Scientific Management in Language Education: A Case Study of the School of Foreign Languages at Thai Nguyen University

Duong Thi Thu Hien; Vu Thi Huyen Trang; Le Huu Thang

doi:10.18535/sshj.v9i06.1887

Abstract

This study explores the implementation and perception of scientific management practices at the School of Foreign Languages (SFL), Thai Nguyen University, within the broader context of Vietnamese higher education reform. Using a qualitative case study approach, data were collected through interviews, observations, and document analysis involving faculty members, department heads, and administrators. Thematic analysis revealed five core areas of reform: strategic planning, standardization, performance measurement, faculty perceptions, and implementation challenges. Findings show that while scientific management has improved operational efficiency and accountability, it also raises concerns related to academic autonomy, workload, and inconsistent application. The study contributes to understanding how management reforms intersect with institutional culture and offers context-sensitive recommendations for governance in higher education.

Keywords

ColonialismCultureEastImperialismOrientalismWest

References

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[refR-4] Braun, V., & Clarke, V. (2006). Using thematic analysis in psychology. Qualitative Research in Psychology, 3(2), 77–101.Google Scholar ↗

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[refR-7] Clarke, C. A., & Knights, D. (2015). Careering through academia: Securing identities or engaging ethical subjectivities? Human Relations, 68(12), 1865–1888.Google Scholar ↗

[refR-8] Deem, R. (2001). Globalisation, New Managerialism, Academic Capitalism and Entrepreneurialism in Universities: Is the Local Dimension Still Important? Comparative Education, 37(1), 7–20.Google Scholar ↗

[refR-9] Do, Q. H., & Pho, T. H. (2017). Understanding challenges in Vietnamese higher education reforms: A case study at a regional university. VNU Journal of Science: Education Research, 33(2), 33–45.Google Scholar ↗

[refR-10] Fazekas, M., & Burns, T. (2022). Governing education through digital platforms: A comparative study of five OECD education systems. OECD Education Working Papers, No. 265.Google Scholar ↗

[refR-11] Ferlie, E., Musselin, C., & Andresani, G. (2008). The steering of higher education systems: A public management perspective. Higher Education, 56(3), 325–348.Google Scholar ↗

[refR-12] Harman, G., Hayden, M., & Nghi, P. T. (Eds.). (2010). Reforming higher education in Vietnam: Challenges and priorities. Springer.Google Scholar ↗

[refR-13] Hazelkorn, E., & Gibson, A. (2019). Global rankings and the geopolitics of higher education. Routledge.Google Scholar ↗

[refR-14] Hood, C. (1995). The “new public management” in the 1980s: Variations on a theme. Accounting, Organizations and Society, 20(2–3), 93–109.Google Scholar ↗

[refR-15] Huang, F. (2017). University governance in East Asia: Transformation under globalisation. Higher Education Quarterly, 71(2), 154–169.Google Scholar ↗

[refR-16] London, J. D. (2011). Globalization and the governance of education in Vietnam. In J. Zajda (Ed.), Globalisation and education reforms (pp. 97–110). Springer.Google Scholar ↗

[refR-17] Marginson, S. (2016). The Dream is Over: The Crisis of Clark Kerr's California Idea of Higher Education. University of California Press.Google Scholar ↗

[refR-18] Ministry of Education and Training (MOET). (2020). Circular on Enhancing University Autonomy and Accountability in Vietnam.Google Scholar ↗

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[refR-23] Rohde, S. (2019). Reassessing Taylor: The relevance of scientific management in the digital age. Journal of Management History, 25(3), 278–295.Google Scholar ↗

[refR-24] Shattock, M. (2010). Managing successful universities. McGraw-Hill Education.Google Scholar ↗

[refR-25] Taylor, F. W. (1911). The Principles of Scientific Management. Harper & Brothers.Google Scholar ↗

[refR-26] World Bank. (2021). Universities and knowledge economies in ASEAN: Reshaping policies for competitiveness. https://doi.org/10.1596/978-1-4648-1645-1DOI ↗Google Scholar ↗

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