Abstract
Quality assurance has been introduced and developed into Vietnam for almost 15 years. The importation of such a concept from other countries with different cultures may result in resistance in some ways. This study explores quality assurance arrangements at three institutions of higher education in Vietnam, a Confucian heritage country, as perceived by academic leaders, quality assurance practitioners, and academics to respond to quality assurance policies from the government. The methodological approach taken in this research is a multiple case study. A qualitative approach was used to explore quality assurance practices at three institutions. Data collected from documentation and in-depth interviews were analysed for patterns and themes. It was found that centralism and large power distance of a Confucian collectivist country such as Vietnam significantly influenced the government's attempts to reform higher education for quality improvement. Culturally appropriate measures from the bottom level with long-term strategies should be considered to assure and improve quality, including the shift to decentralisation in higher education.