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This study conducted a comparative analysis of critical reading skills among engineering students at private universities in Malaysia and Vietnam, using the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) reading framework. Involving 182 undergraduates, the research included a quantitative critical reading test followed by statistical analysis (T-tests) to examine score variability among first-year and final-year students. The analysis revealed significant performance differences among first-year students but not among final-year students from both countries. To complement the quantitative data, semi-structured interviews with 16 participants across different critical reading levels were conducted. These interviews aimed to capture students' perspectives on the PISA test, highlighting challenges such as the Western orientation of texts, English vocabulary, and the format of open-ended questions. Integrating quantitative and qualitative methods, the study offers an in-depth understanding of the critical reading abilities of engineering students in Malaysia and Vietnam, underscoring the importance of considering cultural and linguistic factors in educational assessments.

The use of automated feedback (AF) has been increasing in English writing courses for emergency remote education (ERE) due to the escalating COVID-19 pandemic crisis in Vietnam. The ERE English writing courses for in-service bachelor programs demanded an effective, fast, free, and user-friendly AF tool that does not require a login ID, which can help students to develop English writing skills and increase their motivation and self-learning ability. The main objectives of Vietnamese in-service students were to improve their English writing skills and update teaching methodologies that integrate technology. Although many studies emphasized the impact of AF tools in normal teaching contexts, relatively less research was conducted the use of AF tools among in-service students. This study examined the contribution of the Marking Mate AF to the improvement of the English writing skills of in-service learners in ERE writing classes. The participants were 82 in-service students in a Vietnamese public university. The dataset included English writing pre and posttest results collected during the first semester of academic year 2020-2021. The mean scores (standard deviation) of these tests were used to benchmark the writing performance of students. A self-report survey was also conducted to investigate the attitude of students toward Marking Mate AF. The results demonstrated that the posttest score (8.739; SD = 0.8495) was higher than the pretest score (7.439; SD = 0.976). Students expressed favorable opinions toward the usefulness of Marking Mate. Based on the findings, the study discussed the pedagogical implications regarding the incorporation of AF in face-to-face and online classes.

Educational reforms in many Asian countries, particularly in China and Vietnam, have highlighted the pivotal role of the constructivist approach. However, the implementation of constructivism into the classroom is still very challenging for teachers. Although there is a wealth of research on constructivism, few studies have focused on the difficulties teachers often encounter when organizing constructivist lessons, especially in the EFL context. To address this gap, this study employed a mixed-methods approach, including triangulated data (a questionnaire, classroom observations, and semi-structured interviews) with the participation of 120 EFL teachers in a private university in Vietnam. The findings indicate that teachers faced a wide array of problems in their constructivist classes, including conceptual, pedagogical, cultural, political, and technological dilemmas. Furthermore, they did not comprehend constructivism as they believed, probably due to a superficial understanding of this approach or the effect of Confucian culture. Additionally, this study verifies and contributes to the framework of Windschitl regarding the four dilemmas teachers often confront in constructivist classrooms. Theoretical and practical implications for future researchers as well as for educational stakeholders and institutional leaders on what should be taken into careful consideration prior to the incorporation of constructivism, were also discussed in detail.

The purpose of this study was to assess the validity of School-Level Environment Questionnaire (SLEQ) in the Vietnam context. The study tested the nomological validity of the main measurement model and a competing model. The participants included 29 interviewees and 408 Vietnamese high-school teachers in Ho Chi Minh City. Interview data were used to seek preliminary support for the measurement model and indicators. Survey data were analyzed employing Exploratory Factor Analysis, Confirmatory Factor Analysis and Structural Equation Modelling. A 9-dimension SLEQ with 38 indicators was validated. The dimensions of school climate have various effects on teachers' job satisfaction.

Reformatory students are those whose deviant behaviors and habits prevent them from receiving education under normal educational conditions. These students frequently lead a careless, undisciplined lifestyle, being unwilling to work and learn eager to play and demanding. Therefore, when they are admitted to reformatories with severe study and lifestyle requirements, they have great psychological difficulty adjusting to their new environment. Students' psychological issues in adapting to reformatory learning and living regimes are difficult and psychological deficits make it challenging for students to adapt to reformatory learning and living conditions. In Vietnam, 665 students from reformatory schools were polled to determine the causes of psychological issues. According to the findings, a variety of elements contribute to students' psychological difficulties. Individual student conditions such as health, awareness, attitudes and actions as well as inappropriate habits, living without goals or aspirations, etc. are on the subjective side of the equation. On the objective side are the students' conditions, family, education and psychological obstacles brought on by less-than-ideal circumstances which will make it more difficult for community students to adapt. Both the new school and society must pay more attention to reformatory students in order to establish the conditions necessary for successful integration into the new school and ultimate readmission into society for these students.

The present study investigates the impact of meaningful input on L2 learners' vocabulary use and their fluency in oral performance (immediate and repeat tasks), as well as whether the effects are mediated by learners' prior vocabulary knowledge and working memory. Ninety university students learning English as a foreign language were randomly assigned to one of three groups: input (N = 29), input repetition (N = 32), and no-input (i.e., baseline group) (N = 29). The input group watched L2 videos prior to performing an immediate oral task, whereas the input repetition group watched the same videos not only before but also after the immediate oral task. The no-input group only performed the oral tasks without watching the videos. The three groups repeated the same oral task after two days. Results did not show a significant effect of task repetition, input, and input repetition on learners' lexical use and fluency. However, the fluency and lexical complexity in learners' L2 speech can be predicted by their receptive vocabulary knowledge and working memory capacity to some extent.

The problem of juvenile delinquency is a social phenomenon that has existed throughout the history of humanity and a social issue that not only affects the growth of the economy and the maintenance of social security and order, but also has a significant impact on the function and role that the family of juvenile offenders play in society. Using quantitative research design and descriptive statistical methodologies were in the study. The purpose of our study is to evaluate the self-reports of 665 adolescents attending detention centres in Vietnam. This analysis will consider the adolescents' level of ability to self-awareness and expectations of the future maintained by adolescents; The research also discusses the efforts that adolescents have taken to achieve their expectations. The findings indicate that adolescents have a high level of self-awareness regarding regret for previous mistakes, and that self-awareness is indicative of a person who always tries for development and cares about the future. In addition, adolescents assert that they have lofty aspirations for the future and that, despite attending a remedial school, they are making positive efforts to achieve their objectives. Significant theoretical and practical contributions have been made as a result of the research. Providing educators and policymakers with a theoretical framework on which to develop the measurements and strategies that will help young people achieve their goals and be able to reintegrate into the community.

Technology integration in second language acquisition (SLA) has become prevalent and prominent in the modern age. Quizlet has emerged as a vocabulary learning tool integrated not only into computers (CALL) but also into mobile phones (MALL), over the years; its effectiveness has already been proved via several quasi-experimental studies. However, such research is still limited; some did not even include a control group. Further, whether learners' individual differences may have any impact on Quizlet effectiveness in promoting lexical gains remains unknown. To address these gaps, this study was conducted with the participation of 68 Vietnamese undergraduates, following a pretest-posttest design together with semi-structured interviews. While the control group (N = 35) reviewed lexical items in a conventional way, the experimental group (N = 33) used Quizlet for vocabulary revision. Prior to the five-week treatment, all participants took the pretest, receptive and productive vocabulary knowledge tests, and three working memory tests. When all revision sessions were completed, all participants took the posttest. Then, five random learners in the experimental group were invited to join the semi-structured interviews. Results showed that while revision on Quizlet led to greater lexical gains, working memory and prior vocabulary knowledge did not play any significant role in predicting such improvements. Pedagogical implications for teachers and recommendations for future research were also provided to address vocabulary retention, individual differences, and the use of Quizlet more effectively.

Education and training are critical components for the development of high-quality human resources. Teachers are the most important factor in determining the overall quality of education and training system in any country. As a result, in order to improve the quality of human resource training, it is necessary to first improve the quality of teacher education. It is necessary to have a contingent of teachers who are capable of teaching according to the approach to practicing competence; that is, they must know how to accurately determine the standards of practice competence of the students and then design programs, organize teaching, and evaluate teaching results according to those competency standards in order to train qualified human resources to practice. This study resulted in the development of a scale to evaluate teaching in the direction of approaching the performance capacity of technical pedagogy universities. The results also revealed that both lecturers and students had access to competency-based education during the entire academic duration. The old methods, on the other hand, were still used extensively and frequently up to 90-100 percent of the time in the teaching process. Fifty to one hundred percent of modern methods and materials, however, have not yet been fully explored or utilized. The study recommends arranging adequate funds to universities for conducting additional research into other aspects of teaching and learning to ensure performance improvement.

Research performance of lecturers in higher education institutions has become an important topic but many variables are still largely unexplored in current literature. The main objective of this study is to examine the impact of four leadership behaviors of department heads and coworkers on the lecturers' research performance and the moderating effects of achievement value. A survey was conducted with a sample of 408 Vietnamese lecturers at economics and business management focused universities. Our findings contribute to the literature of job performance in higher education from an organizational behavior perspective by explaining the mid-level impacts of departmental factors affecting research performance. We also discuss potential implications and make recommendations for future research. [Note: The page range (119-138) shown on the PDF is incorrect. The correct page range for this article is p119-134.]

This study focuses on investigating impact of supervisor -- PhD student relationship on PhD students' satisfaction with their supervisors' supervisory styles and their skill development. A survey was conducted among 430 respondents who both finished or were doing their doctoral study at universities in Northern, Central and Southern cities in Vietnam in social science, economics and business management majors. Findings revealed that the leadership, helping, understanding and responsibility relationship between supervisors and PhD students were positively associated with PhD students' satisfaction with supervisors' supervisory style while the uncertain, dissatisfied and admonishing types of relationships were negatively associated with PhD students' satisfaction. The strict relationship did not negatively affect PhD students' satisfaction with their supervisors' supervisory styles. Furthermore, PhD students' satisfaction with their supervisors' supervisory styles positively influenced their satisfaction with academic skill development during their PhD candidature. Implications and future research directions were then discussed.

The article mentions the impact of the Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic on online learning in Vietnamese higher education in 2020. This is a qualitative case study, by using in-depth interviews to explore the changes in the perception, methods, and orientation of online learning of students and lecturers at a key pedagogical university when experiencing the three COVID-19 outbreaks in Vietnam. The findings show that the COVID-19 pandemic has a positive impact on the developmental orientation of online learning at the Vietnamese higher education level. Even though at the time of an outbreak, opposition and dissatisfaction with online learning occurred; but through the three outbreaks, together with the efforts of lecturers and students, online learning in Vietnam has recorded remarkable achievements. This is a prerequisite for the development of online education and the innovation of digital technology in education.

This study applies a Variance-Based Structural Equation Modelling, to preliminarily assess the School Level Environment Questionnaire (SLEQ) in the context of high school education in Vietnam. The paper then identified school climate factors affecting teacher self-efficacy and stress. Also, the study was conducted to test the relationship between stress and teacher self-efficacy. Data were collected from 628 high school teachers in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. Of school climate factors, the study shows that affiliation, innovation, and professional interest had a positive direct impact on teacher self-efficacy and that student conduct and staff autonomy had a negative direct impact on their perceived stress. This study also confirms that work pressure of school climate had a positive direct impact on teacher stress beliefs. Surprisingly, staff autonomy had a positive direct impact on teacher self-efficacy and a negative direct impact on teacher stress. Practically, these findings suggest that to improve teachers' sense of efficacy, high school leaders in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam can take action to improve a supportive school climate by focussing on affiliation. This study also reflects the efforts of Vietnam in its education reform which also requires teacher efforts in changing teaching methods through continuous professional development. In addition to the development of a supportive school climate, staff autonomy is also a concern requiring consideration to reduce stress for teachers, which was not reported elsewhere. Theoretically, this study contributes to the inconclusive relation between the three constructs: school climate, teacher stress, and self-efficacy.

Purpose: This study aimed to investigate whether optimism buffers an indirect relationship between COVID stress and depressive symptoms via poor sleep quality among Vietnamese high school students. Design/methodology/approach: Six hundred and eighty-five participants completed the Coronavirus Stress Measure, the Life Orientation Test-Revised, the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index and the Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scales. Process Macro 3.5 for SPSS (Model 4 and Model 14) was used to analyze the mediating effect and moderated mediation effect. Findings: The results indicated that COVID stress was associated with an increase in depressive symptoms via the indirect pathway of poor sleep quality. Furthermore, optimism moderated the indirect relationship between COVID stress and depressive symptoms through poor sleep quality among Vietnamese students. Originality/value: The study's findings may serve as a basis for the development of depression prevention interventions for students with high COVID stress in the COVID-19 pandemic.

Vocabulary plays a significant role in the learning process of English as a Foreign Language (EFL) students, especially undergraduates who need to read academic materials and listen to specialized lectures in English. However, retaining lexical items is still a challenging task for many EFL learners. The current study seeks to examine the effectiveness of a constructivist approach in improving EFL learners' vocabulary retention, mainly meaning recall, as well as investigate their attitude towards this learning method. To achieve this aim, a quasi-experimental design, including a pretest and a posttest, was employed with the participation of 75 EFL Vietnamese undergraduates. The participants were assigned into two groups: the control group (Group 1, N = 37) and the experimental group (Group 2, N = 38). While Group 1 was taught in a conventional way, Group 2 received vocabulary training following the constructivist approach. At the end of the eight-week treatment, a questionnaire was administered to the experimental group to gauge their view on vocabulary learning using constructivism. The results showed that Group 2 retained lexical items more effectively than Group 1. Furthermore, the experimental group had a favorable opinion of learning vocabulary in the constructivist approach. Recommendations for future studies as well as implications for teachers regarding vocabulary and constructivism, were presented in detail.

Purpose: This paper aims to examine the economic efficiency of Vietnamese 172 higher education (HE) institutions within the 2012-2016 inclusive period through the Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) approach. The authors also compare public and private, multidisciplinary and mono-disciplinary, non-autonomy and autonomy, non-international and international HE Institutions' efficiency. Design/methodology/approach: This study derived from an unique dataset from the Ministry of Education and Training (MOET) of Vietnam. The data set comprises financial and academic annual reports of higher education institutions (HEIs). The authors achieved totally 204 Vietnamese HEIs, and the sample for analysis is 172 after the elimination of missing units, accounting for 84.3% entire of Vietnamese HEIs. The authors estimate the efficiency scores relying on these selected inputs and outputs by using the DEA method. Findings: Overall, HEIs in Vietnam decreased their operational efficiency during the 2012-2016. It also seems that public universities operate in the absence of market mechanism so that they tend to be less efficient than their counterparts in private sector. Based on our analysis, the authors observe that the HEIs including the international programmes have higher efficiency scores rather than these without international programmes. Originality/value: This study contributes to the theoretical aspects as follows. First, it enriches the existent efficiency literature on HE using the DEA approach. This stands out among similar studies in Vietnam in terms of duration (from 2012-2016) and data size (172 entities). Second, the research is the first to examine HEIs in terms of disciplinary (mono or multi-disciplinary) and autonomy (autonomous and non-autonomous), internalization (international programmes). These aspects have been silent in previous studies of HEIs in Vietnam.

Purpose: The rapid adoption of social media has resulted in a fundamental shift in the way communication and collaboration take place. While social media is recognized as an important marketing communication tool, it has become overlooked how social media marketing activities (user-generated and firm-generated content) influence brand equity creation in the higher education sector. Drawing from social identity theory, this study identifies how higher education institutions develop customer-based brand equity using social media marketing and social brand engagement, taking cross-comparison between high and low subjective norms. Design/methodology/approach: A survey was used to collect data from a sample of 936 undergraduates of private higher education institutions in Sri Lanka and Vietnam. These data were gathered using purposive sampling, and in testing the hypothesis and structure among the variables, structural equation modeling was used to determine the relationship between the study variables. Findings: For the conceptual framework, the authors found that the structural equation model complies with the empirical data. The structural equation model shows that social brand engagement mediates the relationship between user-generated content, firm-generated content and brand equity. Further, the subjective norms were found to moderate the relationship between user-generated content, firm-generated content and social brand engagement, highlighting that the lower the subjective norms the higher the influence on social brand engagement as students receive low pressure and influence from external parties. Research limitations/implications: The study was conducted at private higher education institutes in Sri Lanka and Vietnam. Future research could benefit from the perceptions of undergraduates in public higher education institutes. Future researchers could widen the diversity of service settings in the sample and replicate this investigation to discover if the results are consistent across the whole services sector. Originality/value: The current research contributes to the services marketing and branding literature in the higher education context. The paper presents the crucial elements in building brand equity for higher education institutes to fill the existing gaps in higher education branding literature. The findings of the current study provide strategies to improve the higher education sector.

Higher education institutions are increasingly recognizing the importance of learning culture as a core factor for students' sustainable learning and development. While the development of blended learning environments in higher education institutions has been steadily increasing in recent years, but how to establish a blended learning culture in the classroom? The above problem can be solved when this study achieves its purpose to explore the factors of blended learning culture in the classroom. The focus of this study was to explore a structural equation model (SEM) of blended learning culture. A case study at the Hanoi University of Science and Technology (HUST), Vietnam was conducted and collected with a sample size large enough (339 students). The results of factor analysis have explored the core factors of the blended learning culture. The SEM analysis has achieved a first-order model of blended learning culture. And lastly, the SEM-values analysis for the existence of blended learning culture in the classroom has confirmed that they positively impact the acceptance of blended classrooms by students. Thus, a SEM of blended learning culture has provided a functional framework for educators to systematically cover all that create the success and sustainability of blended classroom culture in the classroom.

The COVID-19 epidemic has caused higher education institutions in Vietnam to immediately transfer from traditional classrooms to e-learning environments. This interacts with high expectations and habits of learning and training can adversely affect the mental health of students. The purpose of this study is to validate the DASS-21 scale for use in the mental health screening in Vietnamese students when they suffer an immediate psychological reaction in the e-learning environment. Strict statistical analyzes (including Cronbach's alpha, Exploratory Factor Analysis, Confirmatory Factor Analysis, Average Variance Extracted, Average Shared Variance) have led to a well-fitting model of DASS-18 with a three-factor structure to measure the mental health of Vietnamese students in an e-learning environment. Results DASS-18 reported the rates of depression, anxiety, and stress in levels of moderate severity or above in Vietnamese students at 50%, 19.7%, and 37.3%, respectively. However, a rate of anxiety up to 43.1% by using DASS-21 indicating that many students may be misdiagnosed for the level of anxiety. Finally, linear regression analyses are used to examine the influence of socio-demographic factors on the immediate psychological responses of students to an e-learning environment in the context of the COVID-19 epidemic.

This study examines the expanded TPB model with the risk perception variable of intention to hoard food under the COVID-19 pandemic condition. All assumptions are supported by the traditional independent variables of the TPB model that affect the hoarding intention of food. However, the results of this study are completely different from previous studies when using the risk perception variable in the planned behavior theory model. In previous studies, the risk perception variable always negatively affected attitude and perceived behavior and buying intention. In this study, in contrast, the higher the risk perception the consumers get, the stronger the attitude the consumers purchase reserve goods. This demonstrates that a high-risk perception, in the case of COVID-19 pandemic or other civil unrests, will cause the intention to buy goods that no longer follows the common sense. This paper added a new perspective on the negative aspects of risk perception.

The STEM education emphasizes on Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics with a major focus on engineering design process that engineers require in solving challenges or problems. Kolb's model provides micro-learning activities such as experiencing, sharing and processing, generalizing and applying. Therefore, both Kolb's model and engineering design process are indispensable in K-12 STEM education. The K-12 STEM curriculum provides and guides students to complete a series of experiential tasks in engineering design process. Kolb's model explains how Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics are connected and integrated in each task of engineering design, while the engineering design process is an effective pedagogical approach for students to learn how to solve real problems. The purpose of this study was to explore the positive role of Kolb's model and engineering design process in K-12 STEM education from the students' perspective. The results of experimental research with 32 middle school students showed that a series of experiential tasks in engineering design process are effective activities to cultivate knowledge construction, intrinsic motivation and satisfaction of students, and stimulate students' interest in STEM fields.

Pair/group work is now widely applied in virtually all types of classroom, and it is one of the prominent features of the learner-centered approach and the communicative method in English as a foreign language (EFL) classes. This study aimed to investigate three core questions (1) What do English majors at Dong Thap University perceive of group work? (2) How much do they use English in group work engagement? (3) What do they think about the given suggestions for English speaking deployment in group work? The data were collected via a questionnaire from 150 third/fourth-year English majors, Dong Thap University, Vietnam, and interviews with ten target students who had answered the questionnaire and agreed to partake in the interview. The obtained results show that most students highly appreciated the significant role of group activities and English use in group work. They also confirmed that Vietnamese speaking is still dominant in practice, and mostly agreed on several given suggestions to maximize generic benefits and other language learning merits produced by group work. Accordingly, the current study strongly advocates English use as much as possible in group activities performed by English majors.

This study aims to assess the impacts of three components from Theory of Planned Behaviour (TPB) on Entrepreneurial intention and analyze the mediating effects of these three components in the relationship between Entrepreneurial education and Entrepreneurial intention and in the relationship between Self-Efficacy and Entrepreneurial intention among engineering students. Data were collected via a structured questionnaire from engineering students at Industrial University of Ho Chi Minh City in Vietnam. The methodology employed Structural Equation Modelling Partial Least Squares (SEM-PLS) using SmartPLS (version 3.3.3) to assess the relationship among variables. Findings confirm the directly positive relationship between Attitude toward entrepreneurship, Perceived behaviour control and Subjective norms on engineering student's entrepreneurial intention. These three components of TPB mediate the relationship between Entrepreneurial education, Self-Efficay and engineering student's entrepreneurial intention. This study contributes toward the understanding of engineering student's entrepreneurial intention in Vietnam as an emerging market in Asia. The mediating effects of three components of TPB have been systematically investigated and the indirect roles of Entrepreneurial education and Self-Efficay have been validated by applying employed Structural Equation Modelling Partial Least Squares (SEM-PLS). Managerial implications are discussed to promote engineering student's entrepreneurial intention in Vietnam. Higher education leaders and policymakers can utilise the findings to construct the initiatives of entrepreneurship development and their implementation for engineering students.

Aim/Purpose: The purpose of this study is to assess the factors that have significant influences on students' adoption of e-learning systems and to what extent these factors affect them. Background: E-learning has become an essential tool and makes it an inevitable option for education in the future. E-learning has received considerable attention in recent times as a global spread of the COVID-19 pandemic. Nevertheless, developing countries, including Vietnam, are facing many difficulties when adopting e-learning systems. Therefore, it is essential to comprehensively evaluate the factors that influence the intention of students to use e-learning to enhance the implementation process and also improve educational quality. Methodology: Initially, the authors synthesized a literature review from 112 related studies to complete the proposed research model including the combination of C-TAMTPB model and external variables impacting students' adoption of e-learning systems. After that, a sample of 172 students at FPT University Vietnam was collected to test the proposed model and explain students' intentions. The dataset was investigated and analyzed with PLS-SEM using the SmartPLS 3.3.3 tool. Contribution: The study has made a valuable contribution to the current literature by proposing an extended model between C-TAM-TPB and three external variables to provide a better understanding of learners' intentions with e-learning systems. Furthermore, the research findings also provide useful guidelines for innovating and improving the e-learning system more effectively to advance students' learning motivation in the educational environment. Findings: The findings demonstrate that Computer Self-efficacy and Perceived Accessibility have an important influence on Perceived Ease of Use by learners of an e-learning system. Furthermore, Perceived Enjoyment affects the Perceived Usefulness of e-learning systems. For the TAM, Perceived Usefulness and Perceived Ease of Use both have a positive impact on Attitude toward Use, and Attitude has a positive relationship with the Behavioral Intention of students. In addition, the factors from the TPB model (i.e., Perceived Behavioral Control and Subjective Norm) were identified as having a significant positive effect on Behavioral Intention to use e-learning. Recommendations for Practitioners: Firstly, educational institutions should help along with the culture of using e-learning among students and lecturers. A supportive team should be accessible to help students use e-learning by providing instructions and addressing their questions. Secondly, system developers should concentrate on system-related aspects that have a significant influence on learners' attitudes and intentions to utilize, as well as build the most appropriate e-learning system for students. Recommendations for Researchers: Firstly, the study fulfills a significant literature gap on evaluating e-learning effectiveness for learners in private institutions as they are focusing on developing quality education to gain competitive advantages. Secondly, based on research findings, the researchers may be able to advance studies to improve and innovate a quality system for ensuring the long-term usage of e-learning. Finally, this paper contributes to the theoretical foundation and development of an extended model for future studies to assess the intention when employing new technologies in education and other fields. Impact on Society: E-learning will become a necessary tool and an unavoidable possibility in the next period of education. Therefore, this study presents an overview of the factors that have a notable influence on students' intention to adopt e-learning systems. This study then proposes to develop an optimal system for the teaching and learning process, as well as to adapt to future demands. Future Research: Firstly, there are just three external variables that are considered to have an impact on learners' intention via TAM. However, other external factors could be exploited in future research. Secondly, the participants in this study are only students. If the lecturers could take part in this survey, the comparisons between faculty and students may have more usefulness for assessment. Thirdly, this model just interprets the results at a certain time, which is the COVID-19 outbreak and e-learning is an urgent response to maintain the process of teaching and learning. The perception, attitude, and performance of students may change over time. Therefore, as other researchers have recommended, longitudinal surveys should be considered here. Finally, the differences between majors may appear. Future studies can divide groups of learners according to their majors for a more significant test.

Teachers are the primary deliverers of Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) program, and therefore their beliefs, attitudes, and support towards SEL influence the adoption, sustainability, and impacts of this program. The aim of the present research is to measure the perception of social emotional learning education among Vietnamese primary school teachers. A group of 250 Vietnamese primary school teachers (142 males and 108 females) participated in the survey. They completed the Teachers' Perceptions of Social Emotional Learning scale (TPSEL). The scale included four subscales which are the Teachers' perceived level of the necessity of SEL education in primary schools (TPN), the Teachers' perceived level of the importance of SEL education in primary schools (TPI), the Teachers' perceived level of concern about SEL education in primary schools (TPC), and the Barriers to the Implementation of SEL Programs (BISEL). Results showed significant differences in BISEL among the teachers with different years of teaching experience. Moreover, various educational backgrounds affected TPN and BISEL considerably. The interaction effect on TPN and BISEL was found. The results suggested that regardless of the differences in educational backgrounds and years of experience, the teachers were all aware of the necessity as well as the challenges when implementing SEL in classrooms in primary schools.

The purpose of the present research is to explore the development of self-control ability during childhood. A group of 360 children (185 boys and 175 girls from grades 2, 4, and 6) participated in the survey. They completed the Children's Perceived Self-Control Scale (CPSC) which included the interpersonal self-control (ISC), the personal self-control (PSC), and the self-evaluation (SE) subscales. Results showed significant differences in ISC, SE and total scores among the second, fourth and sixth graders. On the total scores, the fourth graders had higher scores than the second and the sixth graders. Moreover, the scores of ISC of the fourth graders were higher than those of the sixth grades. There was no gender difference and interaction of gender and grade found. The results suggested that the development of self-control following a quadratic pattern increased and reached a peak in the fourth grade and then decreased during sixth grade time.

Given principals' central role in school performance, this study seeks to explore factors that influence school principal competency. The study employed a quantitative research approach. A survey questionnaire was administered to 290 principals across six northwestern mountainous provinces in Vietnam. The questionnaire considered eight areas of principal competency, including self-development and the development of others; school organization and operation; staff development; instructional programme management; education quality assurance management; management of financial resources; engagement with families, community and government; and the school's strategic planning. Analyses of variance and correlation (Pearson's r) techniques were used, and the findings demonstrate that principals' competencies were statistically affected by both internal factors (gender, experience, health, family and IT skills) and external factors (school location, school demographics and school facilities). However, the study found no correlation between principals' academic qualifications and their competencies.

Mapping the boundaries of subsurface geological structures constitutes a fundamental aspect of interpreting gravity data. Various methods relying on gravity derivatives have been introduced to delineate these boundaries. However, these approaches are not without their limitations, often leading to the generation of false edges or resulting in divergent outcomes. This article introduces a novel method that utilizes the power law approach and balanced total horizontal derivative for mapping gravity data edges. To assess the robustness of the proposed technique, we conducted tests on model examples and applied it to a real case study in northwest Vietnam. The results demonstrate that our method can accurately and clearly map edges in comparison to existing methodologies, while also preventing the generation of spurious edges in the output maps. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Social media platforms provide prospective international students with ready access and exposure to information relevant to international higher education institutions and their respective brand images. We examined the extent to which social media engagement and electronic word-of-mouth (eWOM) activities shape prospective students' perceived brand image of institutions and, subsequently, their enrolment intention. Findings from a sample of 445 prospective students in Vietnam indicate the indirect effect of social media engagement on enrolment intention via eWOM-seeking activities and perceived brand image. Compared with their postgraduate counterparts, prospective undergraduates' perception of an institution's brand image is more strongly influenced by their eWOM-seeking activities on social media. In contrast, the direct influence of perceived brand image on enrolment intention is stronger for prospective postgraduate students. The findings from this study enrich the higher education literature and have implications for higher education providers in relation to developing engagement strategies with prospective students through social media platforms.

Recently, Vietnam has issued Joint Circular No. 51/2014/TTLTBYT-BNV 11/12/2015 and Circular No. 26/2017/TT-BYT dated 26/6/2017 to reform the preventive medicine system at the provincial level. This study analyzed the impact of these policies on the HIV/AIDS prevention health workforce (HW) and provided the lesson learnt from the restructure process. The annual health reports of 22 selected provinces were reviewed for the analysis of the changes in human resources of the HIV/AIDS network after the establishment of the provincial Center for Diseases Control (CDC). We conducted 19 in-depth interviews and 2 focused group discussions in CDCs of 6 provinces that have high HIV incidence. The results showed that the merger of preventive medicine centres into one provincial CDC has brought substantial challenges for the HW in the HIV/AIDS network. This made a negative impact on the worker motivation and competency and the coordination in HIV/AIDS prevention activities. Our results suggested that the restructure of health systems in countries with limited resource settings like Vietnam needs to pay attention to the arrangement of human resources and the coordination between newly formed units. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Romdoul (Sphaerocoryne affinis) is a flowering plant of the Annonaceae family and has been used customarily in folk medicine. The bioactivities of this plant, especially the anti-cancer effect, however, remain surprisingly few. Objective: this study aimed to elucidate the anti-leukemic effect of romdoul fruit extracts and their underlining mechanisms. Methods: The extracts were prepared from fresh fruits and the phytochemical contents were evaluated by biochemical assays and HPLC method. The promising extract was identified via the inhibition of HL60 as well as normal NIH-3T3 cell densities utilizing MTT assay. The underline mechanism of the extract's effect was studied by accessing the treated HL60 cell population overtime (via MTT assay). The morphology of abnormal cells was examined by bright-field microscopic imaging. Hallmarks of apoptosis including nucleus characteristics and caspase 3 activation were analyzed by fluorescence imaging. The underline mechanisms of apoptosis and proliferation inhibition were accessed via RT-qPCR examination of involved genes. Results: Our findings showed that the ethyl acetate extract of romdoul fruit (SA-EA) was found to be an exceptional anti-leukemic candidate (IC50 was as low as 4.11 μg/mL). More interestingly, the treated HL60 cells expressed nuclear fragmentation and caspase 3 activation, indicating the effect could follow an apoptotic mechanism. Importantly, the transcription assessment of apoptotic and proliferative genes suggested that SA-EA might suppress the growth of HL60 cells and induce p21-dependent apoptotic pathway. Conclusion: This study demonstrated one of the first scientific evidence for the anti-cancer activity of Sphaerocoryne affinis fruit-derived extract. Thus, our findings exhibited a novel and promising anti-leukemic candidate for future studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In Vietnam, ‘indie music’ is an internet-based phenomenon that began in late 2015, spearheaded by a generation of young GenZ artists on the music sharing platform SoundCloud. As a contribution to the current special issue, this article examines the relationship between Vietnamese indie music and streaming platforms. It shows how the genre was formed through the technological affordances of platforms such as SoundCloud and YouTube, and how it changed with the entry of Spotify. The findings show that Vietnamese indie music is co-produced on digital platforms through three means: users’ interaction, algorithmic recommendation system, and platform curation. These factors come together to deliver to listeners a sense of a new cultural formation that is different from how popular music has been traditionally produced and delivered in the past. When Spotify launched in the country in 2018, Vietnamese indie musicians saw it as a means to publish, to protect their copyrights, and to get publicity, something that domestic institutions or infrastructures did not provide. From this perspective Vietnamese indie music can be seen to represent the musicians’ entrepreneurial desires, rather than the oppositional politics that have historically been associated with indie music elsewhere. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper adopts the stochastic frontier production function with double heteroskedasticity to analyze technical inefficiency and production risk of intensive white-leg shrimp farming in Ninh Thuan, Vietnam. The result shows that feed is a risk-increasing input, while chemicals/drugs and electricity are risk-reducing inputs. This implies that an average risk-averse farmer will use less feed and more chemicals/drugs and electricity than a risk-neutral farmer from the study area. However, the results reveal that technical inefficiency is negatively related to feed and chemicals/drugs, and positively related to electricity, farm size, and labor. Moreover, the output elasticity of feed is highest among the inputs in the production mean function. In addition, the statistically negative influences on technical inefficiency in this type of farming are technical training and access to formal credit. Policies on the management of chemicals/drugs and technical training for their use in aquaculture practice should be the focus for Vietnam's intensive white-leg shrimp farming. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To date, studies on the effects of grandparenting on grandparents' health and well‐being do not reach the same conclusion and most of them have been conducted in developed countries. We add to this literature by examining the causal relationship between grandparenting and grandparents' health and well‐being in Vietnam, where the social norm and reciprocal relationships between adult children and their older parents are strong. We used instrumental variable estimations to address the endogeneity issue of the decision to provide care. Using the national survey on older persons in Vietnam, we found that grandparenting care had positive effects on psychological well‐being, life satisfaction, and self‐rated health of grandparents. We also found that the effects were heterogenous by caregiver's gender, in which grandmothers were more beneficial from caregiving tasks than grandfathers. Further exploring the mechanisms underlying the effects revealed that improvements in memory and stronger social networks were potential channels through which grandparenting might improve the health and well‐being of grandparents. Our findings support the theory of role enhancement, suggesting that grandparents can have health and well‐being benefits from grandparenting. Policies aiming at strengthening old age protection and family relationships should be advocated to sustain the subjective well‐being of older adults. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Purpose: Falls among inpatients represent a significant global health concern and are among the leading causes of accidental death. However, hospital falls are context- and population dependent. This study aimed to investigate the risk factors contributing to falls and the fall profiles among Vietnamese inpatients. Methods: A nested case–control study was conducted at nine public hospitals in Ho Chi Minh City. For every fall identified through the medical fall incident reporting system, four controls (ie, nonfall patients) were also selected from medical records within the same department and timeframe. Medical records were extracted, which included detailed information about the falls. Results: Among 101 fall cases and 404 nonfall controls, several risk factors for falls were found, including reduced strength and mobility (OR=3.08, 95% 1.30– 7.30), nocturia (OR=9.08, 95% CI 4.04– 20.45), having more than two diseases (OR=2.76, 95% CI 1.53– 4.98), using walking aids (OR=23.26, 95% CI 10.20– 53.03), using medical devices (OR=3.44, 95% CI 1.92– 6.15) and using antiepileptics (OR=3.94, 95% CI 1.22– 12.77). About 19.8% of the falls occurred within the first 24 hours from admission and the most common time of falls was from 0:00 am to 5:59 am (44.6%). The patient bed and bathroom were the most frequent locations for falls, accounting for 44.55% and 37.62% of the cases, respectively. More than 40% of the falls occurred when the patients were with their personal caregivers. Conclusion: Although intervention programs can use these risk factors to target those who have a high risk of falling, to optimize resources, such programs should consider the fall patterns found in our study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Assessing university resource allocation or misallocation is necessary to understand its impact on research and teaching productivity. To achieve this insight, this study conducts a two-stage data envelopment analysis to judge the "teaching and research efficiency" and "revenue efficiency" of 61 universities in Vietnam. We analyze what variables have the most effect on the efficiencies of the universities through improving results. Moreover, this research applies scale elasticity to distinguish the benchmark performance leader among Vietnam universities. Results indicate that universities are more efficient in terms of "revenue efficiency" than "teaching and research efficiency." The scale elasticity decomposition findings show that multidisciplinary universities perform better than those specializing in science and technology and social science and economics. Finally, the competitive map to performance advancement strategies is exhibited. This map helps the university management to enhance their efficiencies.

Purpose: The growing competitive environment in which higher education institutes are immersed has caused them to strengthen their competitive position of a brand and its equity in emerging countries. However, there are several contradictions between the empirically approved determinants and the dimensions of brand equity in higher education. The purpose of this paper is to investigate the structural relationship between subjective norms, electronic word-of-mouth (eWOM), perceived brand credibility and brand equity, taking cross-culturally comparisons between Sri Lanka, and Vietnam. Design/methodology/approach: A survey was used to collect data from a sample of 800 undergraduates of private higher education institutions in Sri Lanka and Vietnam in 2019. These data were gathered using purposive sampling and analyzed using a structural equation model. A total of 768 questionnaires were considered valid. In testing the hypothesis and structure among the variables, structural equation modelling was used to determine the relationship between subjective norms, eWOM, perceived brand credibility and brand equity for the higher education institutes in emerging countries. Findings: For the conceptual framework, the author found that this structural equation model complies with the empirical data. The structural equation model shows that subjective norms, eWOM and perceived brand credibility were significantly related to brand equity. Perceived brand credibility was found to be the mediating variable. Further, the location was found to moderate the relationship between perceived brand credibility and brand equity, highlighting that Vietnamese students are more relying on perceived brand credibility in creating brand equity than their Sri Lankan counterparts. Research limitations/implications: The study was conducted at private higher education institutes in Sri Lanka and Vietnam. Future research could benefit from perceptions of undergraduates in public higher education institutes. This study discusses the implications of developing branding strategies for higher education institutions. Originality/value: The current research contributes to the services marketing and branding literature in the higher education context. The paper presents the crucial elements in building brand equity for higher education institutes to fill the existing gaps in higher education branding literature. The findings of the current study provide strategies to improve the higher education sector.

This research provides the first evidence on how labour supply and earnings may adjust to the expansion of insurance benefits under the 2014 Social Insurance Law reform. The data for this study come from the Vietnam Labour Force Surveys. Both difference-in-differences and fixed-effect models are used. The estimated results reveal negative reform effects on the work duration and earnings of both sexes and for both rural and urban areas. They also point out some definite effects on different groups of local and migrant workers. However, little evidence on sick leave impact is found. The link between social insurance status and the labour market outcomes is scrutinized as well. The findings indicate that urban workers of both sexes benefit from accessing to compulsory insurance with respect to earnings, but only rural female workers do it. Moreover, these effects come mostly from groups of non-migrant workers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: At a teaching Hospital in Vietnam, the persistently high incidence of diagnosed wound infection poses ongoing challenges to treatment. This study seeks to explore the causative agents of wound infection and their antimicrobial and multidrug resistance patterns. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted at the Department of Microbiology, Military Hospital 103, Vietnam. Data on microorganisms that caused wound infection and their antimicrobial resistance patterns was recorded from hospitalized patients from 2014 to 2021. Using the chi-square test, we analyzed the initial isolation from wound infection specimens collected from individual patients. Results: Over a third (34.9%) of wound infection samples yielded bacterial cultures. Staphylococcus aureus was the most prevalent bacteria, followed by Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Worryingly high resistance rates were observed for several antibiotics, particularly among Gram-negative bacteria. Ampicillin displayed the highest resistance (91.9%), while colistin and ertapenem remained the most effective. In Gram-positive bacteria, glycopeptides like teicoplanin and vancomycin (0% and 3.3% resistance, respectively) were most effective, but their use was limited. Clindamycin and tetracycline showed decreasing effectiveness. Resistance rates differed between surgical and non-surgical wards, highlighting the complex dynamics of antimicrobial resistance within hospitals. Multidrug resistance (MDR) was substantial, with Gram-negative bacteria exhibiting a 63.6% MDR rate. Acinetobacter baumannii showed the highest MDR rate (88.0%). Conclusion: This study investigated wound infection characteristics, antibiotic resistance patterns of common bacteria, and variations by hospital ward. S. aureus was the most prevalent bacteria, and concerning resistance rates were observed, particularly among Gram-negative bacteria. These findings highlight the prevalence of multidrug resistance in wound infections, emphasizing the importance of infection control measures and judicious antibiotic use. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Radioactivity in coastal sediments in northern Vietnam was examined using data from five sediment cores to assess radioactivity concentrations and radiation risk indices. Radiation risk indices included radium equivalent activity (Raeq), the absorbed dose rate (ADR), the annual effective dose equivalent (AEDE), the activity utilization index (AUI), the external hazard index (Hex), the representative level gamma index (Iγr), and the annual gonadal effective dose rate (AGDE). The radioactivity concentrations of 40K, 232Th, 226Ra, 238U, and 137Cs were 567, 56.1, 35.1, 37.9, and 1.18 Bq/kg, respectively. The average concentrations of 40K, 232Th, 226Ra, and 238U were above the global average at five sites, except for 137Cs, which was low. The Raeq, Hex, and AUI indices were below the recommended values, while the AEDE, ADR, AGDE, and Iγr indices were above the recommended values. Moreover, 40K, 232Th, 226Ra, and 238U had significant impacts on the radiation hazard indices Raeq, ADR, AEDE, Iγr, AUI, Hex, and AGDE. There are three coastal sediment groups on the northern coast of Vietnam: Group 1 has a higher radioactivity and radiation risk index than Group 2 but a lower value than Group 3. Group 3 had the highest radioactivity and radiation risk index. The values of 40K, 232Th, 226Ra, and 238U and the ADR, AUI, Iγr, and AGDE indices in the sediment threaten the living environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract\nIMPLICATIONS FOR REHABILITATIONRobot-assisted physical rehabilitation offers promising benefits for patients, yet its adoption among therapists remains a complex challenge. This study investigates the acceptance of robot-assisted physical rehabilitation technology among therapists in Vietnam, a middle-income country with a growing demand for rehabilitation services. Drawing on the Technology Acceptance Model 2 (TAM2) and the Theory of Planned Behaviour (TPB), an online survey and semi-structured interviews were conducted to explore therapists’ attitudes and intentions towards using this technology. The results show that Vietnamese therapists recognised its potential benefits and expressed a willingness to use it. Although having similar acceptance patterns compared to developed regions, they demonstrated significantly higher levels of agreement across acceptance constructs. This may be attributed to factors such as the novelty effect, cultural perceptions of robots, and the high workload of therapists in Vietnam. Gender and location were found to influence two acceptance constructs–subjective norms and image, respectively–highlighting the need for tailored strategies in technology implementation. The study underscores the importance of considering socio-cultural factors in the adoption of technology and provides insights for enhancing the acceptance and effectiveness of robot-assisted physical rehabilitation in Vietnam. This contributes to the global understanding of therapist acceptance of technology in this field.While robot-assisted physical rehabilitation offers promising benefits, there is limited understanding of therapist acceptance on a global scale, highlighting the need for more research in this area.This study in a middle-income country, Vietnam, reveals a generally positive view among therapists, but specific issues such as the novelty effect, cultural perceptions of robots, and high therapist workload impact acceptance levels, indicating the need for tailored strategies.Strategies for implementing robot-assisted physical rehabilitation should include addressing training needs, providing technological support, and considering sociocultural factors to enhance acceptance and effectiveness.While robot-assisted physical rehabilitation offers promising benefits, there is limited understanding of therapist acceptance on a global scale, highlighting the need for more research in this area.This study in a middle-income country, Vietnam, reveals a generally positive view among therapists, but specific issues such as the novelty effect, cultural perceptions of robots, and high therapist workload impact acceptance levels, indicating the need for tailored strategies.Strategies for implementing robot-assisted physical rehabilitation should include addressing training needs, providing technological support, and considering sociocultural factors to enhance acceptance and effectiveness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Arboviruses transmitted by mosquitoes, including Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV), present a substantial global health threat. JEV is transmitted by mosquitoes in the genus Culex, which are common in both urban and rural areas in Vietnam. In 2020, we conducted a 1-year survey of Culex mosquito abundance in urban, suburban, and peri-urban areas of Hanoi using CDC-light traps. Mosquitoes were identified to species and sorted into pools based on species, sex, and trap location. The mosquito pools were also investigated by RT-qPCR for detection of JEV. In total, 4829 mosquitoes were collected over a total of 455 trap-nights, across 13 months. Collected mosquitoes included Culex, Aedes, Anopheles, and Mansonia species. Culex mosquitoes, primarily Cx. quinquefasciatus, predominated, especially in peri-urban areas. Most Culex mosquitoes were caught in the early months of the year. The distribution and abundance of mosquitoes exhibited variations across urban, suburban, and peri-urban sites, emphasizing the influence of environmental factors such as degree of urbanization, temperature and humidity on Culex abundance. No JEV was detected in the mosquito pools. This study establishes baseline knowledge of Culex abundance and temporal variation, which is crucial for understanding the potential for JEV transmission in Hanoi. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This study evaluated the influence of corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiatives undertaken by banks in Vietnam on their overall performance. Additionally, it sought to examine the relationship between corporate social responsibility and digital transformation efforts within the framework of the ongoing Fourth Industrial Revolution. Design/Methodology/Approach: The research uses a survey sample from Southeast Vietnam, specifically Binh Duong Province, Dong Nai Province, Tay Ninh Province, Ba RIA Vung Tau Province and Ho Chi Minh City. A total of 245 valid questionnaires were gathered from mid- and senior-level executives, senior employees and department heads who have implemented digital transformation strategies in banks. Findings: This study explores the relationship between corporate social responsibility and firm performance in Vietnam's financial industry focusing on the banking sector. The study discovered a favourable relationship between corporate social responsibility (CSR) and enterprise digital transformation as well as a good relationship between CSR and digital transformation and Vietnamese banks' business success. Conclusion: The digital economy has increasingly contributed to global economic development. Today's digital landscape is undergoing a widespread phenomenon known as digital transformation. Hence, it is crucial to examine the impact of digital transformation on business processes. Practical Implications: The data also supports the idea that digital transformation serves as a mediator between corporate CSR and financial performance contributing to filling the gap when there is limited research in Vietnam on this relationship. Contribution to the Literature: This research aims to help banks in Vietnam enhance operational efficiency when banks actively engage in CSR and digital transformation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This study aims to explore the situations and socio-economic and health-related factors associated with employment of older men and women in Vietnam. Design/methodology/approach: This study used the nationally representative data in 2019 with a sample size of 3,049 older persons (those aged 60 and over). This study applied logistic regression analyses. Findings: This study found that there were significant differences in employment rates between various groups of older men and women in terms of age group, residential place, marital status and educational level. Controlling for age, education, marital status, place of residence and (in) sufficient income for daily living, the results from logistic models indicated that health issues were strongly associated with lower probability to be employed for both genders. In all tests and regression models, that age and health condition were consistently related with lower employment probability of older persons implied an important consideration in raising normal retirement ages for both men and women. Research limitations/implications: Due to limitation of the cross-sectional data, this research could not explore how health influences older people's employment overtime. Practical implications: Findings of this research provide important and adaptive policy insights for Vietnam to take advantage of older workers for economic growth under an aging population. Originality/value: To the best of the authors' knowledge, this has been among the first studies exploring the role of health, which was presented by different indicators, determining employment of older men and women in Vietnam. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]