Students face graduation delays over English proficiency

Thousands of university students in Vietnam face graduation delays each year due to failing English proficiency requirements. While universities argue that their standards are reasonable, students are left struggling to meet the criteria in time, reports VietnamNet.

At Hanoi University of Science and Technology, Dr Nguyen Thanh Hung, head of the Training Department, said the students’ failure to meet the English proficiency requirement was not due to overly strict standards. “Graduates working in technical and technology fields, especially in an increasingly globalised environment, need a certain level of English proficiency,” Hung said. The delay, he explained, typically stems from three main factors.

According to Hung, some students from rural areas or disadvantaged backgrounds enter university with weak English skills and, due to their busy academic schedules, are unable to dedicate sufficient time to improving their language abilities. In many cases, students delay their English studies until the final year, leaving insufficient time to prepare for graduation requirements. Additionally, some students become distracted by internships or part-time jobs during their final years, further neglecting their language studies.
Full report on the VietnamNet site