Suspending the 65 million/year tuition program of Hoa Sen University

On August 6, Deputy Minister of Education and Training Bui Van Ga signed a decision to suspend enrollment in the joint training program for the Bachelor of International Hotel and Restaurant Management between Hoa Sen University (Vietnam) and Vatel International School of Tourism and Hotel Management under Vatel Development (France). The suspension period is 12 months.

The reason is that Hoa Sen University violated the provisions of Clause 1, Article 18 of Decree 73/2012/ND-CP dated September 26, 2012 of the Government on foreign cooperation and investment in the field of education.

Official dispatch signed by Deputy Minister of Education and Training Bui Van Ga on August 6

Accordingly, relevant units under the Ministry of Education and Training and the Principal of Hoa Sen University are responsible for implementing the decision.

After the suspension period of enrollment expires, Hoa Sen University is responsible for reporting to the Ministry of Education and Training on the results of overcoming the causes leading to the suspension of enrollment so that the Ministry can allow enrollment to resume.

Previously (in 2011), Hoa Sen University established Vinh An Company Limited - a joint venture between Hoa Sen University and Tangka Company (France), each side contributed 4 billion VND to implement the leading French Hotel-Restaurant management training program in Vietnam (Vatel program).

On May 18, 2012, the Ministry of Education and Training decided to fine Hoa Sen University 25 million VND for the reason that the enrollment activities for the joint training program of Bachelor of International Hotel and Restaurant Management between Hoa Sen University and Vatel School of Tourism and Hotel - France were not permitted by the Ministry of Education and Training.

At the same time, a fine of 7.5 million VND was imposed because the school opened a bachelor's training class in International Hotel and Restaurant Management of Hoa Sen University with Vatel School of Tourism and Hotel - French Republic without permission from the Ministry of Education and Training.

As of June 15, 2012, the Ministry of Education and Training has allowed Hoa Sen University and Vatel International School of Tourism and Hotel Management under Vatel Development to jointly train for a bachelor's degree in international hotel and restaurant management. The training period is 3 years; the language of instruction is English; The training program provided by Vatel International School of Tourism and Hotel Management under Vatel Development includes 180 ECTS credits; Training scale is 30 students/course, enrolling 3 courses each year; Tuition fee is 65 million/year/student; The duration of the joint program is 5 years.

However, when implementing this tuition fee, the school only applied it to students entering the first course (2012). After that, Hoa Sen University decided to increase the tuition fee with the fee for students entering from 2013 being 78 million/year/student (exceeding the revenue by 1.56 billion).

On April 21, 2014, the Ministry of Education and Training continued to fine Hoa Sen University 15 million VND for self-issuing a decision to increase tuition fees to 78 million VND/year/student, contrary to the regulations previously approved by the Ministry, and requested the school to refund tuition fees to students.

At the same time, the Ministry also fined Vinh An Company Limited 55 million VND because the Company organized training activities for bachelor's degrees in international hotel and restaurant management without permission from the competent state management agency, and hired lecturers without expertise or qualifications.

According to Vietnam.net