FIBAA conducts external quality assessment of three study programmes at the Diplomatic Academy of Viet Nam

At the opening session, FIBAA was represented by Dr Birger Hendriks, FIBAA Project Manager, together with members of the international expert panel. On the side of the Diplomatic Academy of Viet Nam (DAV), participants included Dr Nguyen Hung Son, President of the DAV, Dr Nguyen Thi Thin, Vice President, as well as representatives of faculties and relevant functional units.

In his opening remarks, Dr Nguyen Hung Son emphasised that the external assessment conducted by FIBAA experts represents an important milestone in the DAV’s ongoing efforts to assure and enhance educational quality and reflects its strong commitment to aligning study programmes with international standards and further strengthening international integration. He noted that accreditation under the FIBAA standards is not merely a formal requirement, but also an opportunity for the DAV to review its curricula, teaching and learning approaches, student support services, and mechanisms for continuous quality improvement in a comprehensive manner.

Prior to the assessment, the DAV had completed its self-evaluation process and submitted the Self-Evaluation Report (SER) for the three programmes to FIBAA in accordance with the agreed timeline. Following the review of the documentation, FIBAA established the External Review Panel and organised a series of assessment activities to clarify the information presented in the reports and to gain deeper insight into the implementation of the programmes at the DAV.

During the external assessment, the FIBAA expert panel conducted a range of in-depth interview sessions with different stakeholder groups, focusing on key areas such as programme objectives and intended learning outcomes; curriculum structure and content; teaching, learning and assessment methods; academic staff; academic management and governance; research activities; facilities and learning resources; student support services; and the internal quality assurance system. In particular, exchanges with academic staff, students, alumni and support staff provided valuable and multi-dimensional perspectives on the effectiveness of programme delivery.

At the closing session, the FIBAA Project Manager, speaking on behalf of the expert panel, expressed sincere appreciation to the DAV for the comprehensive and well-structured SER, as well as for the DAV’s constructive cooperation, thorough preparation, and open and candid engagement throughout the online visit. The panel also commended the active and effective participation of lecturers and administrative staff, and particularly noted the strong foreign language competence, motivation, and dynamism of the students. He indicated that the panel had formed favourable initial impressions of the DAV and the three programmes under review, while stressing that the final accreditation decision will be taken by the FIBAA Accreditation Committee following the completion of the full assessment process and the evaluation report. Detailed findings and programme-specific recommendations will be set out in the draft External Assessment Report, which the DAV will have the opportunity to review and comment on in line with established procedures.

According to the planned timeline, the FIBAA Accreditation Committee is expected to meet and consider the accreditation results in late March 2026. The outcome of this external assessment is expected to make an important contribution to enhancing educational quality, strengthening transparency, and further consolidating the academic reputation of the Diplomatic Academy of Viet Nam in an increasingly internationalised higher education environment./.

Thanh Huyen