and technology training and research. Along with the process of integration and internationalization, the tendency of brain drain, especially for highly qualified young cadres, is going to be a big challenge for domestic universities. Besides, the capacity to train high-quality human resources, high-level research capacity, and innovation capacity will be a measure of the universities' level, and at the same time, a measure of competitiveness for each country. The strongly innovative global economy is creating "brain circulation" or "brain chain" instead of "brain drain," in which talented people return to their homeland with capital, skills, and knowledge along with many relationships with multinational enterprises as well as technology systems to contribute to the development of the country. The article presents some comments on the educational migration status of Vietnam and proposes some solutions to create favorable conditions for the Vietnamese community abroad to return home and play its role in the country's development.
Keywords: international migration, educational migration, development opportunities, brain drain, brain circulation, brain chain, development motivation.
General introduction and research methods
Currently, along with the general trend of globalization, the wave of migration has become strong at many different scales and levels. In fact, people are always moving from place to place, some looking for better opportunities, others having to run away from danger. This migration process has had a significant impact on the education system of every country. There are many documents that analyze and evaluate the impact of migration, but most of them focus on analyzing the migration flows to developed countries mainly for the better development of each individual. Therefore, the documents will focus on analyzing and proposing education policy for migrants. Like the 2002-to-date series ofthe Global Monitoring Report on Education [1], in-depth publications explore these issues internationally.
In the context of migration, education is not only a moral obligation of those who directly implement it, but also a practical solution to the problems created by migration. Education has been, is and will always be an indispensable element in solving migration issues. With the desire to have an overall analysis and assessment of migration and opportunities for Vietnamese education, the author conducts a study on migration with opportunities for Vietnam.
The analysis is made on the basis of studying reports ofVietnam's diplomatic missions and competent agencies on Vietnam's migration records over time, as well as studying domestic and international documents on migration and educational migration in Vietnam. On this basis, the author proposes research results and recommendations on educational migration and opportunities in Vietnam.
International migration and educational migration
i. General problems
Along with the general trend in the world, international migration activities of Vietnamese citizens are increasing strongly with millions of people entering and leaving the country each year and Vietnamese living in more than 100 countries and territories around the globe. Vietnam ranks 8th among the countries with the most international students in the world. Those leaving the country are often those in the most productive working age, between 20 and 40 years old. Compared to men, women have a slightly lower exit rate1.
International migration for economic purposes is the most common type of migration, including the migration of Vietnamese people abroad to work under fixed-term contracts and the self-sufficient migration of workers to neighboring countries. Among those who cross the border overland on their own to work in neighboring countries, many have legal documents, but many also go informally through cross-border trails. These informal migrants might be unsafe, unprotected, vulnerable to exploitation, abuse, or possibly becoming a victim of human trafficking.
In the trend of globalization, to get closer to "world civilization," studying abroad is the choice of many Vietnamese families. Many parents have grasped the trend of studying abroad with 1-0-2 to create conditions for their children to come close to the "paradise" education of developed countries. Studying abroad is an opportunity, it opens up a whole new horizon full of hope for change, promising a better life in the future.
According to an overview report of the Consular Department - Ministry of Foreign Affairs [2], about 90% of students go to school with their own self-financed and family funds, and only 10% have scholarships from different financial sources such as the State Bank of Vietnam, countries, support from foreign governments, international organizations, etc.
According to the statistics from the Department of International Cooperation, Ministry of Education and Training2, there are currently about 190,000 Vietnamese students studying and doing research abroad. Of which, the European region currently hosts about 40,000 Vietnamese students, such as the UK - 12,000, Germany - 7,500, France - 6,500, Russia - 6,000, Finland - 2,500, Italy - 1,100, Netherlands - 1,000, Spain - 600, Hungary - 550. In America, there are about 50,000 enrolled students from Vietnam, which highlights the US with 29,000 students, and Canada with 21,000. Asia has about 70,000: Oceania - over 32,000, of which Australia - 30,000, New Zealand - 2,500. Africa hosts about 50 Vietnamese students.
The trend of studying abroad in Vietnam thrived on foreign support and investment as many countries began to offer scholarships to Vietnamese students. Vietnamese higher education institutions implement many international exchange programs for students at domestic and international schools. International activities always take place on a global scale, Vietnamese students can apply to other countries, especially the World Youth Organization to participate in international activities.
About 60-70% of self-sufficient international students stay abroad to work after completing their studies or continue their higher education in the host country. It is developed countries that always encourage young people to do so and create working
1 Solutions to attract Vietnamese talents to return home [Giai phap thu hut nhan tai Viet ve nuac] // Party Building Magazine No. 8/2013 [Tap chi Xay dung Dang so 8/2013]. 01.08.2013. URL: http:// xaydungdang.org.vn/Home/PrintMagazineStory.aspx?ID=1074&print=true (accessed on 15.11.2021). (In Viet.)
2 Education and Training // International Trade Administration [site]. 15.09.2021. URL: https:// www.trade.gov/country-commercial-guides/vietnam-education-and-training (accessed on 15.11.2021).
conditions for students with high qualifications. For example, Australia is ready to issue permits for highly qualified students to stay and work after graduation. Singapore also agrees to allow international students to stay if they are accepted by a company after graduating from the university.
Therefore, educational migration is growing rapidly, especially in the current situation when Vietnam is integrating deeply into the global world, a development opportunity and a future expectation that many generations have not seen before. So, Vietnamese children and families are pursuing this opportunity.
Vietnam's extensive and comprehensive international integration process along with the Government's policy of encouraging study, labor, research, exchange, tourism, and investment abroad has created favorable conditions for many Vietnamese to go abroad for many different purposes [3].
Educational migration is the desire and aspiration of each individual in finding advanced and modern educational opportunities at prestigious and famous educational institutions over the world, which depends greatly on their academic (study, research, foreign language) abilities, and also on financial abilities.
Many educational migrations are temporary, with immigrants staying in the host country for a limited period of time, and then returning home.
According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs' report [cit. ex 4], in 2019, Vietnam sent 152,530 workers abroad (according to the Department of Overseas Labor). Resolution No. 21-NQ/TW dated October 25, 2017 of the 12th Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam on population work in the new situation3, and the Vietnam Population Strategy to 20304 have indicated the need to pay more attention to and invest in vulnerable populations, including migrants.
z. The impact ofinternational migration
International migration has a very diverse and multidimensional impact on migrants themselves, their families, origin and destination communities.
First of all, there are job opportunities and high income, opportunities to improve skills and professional qualifications, opportunities to learn foreign languages, and cultural exchange for migrant workers themselves. For families in Vietnam, migrant workers make an important economic contribution through accumulating financial resources to send back home to be used for different purposes such as repairing and building new houses, improving family living standards, starting a business, taking better care of their children's education, and covering health care costs for family members, or creating favorable conditions for other family members to work abroad.
For the community of origin and the country in general, international labor migration has the effect of helping to reduce the pressure on domestic employment. Increasing remittances from migrants also help the community and the country to get more
3 Main content of Resolution 21-NQ/TW on population work in the new situation [Nôi dung chinh cùa Nghi quyêt 21-NQ/TW vê công tac dân sô trong tinh hinh mai] // General Office for Population and Family Planning [Tông cuc Dân sô- Kê hoach hôa gia dinh] [site]. 08.11.2017. URL: http://gopfp.gov. vn/tin-chi-tiet/-/chi-tiet/noi-dung-chinh-cua-nghi-quyet-21-nq-tw-ve-cong-tac-dan-so-trong-tinh-hinh-moi-7991-1.html (accessed on 15.11.2021). (In Viet.)
4 Decision 1679/QD-TTg 2019 approving the Vietnam Population Strategy to 2030 [Quyêt dinh 1679/QB-TTg 2019 phê duyêt Chiên lugc Dân sô Viêt Nam dên nâm 2030] // LuatVietnam.vn [Luât Viêt Nam]. Vietnam's system of legal documents. 22.11.2019. URL: https://luatvietnam.vn/chinh-sach/ quyet-dinh-1679-qd-ttg-2019-chien-luoc-dan-so-viet-nam-den-nam-2030-178540-d1.html (accessed on 15.11.2021). (In Viet.)
resources to invest in development. Together with the overseas Vietnamese community, migrant networks also help to improve the competitiveness of the Vietnamese workforce, contributing to technology transfer through social relationships in the host country and in Vietnam. Migrants also contribute significantly to promoting cultural exchanges between countries, creating favorable conditions for Vietnam's deeper international integration [5].
However, besides the positive effects, international migration leads to the brain drain of high-quality human resources, reducing the country's ability to promote the economic development process. Along with that, there are negative impacts on the migrants themselves, their families, the community, and the country. Informal migrants who stay abroad without legal protection are vulnerable to exploitation, abuse, and human trafficking. Many migrant workers are also exposed to economic risks when their employers experience economic hardship or when they fail to comply with pre-signed contracts. For the family, the long-term separation between husband and wife, parents and children also leads to many undesirable consequences in family relations, child care and education, and elderly care [6].
As for educational migration, learners will get access to a better and more modern learning model, have the opportunity to develop their skills and necessary conditions for a better life in the future. First of all, it is the best opportunity to learn and command a foreign language. There is no better and more effective way to learn a language than when it is imperative to immerse yourself in the culture of using the language that international students are learning, to be exposed to that language in everyday life. Educational migration or studying abroad will provide the best opportunity to access a modern educational environment, experience it, participate in advanced educational programs, and obtain internationally recognized "good qualifications." Educational migration brings opportunities to increase the value of academic degrees, with subjects and training programs that domestic higher education institutions do not have. Educational migration opens up a horizon, offering the opportunity to travel and see the world. There are many opportunities for sightseeing while studying abroad when the regulations on immigration between the neighboring countries are favorable. Many student exchange programs also offer trips and practical extracurricular activities for students. Cultural differences are not only differences in language, but also in food, appearance, and personal preferences. A person's culture represents a profound reflection of the perceptions, beliefs, and values that influence one's view of the world and surroundings. International students who experience individual cultural differences will gain a real understanding of where different cultures come from. Educational migration offers experiences that schools and books cannot provide, helping individuals develop new skills and experiences. Educational migration is an environment where you can contact people from other countries, meet and make friends not only with native people but also with other international students from all over the world. Educational migration will help students understand themselves better, change their study habits, broaden their worldview, and increase employment and income opportunities.
However, educational migration might also have negative effects ifcultural and language differences, separation from the family, a completely different learning environment, harsh life abroad, and financial pressure make foreign students unable to maintain their studies. Many international students have to give up their education to find a job to maintain a minimum life abroad. There are also many international students who have to return to their countries without completing any program. The social environment isolated from the native country might also affect the students' attitude towards their homeland through
the reception of one-sided, incomplete, and inaccurate information about the economic, political, cultural situation, etc.
3. The problems encountered by migrant students
When migrating for study, it is necessary to be fully prepared so as not to feel lost and disoriented in the host country. Such preliminary preparation for students might include:
- the preparation for more advanced training programs;
- getting a full understanding of what, where, and how they are going to study;
- working out a specific plan and timelines;
- studying cultural and educational characteristics of the destination country;
- getting in touch with the overseas Vietnamese community in the destination country;
- support programs for international students carried out by the host country or the destination academic institution;
- learning about job opportunities after graduation;
- collecting information about the conditions in the host country, means of learning, living and traveling there;
- information related to the school's alumni, etc.
2001
2.1 million students
■ United States - 28%
■ United Kingdom - 11%
■ Germany - 9%
■ France - 7%
■ Australia - 4%
■ Japan - 3%
■ Spain - 2%
■ Belgium - 2%
■ Other - 34%
2019
5.3 million students
■ United States - 21%
■ United Kingdom - 9%
■ China - 9%
■ Canada - 8%
■ Australia - 8%
■ France - 7%
■ Russia - 6%
■ Germany - 5%
■ Japan - 4%
■ Spain - 2%
■ Other - 21%
Fig. 1. TOP most attractive countries for international students, 2001 & 2019
Source: Project Atlas, 20195
The estimated cost of studying abroad is about 3 billion USD per year, and Vietnam is regularly in the top 10 in terms of the number of international students in many education markets. Studying abroad is always a dream, a hope for a better future not only for Vietnamese people but also for people from many developing countries around the world. Countries that are considered attractive to international students include the US, the UK, China, Canada, Australia, France, Russia, Germany, Japan, and Spain [7]. For decades, the United States has remained the most popular study abroad destination in the world. The country's prestigious institutes attract a large number of students from different countries. With more than 5,500 universities and colleges, the United States is home to an incredibly diverse range of academic programs. Students can easily find a major that suits their needs and interests. The UK is home to many of the oldest and most famous universities in the world. British universities are also renowned for their cutting-edge research facilities, which are at the forefront of innovation. The advantage of studying in the US or the UK is that students' English language skills will be developed. Canada is another impressive higher education system with many schools listed in global university rankings. Moreover,
5 2019 Project Atlas Infographics // Institute of International Education [site]. URL: https://www. iie.org/Research-and-Insights/Project-Atlas/Explore-Data/Infographics/2019-Project-Atlas-Infographics (accessed on 15.11.2021).
Canada is consistently ranked as the best country in the world for quality of life. The country is traditionally attracting flocks of international students thanks to its safety statistics, friendly community, reliable healthcare system, and the thriving job market.
When it comes to educational migration, there are many problems that international students face, and many of these problems that may not be there when students study in their home country.
First of all, the cost of education for students studying abroad on a full scholarship can be relatively assured because scholarships often include tuition and living expenses at a level that is sufficient to pay a living. However, self-sufficient international students who do not receive any economic support from institutions have to develop a specific financial plan to be able to study until the end of the year. The cost of travel and accommodation can be very expensive depending on different countries. Therefore, the issue of reasonable spending to ensure the number one requirement is that learning needs to come first.
The second problem is the language barrier and cultural differences. It takes students a while to get acquainted with the cultural norms of the destination country before they can catch up with a new lifestyle. How long it takes depends on their preparation level, abilities, and personal efforts. Many students demonstrate relatively good foreign language skills when in their home countries, but still, they have certain communication problems when attending lectures, taking part in different activities, and talking to local people abroad. This also has a significant impact on psychology, as many students feel discouraged when it starts to seem that they "do not understand anything," which affects their learning results. Each country, each territory, will certainly have differences in terms of culture, food, clothing, etc. Thus, solid psychological preparation is necessary for every international student to quickly get used to the new lifestyle and avoid a "culture shock."
Regulations on health insurance for foreign students (compulsory insurance for all foreign students, additional charges if traveling with a spouse and/or children, etc.) is a problem that is very clearly regulated in all countries receiving international students, as poor preparation will affect their life and learning process.
Access to programs and activities to support international students when living and studying abroad carried out by educational institutions, as well as the Vietnamese community overseas, will help reduce the difficulties faced by students abroad.
Students might need some support as studying abroad means living independently, taking care of yourself, including meals, calculating expenses, balancing school and work, balancing emotions, etc.
In addition, there might be problems related to the job search process, discrimination in the labor market and barriers to finding a job, insufficient foreign language proficiency, and challenges related to limited access to acquire skills and qualifications of migrants in destination countries.
Brain drain and challenges for Vietnamese education
The 4th industrial revolution and the strong digital transformation process create the need to fundamentally change the strategy and methods oforganizing science and technology training and research. Along with the process of integration and internationalization, the tendency of brain drain, especially for highly qualified young cadres, is a big challenge for domestic universities. Besides, the capacity to train high-quality human resources, high-
level research capacity, and innovation capacity becomes a measure of universities' level, and at the same time a measure of competitiveness for each country6.
Brain drain is defined as population migration in search of better standards of living and quality of life, higher wages, access to advanced technology and more stable political conditions in different places around the world.
The race between higher education institutions to attract and train talents has become an urgent need of universities around the world, and in the future, this competition among educational institutions to attract "elite" human resources will become more and more intense.
Experts, scientific personnel, intellectuals, including writers and artists from countries with low living standards, migrate to live in countries with more favorable conditions for study, research, scientific and cultural activities, with high remuneration regime, developed economic conditions such as the United States, Japan, Great Britain, France, Germany, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland.
In terms of terminology, "brain drain" is human capital flight. The term is used to refer to the large-scale migration of knowledgeable and technical human resources from one country to another.
Brain drain is a global phenomenon, causing negative impacts when not taking advantage of high-quality human resources that contribute to the country's economic development. Therefore, the governments of the countries have set out policies to curb this phenomenon and attract the gray matter back by many measures.
Brain drain, especially educational migration, is affected by the world's labor market demand when the domestic market has an excess of unskilled labor but a scarcity of highlevel intellectual labor. This situation leads to competitive policies to attract talents mainly in Europe and the US, including amending immigration laws, granting work visas, offering high salaries, investing in remuneration, building up research funds or scholarship funds, etc.
The main pull factors for high-quality human resources are (1) good learning and working environment; (2) high technology background; (3) open, transparent and fair recruitment mechanisms; (4) opportunities to find jobs with high income, and high living standards; (5) good preferential policies; (6) good social security policy; (7) some personal aspects such as family reunion (with relatives abroad) or personal interests, like an opportunity to improve career.
Developing countries are looking for ways to transform brain drain into increased intelligence. The world is facing a huge international migration trend with the expectation of "having a bright tomorrow," so brain drain is a concern not only of developing countries but also developed countries [8]. Attracting, training, and fostering talents is always a necessity everywhere in the world today. Better living standards and quality of life, higher wages, access to advanced technology, and more stable political situation in developed countries will be the conditions for attracting talents from less developed regions when the pursuit of education and economic improvement becomes the driving force of international migration. Knowledge is one of the most expensive resources for any country because training consumes a lot of resources in terms of material costs and time, and most
6 Find good people for top research at VKIST [Tim nguoi gioi cho nhung nghien cuu hang dau tai VKIST] // Ministry of Science and Technology (MOST) [Bo Khoa hoc va Cong nghe (MOST)]. 30.09.2021. URL: https://most.gov.vn/vn/tin-tuc/20725/tim-nguoi-gioi-cho-nhung-nghien-cuu-hang-dau-tai-vkist.aspx (accessed on 15.11.2021). (In Viet.)
importantly, a country loses opportunities for development in the future if it loses human resources.
International migration in higher education is very intense today and has a great impact on the economic development of the country. Vietnam is facing a sizable international migration in the higher education sector as there are not many Vietnamese universities that can provide world-class education and training opportunities as well as career and employment advancement opportunities, and professional research environment. Due to the lack of funding, poor facilities, and poor intellectual stimulation Vietnam has not achieved the level of developed countries in science, technology, and innovation yet and cannot affirm its position in the academic arena, although it has made really remarkable progress.
Although scientific and technology staff has increased in number, there is a shortage of leading experts in many fields, including key fields. Over the past time, the Party and State conducted many policies on investment, attracting talents as well as policies towards overseas Vietnamese, such as Resolution 36-NQ/TW dated March 26, 2004 of the Politburo on work with overseas Vietnamese7, Directive No. 19/2008/CT-TTg dated June 6, 2008 of the Prime Minister on continuing to strengthen the implementation of the Government's Action Program on working with overseas Vietnamese8, Directive No. 45-CT/TW dated May 19, 2015 of the Politburo on the continued accelerate the implementation of Resolution 369, contributing to a more comprehensive and stronger implementation of the work on overseas Vietnamese in the new situation, and most recently, Conclusion No. 12-KL/TW dated August 12, 2021 of the Politburo on overseas Vietnamese work10 for the purpose of arousing and promoting the strength of the entire people, including intellectual and material resources of our compatriots abroad, contributing to the construction of a
7 Resolution No. 36/NQ-TW dated March 26, 2004 of the Politburo on working with overseas Vietnamese [Nghi quyêt sô 36/NQ-TW ngày 26/3/2004 cùa Bô Chinh tri vê công tac dôi voi nguài Viêt Nam o nuoc ngoài] // Communist Party of Vietnam Electronic Newspaper [Bao diên tù Bâng Công sàn Viêt Nam]. 26.03.2004. URL: https://tulieuvankiendangcongsan.vn/he-thong-van-ban/van-ban-cua-dang/nghi-quyet-so-36nq-tw-ngay-2632004-cua-bo-chinh-tri-ve-cong-tac-doi-voi-nguoi-viet-nam-o-nuoc-ngoai-2102 (accessed on 15.11.2021). (In Viet.)
8 Directive No. 19/2008/CT-TTG of the Prime Minister: On continuing to strengthen the implementation of the Government's Action Program on working with overseas Vietnamese [Chi thi sô 19/2008/CT-TTG cùa Thù tuong Chinh phù: Vê viêc tiêp tuc tang cuàng triên khai thuc hiên Chuong trinh hành dông cùa Chinh phù vê công tac voi nguài Viêt Nam o nuoc ngoài] // Government Portal [Công Thông tin diên tù Chinh phù]. 06.06.2008. URL: https://vanban.chinhphu.vn/default. aspx?pageid=27160&docid=68405 (accessed on 15.11.2021). (In Viet.)
9 Directive No. 45-CT/TW dated May 19, 2015 of the Politburo on continuing to accelerate the implementation of Resolution No. 36-NQ/TW of the IX Politburo on work with overseas Vietnamese in new conditions [Chi thi sô 45-CT/TW ngày 19/5/2015 cùa Bô Chinh tri vê viêc tiêp tuc day manh thuc hiên Nghi quyêt sô 36-NQ/TW cùa Bô Chinh tri khôa IX vê công tac dôi voi nguài Viêt Nam o nuoc ngoài trong tinh hinh moi] // Communist Party of Vietnam Electronic Newspaper [Bao diên tù Bâng Công sân Viêt Nam]. 19.05.2015. URL: https://tulieuvankien.dangcongsan.vn/he-thong-van-ban/van-ban-cua-dang/ chi-thi-so-45-cttw-ngay-1952015-cua-bo-chinh-tri-ve-viec-tiep-tuc-day-manh-thuc-hien-nghi-quyet-so-36-nqtw-cua-bo-chinh-168 (accessed on 15.11.2021). (In Viet.)
10 Conclusion No. 12-KL/TW dated 12/8/2021 of the Politburo on overseas Vietnamese work in the new situation [Kêt luân sô 12-KL/TW ngày 12/8/2021 cùa Bô Chinh tri vê công tac nguài Viêt Nam o nuoc ngoài trong tinh hinh moi] // Communist Party of Vietnam Electronic Newspaper [Bao diên tù Bâng Công sàn Viêt Nam]. 12.08.2021. URL: https://tulieuvankien.dangcongsan.vn/he-thong-van-ban/van-ban-cua-dang/ket-luan-so-12-kltw-ngay-1282021-cua-bo-chinh-tri-ve-cong-tac-nguoi-viet-nam-o-nuoc-ngoai-trong-tinh-hinh-moi-7730 (accessed on 15.11.2021). (In Viet.)
prosperous and happy country. The Ministry of Education and Training has been assigned by the Government to implement a number of projects such as Project 91111, formerly Project 32212 (Training lecturers with doctoral degrees for universities and colleges in the period 2010-2020), Project 59913 (Training cadres abroad with the state budget for the period 2013-2020). However, the training of high-quality human resources contributing to economic development, science and technology still faces many challenges such as sending human resources to be trained in advanced and modern environments around the world and then returning them to the country, as well as attracting highly-qualified Vietnamese people from abroad back to their homeland, even earning income attracting foreigners to Vietnam to participate in the process of building the country on a par with the region and the world.
The overseas Vietnamese community with professional and technical qualifications includes intellectuals, accounting for 10-15% of the community, most concentrated in the US, France, Canada, technicians, skilled and skilled technical workers. Among them, there are good experts working in high-tech fields: electronics, biology, new materials, aerospace, and other important fields. Many of them hold important positions in research institutes, universities, hospitals, business companies of host countries and international organizations. In most industries, including high-tech industries such as space, aviation, etc., there are Vietnamese people. This is a valuable asset, an important resource in the development and protection of the country.
The problem of attracting talents is that overseas Vietnamese are always valued by our Party and State. In many congresses, especially the IX and XI Congresses of the Party, it was affirmed: "The compatriots residing abroad are an integral part and a resource of the Vietnamese ethnic community," and the need to "have policies in place" was emphasized. The policy creates favorable conditions for overseas Vietnamese to visit their homeland, expands cultural activities, education and training, science and technology, production and business, and makes practical contributions to national construction. Focus is made on "using and promoting the potential of knowledge of overseas Vietnamese". The education sector, which attracts the most returns of overseas Vietnamese intellectuals, is also the place to witness the scarcity ofhigh-quality human resources in the face ofthe current brain drain. In the strategy of building and developing higher education institutions, they have changed their strategies and policies to make the most of the positive results of "brain circulation" or "brain chain" to overcome phenomenon of "one-way brain drain" from Vietnam to the world.
11 Decision on the Approval of the Project for Training Teachers and Doctors for Universities and Colleges for 2010-2020 No. 911/QD-TTg [Quyêt Binh Phê Duyêt Bê An Bào Tao Giàng Viên Cô Trinh Bô Tiên Sî Cho Cac Truong Bai Hoc, Cao Bâng Giai Boan 2010-2020 Sô: 911/QB-TTg] // Law Library [Thu Viên Phap Luât] [site]. 17.06.2010. URL: https://thuvienphapluat.vn/van-ban/Giao-duc/Quyet-dinh-911-QD-TTg-De-an-Dao-tao-giang-vien-co-trinh-do-tien-si-107568.aspx (accessed on 15.11.2021). (In Viet.)
12 Decision on the Approval of the Project "Training Scientific and Technical Staff at Foreign Businesses with the State Budget" [Quyêt Binh Vê Viêc Phê Duyêt Bê An "Bào Tao Can Bô Khoa Hoc, Ky Thuât Tai Cac Co So Nuoc Ngoài Bang Ngân Sach Nhà Nuoc"] // Law Library [Thu Viên Phap Luât] [site]. 19.04.2000. URL: https://thuvienphapluat.vn/van-ban/Tai-chinh-nha-nuoc/Quyet-dinh-322-2000-QD-TTg-De-an-Dao-tao-can-bo-khoa-hoc-ky-thuat-tai-nuoc-ngoai-bang-ngan-sach-nha-nuoc-8543.aspx (accessed on 15.11.2021). (In Viet.)
13 Decision on the Approval of the Project "Training cadres overseas by the state budget period of 2013-2020" [Quyêt Binh Vê Viêc Phê Duyêt Bê An "Bào Tao Can Bô Ô Nuoc Ngoài Bâng Ngân Sach Nhà Nuoc Giai Boan 2013-2020"] // Law Library [Thu Viên Phap Luât] [site]. 17.04.2013. URL: https://thuvienphapluat.vn/van-ban/Bo-may-hanh-chinh/Quyet-dinh-599-QD-TTg-De-an-Dao-tao-can-bo-o-nuoc-ngoai-bang-ngan-sach-nha-nuoc-182217.aspx (accessed on 15.11.2021). (In Viet.)
In the field of higher education in particular and other fields in general, there are many reasons affecting the limitation in attracting intellectuals and overseas Vietnamese such as inadequate remuneration, poor technical equipment, low efficiency of using gray matter, limited conditions for knowledge improvement and international exchange, and the lack of freedom of creativity. Therefore, practical solutions are needed to limit the challenges of the brain drain as the result of international migration in the field of higher education in Vietnam.
Educational migration and opportunities in Vietnam
The strongly innovative global economy is creating "brain circulation" or "brain chain" instead of "brain drain," in which talented people return to their homeland with capital, skills, and knowledge. along with many relationships with multinational enterprises, as well as technology systems, which plays a significant role in the development of the country. Some highly qualified specialists choose to stay abroad, but still contribute to the country's development in the form of sending remittances back home, supporting business relationships, or directly participating, in scientific and research activities, formulating economic development policies of the country. Brain drain will increase competition between developing countries, domestic enterprises, and multinational corporations, creating new ideas for domestic and international economic development policies.
The situation ofbrain drain, or not fully exploiting the country's talents, is an important issue that needs to be addressed because Vietnamese tradition and wisdom are really valuable resources of the society. But a big question arises - how have we exploited and used that intellectual resource? Was it reasonable? Was there a waste? Was it a perfectionistic and hasty?
International migration is a worldwide trend that cannot be reversed. Although there are some negative effects, in general, international migration has mainly positive effects. It is important to have appropriate solutions and institutions to protect the legitimate rights and interests of migrants, minimize the risks they may face, and facilitate international migration for it to contribute more to the development of each individual, family, and country [9].
Vietnam joins and signs new-generation free trade agreements such as the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA), the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), etc., with unprecedented commitments on labor rights, reform of state-owned enterprises, bidding and procurement public, intellectual property protection, which is an opportunity for Vietnam to learn, cooperate, protect intellectual property rights and transfer technology.
The field of science and technology (S&T) is one of the industries that need support, contributing both to intellectual and financial resources and international cooperation. However, when investing in S&T from abroad, there are still many shortcomings in terms of mechanisms and regulations, which will create barriers and reduce the motivation of international partners to contribute to the development of S&T in the country. Therefore, the internal organization of the domestic S&T industry needs to be changed.
In order to be effective, it is necessary to continue to innovate the investment mechanisms in S&T for the sake of healthy competition, with the focus on indicators measuring results and output efficiency. Procedures for selecting S&T tasks should be flexible and simple; financial settlement should follow international practices with increased investment from the state budget.
Continued investment in improving S&T infrastructure, modernizing research equipment, and improving the operational efficiency of key laboratories and specialized laboratories would help to create an autonomous and attractive scientific and technological research environment, as well as an advanced academic environment. Introducing a satisfactory remuneration policy and providing favorable career development opportunities would attract more specialists to the S&T sphere, while expanding international cooperation and connection would effectively attract Vietnamese scientific personnel from abroad.
Research to create domestic and international protected intellectual property, improve mastery of design and manufacture of high-tech products, especially for specific technologies, core technologies in products would contribute to raising the level and potential of the nation's science and technology and promoting technology transfer from abroad to Vietnam.
Renewing thinking and perfecting mechanisms and policies on overseas Vietnamese might make it possible to gather, unite widely and promote the creative intelligence of S&T intellectuals from the overseas Vietnamese community, increase the role they play everywhere in the world and make the most of their talents. By improving the quality of participation of Vietnamese S&T intellectuals in advice, criticism, and social assessment the country could broaden research activities and application of scientific and technological advances in economic, social development, and environmental protection.
If Vietnam is able to create a favorable environment to gather a team of domestic and foreign S&T intellectuals by promoting patriotism and civic responsibility of the specialists, the country would become a place for them to demonstrate their intelligence, creativity and make positive contributions to the development of the society.
Another important measure is to improve the investment environment, reform administrative procedures on investment, especially the implementation stage in localities to create favorable conditions for overseas Vietnamese to invest back home.
Developing solutions to attract talents to work long-term for the country requires the coordination of implementation by relevant ministries and branches. Research, adjust, amend and supplement laws and policies on overseas Vietnamese are needed in order to create solidarity for the Vietnamese community abroad, and attract the contributions of the Vietnamese from all over the world for the development of the country and the whole Vietnamese community. In order to attract Vietnamese specialists to S&T activities in the country, the government should continue to improve the legal framework to create conditions for overseas Vietnamese entrepreneurs and intellectuals to return home to work and invest in business. It is also important to engage foreigners and foreign experts in S&T activities in Vietnam.
By making connections with universities, research institutes, and laboratories in the host countries where overseas Vietnamese are employed in order to cooperate in training and provide scholarships to support students, it is possible to build high-quality human resources and attract excellent staff who is ready to participate in the country's innovation activities.
Through technology transfer and innovations so-called "global citizens" [10] can also promote common progress. Preferential policies which create conditions to attract overseas students to return home to work could help to overcome the situation of brain drain. Such policies might be especially effective on international students who do not receive scholarships from the state budget.
It is necessary to organize more annual and periodical activities for overseas Vietnamese, such as the Homeland Spring Program14 aiming to foster links between overseas Vietnamese and their compatriots at home; invite overseas Vietnamese delegations to visit the country on major holidays, such as the Death Anniversary of the Hung Kings, the liberation of the South to reunify the country, and the National Day; organize summer camps for overseas Vietnamese youth, forums, seminars, and conferences where overseas Vietnamese can participate and contribute to the development of the country, etc.
To attract talents from abroad to Vietnam it is also necessary to Strengthen the leadership and direction of party organizations for competent agencies through thematic directives and resolutions. At the same time, the government should focus on leading the implementation, inspection, and supervision by way of regularly surveying the situation of using talents to prepare solutions to overcome arising problems so as not to waste brainpower. It is necessary to focus on conducting preliminary reviews, summarizing lessons learned, and developing policies to achieve the set goals.
Regulations of state agencies on entry, exit, residence, and travel of overseas Vietnamese in the country should be concretized and improved to make the procedures open, convenient and simple. Clear and quick procedures for overseas Vietnamese would make it easier for them to repatriate or to do business and live in the country for a definite time. Vietnamese citizens living abroad are in need to solve existing problems of domestic housing purchase, inheritance, marriage, family, child adoption, etc.
State agencies in charge should use appropriate forms to collect opinions of compatriots abroad before promulgating legal documents and policies related to overseas Vietnamese. Ministries and branches should develop projects to attract experts and intellectuals from abroad to participate in science, technology, education, and training activities at higher education institutions in Vietnam. At the local level, there should be specific regimes and policies for overseas Vietnamese experts and intellectuals who regularly work at training and research institutions, industrial parks, and industrial zones, high tech sphere, etc.
Methods of advocacy need to be modernized and diversified in order to promote the gathering the overseas Vietnamese community, encouraging and creating easy conditions for them to transfer knowledge, technology and advanced management experience. Overseas Vietnamese should be provided conditions to participate in the major political and social activities of the country. And the country needs a legal framework to create conditions for overseas Vietnamese businessmen and intellectuals to return home to work, invest and do business. So, the formation of specialized associations should be encouraged, and cooperation between the communities should be expanded. It is also important to build a satisfactory remuneration regime, favorable working environment for overseas Vietnamese experts and intellectuals who have high professional qualifications and are capable of consulting on management and administration, technology transfer, high technology to the country. Within this framework, there could be adopted a policy to reward overseas Vietnamese organizations and individuals that have made achievements in community building mobilization, contributing to the construction of the country, as well as domestic organizations and individuals with achievements in advocacy work.
National organizations for overseas Vietnamese in host countries and international organizations should consolidate their efforts, functions, and tasks in order to work in a
14 Overseas Vietnamese encouraged to aid national development // Vietnam News. Newspaper. URL: https://vietnamnews.vn/opinion/1118141/overseas-vietnamese-encouraged-to-aid-national-development. html (accessed on 15.11.2021).
professional and effective manner, acting as a bridge between compatriots in the country and overseas Vietnamese, creating favorable conditions for overseas Vietnamese to contribute to national construction. Currently, Vietnam cooperates with the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), and developed countries to create favorable conditions to attract and send Vietnamese intellectuals to work abroad for a limited time.
In addition to the direct contributions to the country's economy, overseas Vietnamese could bring many indirect contributions as well in the form of attracting foreign investment through connecting foreign investors with domestic partners and introducing them to Vietnam. At the same time, it would increase the prestige and attractiveness of Vietnam's investment environment to international investors. As of November 2020, overseas Vietnamese had 362 investment projects in the form of foreign investment in Vietnam with a total registered capital of 1.6 billion USD from 27 countries and territories. In which, the most were from the US expatriates, followed by France, Australia, China, and Germany15.
Most investment projects of overseas Vietnamese focus on the processing and manufacturing industry - 143 projects with registered capital of 725.14 million USD, accounting for 39.5% of all the projects and 45.2% of the registered capital. Overseas Vietnamese investors have invested in 42/63 localities across the country, in which Hanoi is leading with 79 projects and registered capital of476.8 million USD (accounting for 21.8% of all the projects and 7% of registered capital), followed by Long An, Binh Thuan, Hai Phong, Dong Nai, and other locations. Foreign investment projects of expatriates operate quite effectively, making significant contributions to the socio-economic development of the country.
The Vietnam Innovation Network16 could be used for building a database and a digital platform connecting all Vietnamese elites abroad. Strengthening communication activities based on information technologies follows the trend of digital transformation and the fourth industrial revolution and would be an effective means to unite the Vietnamese community within the country and around the world. In such a way, any place in the world would become a link in the chain of solidarity towards the goal of building a strong homeland and creating the opportunity for each Vietnamese citizen to develop personally and improve their life.
Conclusion
When Vietnamese talents become "global citizens," their dedication is automatically a common property that any country can take advantage of. Therefore, it is necessary to identify and recognize both their contribution to the world and the resonance of Vietnam's interests. Vietnam would profit from mobilizing overseas Vietnamese experts, intellectuals, and businessmen to actively transfer advanced science and technology back home to apply in production, improve capacity, production, and quality of goods, promote the country's trade activities.
More and more overseas Vietnamese experts and intellectuals are cooperating with domestic agencies in various forms such as teaching and research. They act as a bridge to
15 Attract investment and promote overseas Vietnamese resources through a global innovation network [Thu hut dau tu va phat huy nguon luc nguoi Viet Nam 0 nuoc ngoai thong qua mang luoi doi moi sang tao toan cau] // Southern Investment Promotion Center [Trung Tam Xuc Tien Dau Tu Phia Nam] [site]. URL: https://ipcs.mpi.gov.vn/thu-hut-dau-tu-nguoi-viet-nam-o-nuoc-ngoai/ (accessed on 15.11.2021). (In Viet.)
16 Vietnam Innovation Network // Vietnam National Innovation Center [site]. 19.08.2020. URL: http://eng.nic.gov.vn/Vietnam-Innovation-Network/vietnam-innovation-network-10931 (accessed on 15.11.2021).
bring foreign experts to cooperate with domestic specialists by inviting domestic experts to attend international scientific activities, apply for scholarships for young talented scientists and intellectuals from Vietnam to train and do research in technologically advanced countries, combine production and business activities with technology transfer, participate in international cooperation programs ofVietnam.
The overseas Vietnamese community is growing stronger, and its members always look to the country, have the desire to contribute to the construction of their homeland. The country should take the advantage due to the Vietnam Government's policy of visa exemption for overseas Vietnamese returning home.
Attracting resources of expatriates to contribute to the national construction and development, attracting investment and developing national innovation capacity is a very important task in the context of digital transformation and the 4th industrial revolution that is on its way now in most countries around the globe. International migration in general and educational migration in particular is no longer just a risk of "brain drain" but becomes a driving force, an opportunity, and a future potential for Vietnam's development and turning into a rich and strong country, on par with other countries of the Asia-Pacific and the world.
References
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Bio note:
Nguyen Minh Huyen Trang, Master of Public Administration, Director, Center for Intellectual Property and Technology Transfer, Vietnam National University, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.
Contact information: e-mail: nmhtrang@vnuhcm.edu.vn; ORCID ID: 0 0 0 0-0 001-6211-5952.
Acknowledgements and financing:
The reported study was funded by the Russian Foundation for Basic Research (RFBR) and Vietnam Academy of Social Sciences (VASS) according to the research project № 20-511-92002.
Received on 07.12.2021; accepted for publication on 08.02.2022.
The author has read and approved the final manuscript.
ОБРАЗОВАТЕЛЬНАЯ МИГРАЦИЯ ВО ВЬЕТНАМЕ: ВЫЗОВЫ И НОВЫЕ ВОЗМОЖНОСТИ
Нгуен Минь Хуен Чанг
Вьетнамский национальный университет, Хошимин, Вьетнам E-mail: nmhtrang@vnuhcm.edu.vn
Для цитирования: Нгуен Минь Хуен Чанг. Образовательная миграция во Вьетнаме: вызовы и новые возможности // ДЕМИС. Демографические исследования. 2022. Т. 2. № 1. С. 127-141. DOI: https://doi.org/l0.1918l/demis.2022.2.1.10
Аннотация. Международная миграционная активность граждан Вьетнама резко возросла за последние десятилетия, что следует общей глобальной тенденции. Ежегодно миллионы вьетнамцев выезжают более чем в сотню стран мира или возвращаются из них. Также Вьетнам сегодня находится на восьмом месте по количеству студентов, обучающихся за рубежом. Многие вьетнамские семьи выбирают для своих детей обучение за границей, поскольку это позволяет стать ближе к «мировой цивилизации» в рамках глобализационного тренда. Родители, уловившие это веяние, стараются создать все условия для того, чтобы их дети получили доступ к «райскому» образованию в развитых странах. Учеба за границей видится как возможность открыть совершенно новые горизонты, она сулит надежду на перемены и обещает лучшую жизнь в будущем. Четвертая промышленная революция и мощный процесс цифровой трансформации создают необходимость коренного изменения стратегии и методов организации обучения и исследований в области науки и технологий. Наряду с процессом интеграции и интернационализации, проблема «утечки умов», особенно высококвалифицированных молодых кадров, становится большим вызовом для вьетнамских вузов. Способность готовить качественные человеческие ресурсы, создавать исследовательский и инновационный потенциал высокого уровня начинают рассматриваться в качестве не только показателя уровня развития вузов, но и конкурентоспособности каждой из стран в целом. Однако инновационная глобальная экономика дает возможность заменить «утечку умов» циркуляцией умов, когда талантливые люди возвращаются на родину с приобретенными заграницей капиталом, навыками и знаниями, а также связами с многонациональными предприятиями и пониманием используемых там технологических систем, что играет значительную роль в развитии страны. В данной статье приводится критический обзор ситуации с образовательной миграцией из Вьетнама на современном этапе, а также предлагаются возможные пути решения связанных с ней проблем и рекомендации по созданию благоприятных условий для возвращения на родину представителей зарубежного вьетнамского сообщества, способных внести свой вклад в развитие страны.
Ключевые слова: международная миграция, образовательная миграция, возможности развития, утечка умов, циркуляция умов, мотивация развития.
Сведения об авторе:
Нгуен Минь Хуен Чанг, магистр государственного управления, директор Центра интеллектуальной собственности и трансфера технологий Вьетнамского национального университета, Хошимин, Вьетнам.
Контактная информация: e-mail: nmhtrang@vnuhcm.edu.vn; ORCID ID: 0000-0002-2984-5395.
Благодарности и финансирование:
Исследование выполнено при финансовой поддержке РФФИ и ВАОН в рамках научного проекта № 20-511-92002.
Статья поступила в редакцию 07.12.2021; принята в печать 08.02.2022.
Автор прочитал и одобрил окончательный вариант рукописи.
