According to the survey, improved English language skills and the perceived benefits for enhancing career prospects are the greatest motivators for Vietnamese students who intend to study abroad.

The top concerns of Vietnamese parents are living expenses and safety, especially when it comes to how the COVID-19 pandemic has affected destination countries. Nearly half of parents see the importance of a safe and supportive study abroad environment. University reputation, location and subjects also have strong influence in the decision-making process.

While gathering information around study plans, online content, including internet research, official university websites, online course finder websites and social media, is perceived as the most useful resource. However, most students and parents seek a seamless recruitment experience, and their decisions are enabled by face-to-face interactions in an increasingly info-flooded environment.

INTO provides University Access Center (UAC) as a one-stop study abroad solution

INTO recently unveiled a bold strategy to build and develop a network of high-end advising and counselling centers in-market that will support students, parents, university partners and education agents. UACs bring together recruitment partners, local marketing teams and onsite university representatives, providing a comprehensive, innovative study abroad solution for students right in their cities.

There are two UACs established in Ho Chi Minh and Hanoi, which house representatives from the University of South Florida (USF), Suffolk University, Oregon State University (OSU), George Mason University, Illinois State University, The University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) and the University of Stirling. In addition to housing university representatives and servicing students, the UACs also support INTO’s local education agent network in Vietnam.

Students can access comprehensive and detailed information about programs from participating university international office staff physically present at the UACs. They can also take the INTO English Language Assessment (IELA), which is free of charge and recognized by all participating universities. The centers also host activities that enrich students’ experience and prepare them for the future study journey, such as weekly presentations, seminars and guest lectures by international office and visiting university staff, real-time broadcast video conferencing sessions with Vietnamese students overseas and university classes and counselling sessions with professors.

INTO partners with the British Council globally to facilitate Computer Delivered IELTS examinations (CD IELTS), building a direct rapport with students and providing another reason for students to visit the centers.

For university partners, UACs provide a better student experience, promote greater student enrolment and support growth.

Since 2020, partner universities with staff based in the Ho Chi Minh City UAC have seen new student enrolments increase by 115% (and up 32% since pre-pandemic intake).

UACs also provide regular training for agents either in-center or at the agent’s offices, and they offer a Local Education Agent Directory for highly professional INTO-recognized education agents, which helps students to select a high-quality education agent.

Ms. Ngoc Bich Vu, Senior Country Director of INTO University Partnerships in Vietnam, shared that “Our goal is bringing recruitment partners, counsellors and institutions under one roof to offer a complete study abroad solution for students in a world-class facility. Vietnam is one of the world’s fastest growing markets for international student mobility. It constitutes the 6th largest international student market for the US2, 4th largest for Australia and 15th largest for the UK outside the EU.3”

“We believe international student mobility can be best enabled through a perfectly balanced approach of in-market presence supported by local expertise and advanced technology driving a seamless enrolment process.” – She added.