University mergers: Will there be a wave of lecturers moving from public to private?

(Dan Tri) - The arrangement and merger of public schools will open up a "strategic gap" for non-public schools, according to Dr. Nguyen Quoc Anh, Vice Principal of Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology.

Resolution 71 of the Politburo on breakthroughs in education and training development sets out the task of modernizing and upgrading higher education, creating breakthroughs in developing highly qualified human resources and talents, and leading research and innovation.

In which, arranging, restructuring and merging higher education institutions is one of the key solutions.

At the 2025 Higher Education Conference, Minister of Education and Training Nguyen Kim Son affirmed that this major restructuring of educational institutions is an order.

This is the opportunity, the time, the moment for higher education to make a breakthrough. "If we do not seize the opportunity, seize the power, it means we are at fault," the head of the education sector emphasized.

Before the revolution in university arrangement and merger, Dan Tri Newspaper organized a series of articles with the theme: "The great arrangement of universities: A strategic turning point for breakthrough development".

The series of articles is a panoramic picture of the orientation of arranging, restructuring and merging universities in Vietnam, in which leading experts will participate in debating and clarifying breakthrough development opportunities for higher education and challenges that need to be jointly resolved so that the higher education revolution can reach its destination in accordance with the spirit of Resolution 71.

The arrangement and merger of public universities that is being vigorously implemented is not only a step of internal restructuring of the public sector, but also creates a turning point for the private sector. Experts say this is a golden time for private schools to make a breakthrough. The focus of the change is the wave of high-quality academic personnel moving from the public sector to seek an autonomous environment, transparent remuneration mechanisms and results-linked to the private sector.

Golden time for private schools to take advantage of attracting talent

Dr. Nguyen Quoc Anh - Vice Principal of Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology - commented that the arrangement and merger of public schools is a major restructuring step of the university education system, at the same time opening up many "strategic gaps" for non-public schools.

Mr. Nguyen Quoc Anh predicts that this is the period when a wave of academic personnel migration is likely to appear. Because when public schools merge, a group of lecturers and researchers who want an autonomous environment and a reward mechanism linked to results will seek private schools.

“Private schools can take advantage of this time to build talent attraction packages, from research funds, laboratories to intellectual property sharing policies, thereby improving research and training capacity,” said the Vice Rector of Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology.

Dr. Nguyen Duc Nghia - former Vice President of Ho Chi Minh City National University - also recognized that this restructuring and streamlining of public universities is a breakthrough opportunity for private schools.

According to the former Vice President of Ho Chi Minh City National University, currently the system of non-public schools accounts for about 25% of the number of schools and less than 20% of the number of students, but is growing faster in terms of teaching staff than public schools.

As public schools merge, become more elite and research-focused, they are likely to reduce their applied, mass-market training programs. This creates a large “market gap” that private schools, with their flexibility and dynamism, can quickly fill.

Moreover, the fiercer competition for academic positions in the public sector after the merger will push a segment of good lecturers to move to the private sector, where there are better remunerations and a more open working environment for innovation.

In particular, private universities with strong potential, well-invested by large economic groups, will have a golden opportunity to break through. They can invest in modern facilities, develop high-quality training programs, and become a real counterweight to leading public schools.

Thus, the public sector restructuring policy is not only an internal reform, but also indirectly creates momentum for the rise of the private sector, contributing to the formation of a healthy competitive higher education market, where the quality and choice of learners determine existence and development.

A notable point raised by Dr. Nguyen Quoc Anh is the information gap that appears when implementing arrangements and mergers. Many public schools will change their names and training structures. This unintentionally pushes parents and candidates to seek addresses with stable, transparent information and professional consulting services. This is an opportunity for non-public schools to affirm their brand reputation by early announcing their enrollment plans, output standards and employment data.

In addition, while the public sector focuses on organizational work, private schools have the advantage of flexibility to open new majors, from 2+2 programs, dual degrees, short-term training certificates to cooperative courses with businesses.

With Decree 238 bringing tuition support policies directly to learners, non-public schools have more advantages in designing scholarship and subsidy packages, transparent “net prices” to narrow the cost gap compared to public schools. This is an important foundation to expand access to quality education for learners in many segments, according to Dr. Nguyen Quoc Anh.

Strategic gaps present both opportunities and challenges.

Master Cao Quang Tu, Director of Admissions at Saigon International University, assessed that the strategic gap opened up by the arrangement and merger of public universities will include both opportunities and challenges for private schools.

The opportunity comes from the fact that the entire higher education system must raise standards in the process of streamlining, creating conditions for prestigious private schools to affirm their position, expand cooperation and attract students.

Opportunities are also evident in society's growing interest in private, flexible learning environments.

Master Cao Quang Tu, Director of Admissions, Saigon International University (Photo: NVCC).

However, the challenge comes from fierce competition when many public institutions after the merger will have large scale, strong resources, attracting good and excellent students. This requires private schools to constantly innovate to adapt to new trends, quickly grasp the needs of students and the labor market.

“When public schools focus on elite training and research, the “gap” for practical, applied needs will become a space for private schools, with flexibility in programs and management models, to quickly grasp.

At the same time, in the changing context, parents and students will pay more attention to stability, training quality and learning experience. This is the competitive advantage that private schools can promote," analyzed Master Cao Quang Tu.

The Director of Admissions of Saigon International University also pointed out 3 key groups of advantages of private schools in the upcoming university arrangement and merger, which are: the ability to internationalize training from building programs according to international standards, inviting foreign lecturers, expanding student exchanges, cooperating with prestigious universities in the world; the ability to closely connect with businesses, helping students have practical career experience right from when they are still in school; and a policy of prioritizing comprehensive student experiences.

In addition, private schools have strengths in designing and organizing academic, artistic, sports events, international conferences, cross-border cultural and academic exchange activities. These activities help students practice skills, expand global thinking, and build integration skills - factors that make private school students different.

Mr. Nguyen Quang Huy - Executive Director of the Faculty of Finance and Banking, Nguyen Trai University - affirmed that the role of private schools in the national strategy is not a counterweight, but an extension to help the Vietnamese higher education system become richer and more competitive.

Mr. Nguyen Quang Huy - Executive Director of the Faculty of Finance and Banking, Nguyen Trai University (Photo: NTU).

However, to take advantage of this “golden moment”, the private sector needs to take strategic steps, focusing on in-depth investment in training quality, standardizing accreditation and building a strong academic brand. This is the core foundation for private schools to increase their social prestige, becoming the first choice, not just an alternative.

Mr. Nguyen Quang Huy emphasized that this comprehensive restructuring brings three most important benefits: first, learners benefit from a more standardized learning environment, with fairer and more diverse opportunities; second, public schools become streamlined, stronger and internationally competitive; third, private schools have space to assert and contribute their essential role.

More importantly, the restructuring of the public sector and the rise of the private sector will promote Vietnam’s higher education to become a leading human resource training destination in the region. This healthy competition ensures a high-quality human resource, ready for the era of global integration and development.

Part 1: University arrangement is an order and strategy for breakthrough

Part 2: University arrangements must ensure no interruption in students' studies

Part 3: University mergers: Ending the consequences of "hot" development, opportunities for private schools

Part 4: University merger: Must sacrifice personal interests, accept pain once

Part 5: University merger: Will all weak schools be dissolved?

Part 6: Will the university entrance gate in 2026 narrow after the major restructuring?

Source: https://dantri.com.vn/giao-duc/sap-nhap-dai-hoc-se-co-lan-song-dich-chuyen-giang-vien-tu-cong-sang-tu-20251001231423501.htm