FACTORS AFFECTING THE QUALITY OF HIGHER EDUCATION IN THE CONTEXT OF UNIVERSITY AUTONOMY IN VIETNAM

In the context of higher education reform in Vietnam, university autonomy is considered a key driver for improving the quality of teaching and research. In this paper, the effects of university autonomy on higher education quality, particularly in public universities, are analyzed. The expansion of autonomy is manifested in multiple dimensions, including financial and asset management autonomy, organizational and human resource autonomy, and academic autonomy in professional activities. These rights are accompanied by increasing requirements for transparency and accountability to society and regulatory authorities. On the basis of theories of modern university governance and a literature review approach, the study systematizes the components of autonomy stipulated in the current legal framework issued by state agencies. The findings clarify the role of autonomy as a governance instrument to enhance institutional effectiveness and educational outcomes. The paper also identifies challenges in implementation, such as disparities in governance capacity among institutions and the need to balance autonomy with oversight mechanisms. On this basis, several orientations and solutions are proposed to maximize the benefits of autonomy and promote the sustainable improvement of higher education quality in Vietnam.