The Department of Higher Education under the Ministry of Education and Training (MoET) has proposed the establishment of a single National Scholarship Fund as part of a national strategy to develop and retain talent, attract top minds, and prevent brain drain.

According to the department, the current scholarship system in Vietnam remains fragmented and inconsistent. Scholarships are offered through various educational institutions, businesses, and isolated government programs, leading to a dispersal of resources, lack of overall strategy, and an absence of a nationally recognized scholarship brand strong enough to attract both domestic and international talent.

Existing scholarship programs are also not comprehensive. Many talented students, young scientists, and those in financially difficult circumstances or studying specialized fields such as basic sciences, arts, and culture still lack access to suitable support.

Additionally, the mechanisms for post-study obligations and talent utilization are weak - especially for overseas scholarships - further contributing to the ongoing brain drain. Heavy reliance on the state budget limits the size of current scholarship programs, while the allocation process remains inflexible and bureaucratic.

In response, the Department of Higher Education has suggested creating a modern, centralized, and flexible National Scholarship Fund to address these shortcomings and serve as a vital policy tool for implementing the national talent development strategy.

A modern and transparent structure and operating mechanism

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University graduates at a commencement ceremony. Photo: Hung Nguyen

The proposed fund would be established as a state financial fund outside the state budget, non-profit in nature, and founded by the Prime Minister with an officially approved charter.

Its organizational structure would include a Board of Management (strategic direction and oversight), an Executive Board (operations and implementation), a Scientific Council (merit-based, professional application review), and an Audit Board (financial supervision and legal compliance).

To ensure long-term sustainability, the fund would diversify its financial sources, combining state funding with private sector and community contributions. It would also actively pursue partnerships and mobilize resources both domestically and internationally.

The fund would implement transparent selection criteria, use independent scientific committees, apply digital technology to manage and monitor applications, and establish a post-training service commitment mechanism. It would also connect scholarship recipients with ministries, sectors, and enterprises to ensure talent is effectively utilized.

Five key scholarship groups

The department proposes the fund offer five major categories of scholarships:

Full or partial scholarships for talented students in all fields, awarded based on academic excellence, outstanding aptitude, or exceptional exam results. These scholarships would cover tuition and living expenses, enabling recipients to fully focus on their studies and research.

Scholarships for students from mountainous areas, remote regions, ethnic minority communities, and underprivileged backgrounds, ensuring equitable access to education and reflecting the humane principle that “no one is left behind.”

Scholarships for top-performing students at key universities and in priority fields such as basic sciences, core technologies, high-tech engineering, healthcare, and education. These would cover all education and living expenses.

Scholarships commissioned by the government to train high-quality personnel for strategic sectors, emerging technologies, national defense and security, and socio-economic development.

Scholarships for studying abroad and postgraduate research, enhancing and inheriting the outcomes of existing scholarship programs. These would fund master's, doctoral, and postdoctoral studies at leading global institutions in areas where Vietnam faces a talent shortage.

Turning brain drain into brain gain

The Department of Higher Education asserts that establishing and effectively operating the National Scholarship Fund would provide a major boost to academic and research excellence, help direct talent into priority sectors, and inspire a spirit of dedication and innovation.

National scholarships would represent not only recognition and honor from the country but also motivation for students to strive for excellence. This would, in turn, encourage universities to improve training quality, upgrade curricula, and foster healthy competition throughout the education system.

The fund would also play a role in nurturing a generation of elite experts, scientists, and administrators trained both domestically and internationally, forming a global Vietnamese talent network. With “red carpet” policies and binding post-study service commitments, the fund aims to turn the tide on brain drain and instead attract global Vietnamese talent back to serve the nation, helping Vietnam become a dynamic knowledge center in the region.

The Department of Higher Education has called on the National Assembly and Government to issue a resolution or decree to establish the fund with special mechanisms for organization, finance, and operations. It recommends an initial allocation from the state budget to launch the fund.

Relevant ministries and agencies are also urged to coordinate in developing policies on finance, taxation, investment, and human resource utilization to ensure the fund’s feasibility and long-term impact.

The business community and society at large are encouraged to contribute resources and expertise to help the fund become a symbol of national aspiration and a commitment to nurturing Vietnamese talent.

“Investing in people is investing in the future. With strong political will and broad social consensus, the National Scholarship Fund will serve as a launchpad for Vietnamese talent to soar, contributing to a prosperous and powerful nation,” the Department of Higher Education emphasized.

Le Huyen