The evaluation took place at the main campus of Hanoi University of Civil Engineering (HUCE), 55 Giai Phong Street, Hanoi, covering four programs: Civil Engineering/Civil and Industrial Construction; Architecture; Construction Economics Engineering; and Construction Materials Technology.
This is the next step in the quality assurance process for HUCE's training programs, paving the way for the programs to be reviewed by the External Evaluation Team according to the AUN-QA standards.
According to Circular 04/2025/TT-BGDĐT of the Ministry of Education and Training, external evaluation is the second step in the quality accreditation process for training programs, following self-assessment and before the verification of evaluation results and recognition of quality standards.
Compare the self-assessment report with the training practice.
A view of the campus of Hanoi University of Civil Engineering. Photo: HUCE
AUN-QA is a quality assurance network belonging to the ASEAN University Network. At the program level, evaluation according to AUN-QA standards considers many elements, including learning outcomes, program structure and content, teaching and learning activities, student assessment, faculty, support services, facilities, and training results.
The focus of the evaluation process is to examine the degree of relevance and alignment between these elements and the program's learning outcomes. Accordingly, the knowledge, skills, competencies, and qualities that learners need to achieve upon completion of the program must be linked to the training content, teaching and learning methods, and assessment activities.
During their three-day visit to HUCE, the expert team will review documents, hold discussions with leaders of training units and the self-assessment group, interview relevant parties, and survey the conditions for teaching and learning.
The exchange sessions are expected to include faculty, support staff, students, alumni, and employers. Information from these groups, along with records, evidence, and survey results, will form the basis for the expert team to compare the self-assessment report with the program's implementation in practice.
Therefore, the external evaluation process focuses not only on the completeness of the documentation but also on how the program is organized, the results achieved, and areas for further improvement.
According to the plan, the assessment includes an opening session, professional working sessions, a facilities survey, a presentation of preliminary results, and a closing session. The specific work schedule will be announced to participating units and parties by the University in coordination with the AUN-QA Secretariat.
Review the documents, evidence, and conditions for evaluation.
Preparations were carried out at the university level and across the four training programs. Faculties, self-assessment groups, and functional units coordinated the review of reports, finalized the evidence system, and checked the accessibility of documents for the expert team.
In building H3, the areas for evaluating the four programs are located on different floors. Each program has interview rooms and expert workspaces for discussions and document processing during the evaluation period.
In addition to documentation and workspace, HUCE also prepared technical conditions, including lecture halls, equipment, internet access, interpretation services, reception, and transportation. The library, laboratories, learning spaces, and student facilities were reviewed to meet the requirements of the on-site survey.
Program contacts and relevant units simultaneously contact interviewees, confirm schedules, and provide necessary information about the sessions.
This preparation aims to ensure that the expert team has access to records, data, stakeholders, and the actual conditions of each program during the evaluation period.
External evaluation is an input for quality improvement.
Students of Hanoi University of Civil Engineering. Photo: HUCE
HUCE identifies the provision of accurate information, verifiable evidence, and facilitating access to training practices for the expert team as crucial elements in the evaluation process.
In addition to administrators, faculty, students, and support staff, alumni, employers, and business partners also participate in providing information related to the training program.
For stakeholders, the exchange of experiences and practical implementation helps the expert team gain a better basis for assessing the degree of alignment between objectives, learning outcomes, training processes, and learner results.
Following the evaluation, the expert team's observations and recommendations will serve as a source of information for programs to review their strengths, identify areas for improvement, and determine priorities in quality assurance activities.
In this approach, external evaluation is not the end point of the accreditation process but rather an input to the internal quality assurance system, helping the program to continuously review, adjust, and monitor the effectiveness of improvement activities.
The 561st external evaluation of training programs by AUN-QA at HUCE therefore focused on comparing the self-assessment report, evidence, implementation practices, and stakeholder opinions. The evaluation results will provide further professional basis for the four programs to continue improving their training activities and quality assurance.
