BUV has been recognised by QS as a leading example of quality assurancein the Asia-Pacific region. — Photo courtesy of BUV

HÀ NỘI — Global higher education analytics and ranking organisation Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) has named British University Vietnam (BUV) a standout case study for quality assurance, describing the institution as a benchmark for universities across the Asia-Pacific region.

According to QS, BUV’s consistent adoption of international accreditation and benchmarking standards has helped the university strengthen credibility, accelerate student growth and establish itself as one of Việt Nam’s leading private higher education providers.

Founded in 2009, BUV entered what QS characterised as a challenging education landscape. At the time, Việt Nam’s per-capita income was around US$1,000 per year, while the tuition fees for an international British-style programme were significantly higher. Public universities were still widely considered the safer choice for families, and scepticism toward private foreign-invested institutions remained common.

This meant BUV had to tackle two issues simultaneously: building trust in a new education model while demonstrating measurable quality and outcomes.

Rather than avoiding strict oversight, the university chose to embrace internationally recognised standards as a strategic foundation.

“We stand on the shoulders of quality assurance bodies, accreditation agencies and ranking organisations that have created our infrastructure for global education excellence,” said Professor Rick Bennett, BUV Deputy Vice Chancellor and Vice President, at the 2025 QS Higher Education Summit Asia Pacific. “It represents a long-term commitment to our students and parents: every BUV degree holds global value and is validated against the world’s most rigorous standards.”

QS highlighted what BUV calls its 'Triple Quality Framework,' an integrated system spanning local accreditation, national benchmarking and global evaluation. The model combines compliance with Vietnamese regulations with British and international standards, allowing the university to measure both qualitative and quantitative performance indicators.

At the domestic level, BUV aligns with requirements set by the Ministry of Education and Training, meeting six national standards and 20 quality indicators across governance, teaching, facilities, finance, admissions and research. In 2025, the ministry named BUV among 17 universities accredited by prestigious international quality assurance bodies, with BUV the only foreign-invested institution on the list, a recognition QS described as a key step in reinforcing domestic legitimacy.

Nationally, BUV became the first university in Việt Nam and ASEAN to secure accreditation from the UK’s Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education, widely regarded as a gold standard applied to leading institutions such as Oxford and Cambridge. The process required full compliance with 10 European Standards and Guidelines, creating what QS said was a strong bridge between Vietnamese and British quality systems and strengthening confidence among students, families and partners.

This credibility has helped BUV expand its global footprint. The university now partners with 76 institutions across 17 countries, including several members of the UK’s Russell Group such as the University of Bristol and the University of Liverpool.

At the global level, BUV has maintained a QS 5-Star rating for six consecutive years from 2022 to 2028, the first university in Việt Nam to achieve the distinction. The institution reports that 81 per cent of its faculty are international, representing 31 countries, while students benefit from exchange opportunities across 14 major education markets.

“BUV’s consistent achievement of the QS 5-Star rating reflects its unwavering commitment to excellence and continuous improvement,” said Samuel Ang, QS Regional Director for Asia. “Within the region, BUV stands out as a benchmark institution, demonstrating how a university in Việt Nam can deliver world-class outcomes.”

BUV has also been included in QS’s global MBA rankings, placing among the top 43 programmes in Asia, while its degrees are officially recognised by China’s Ministry of Education, opening wider career pathways for graduates.

QS noted that these accreditations have produced tangible gains. Student enrolment has surpassed 2,500 with strong annual growth, while brand recognition and trust among parents and students have improved significantly.

Beyond institutional benefits, QS said BUV’s development supports Việt Nam’s broader higher education ambitions. The country aims to have at least two universities in the global top 100 and ten in the top 500 by 2030, while positioning itself as a regional education hub.

By adopting international standards early, BUV is helping reposition Việt Nam from primarily a sender of overseas students to a destination for high-quality study. QS emphasised that quality assurance, when used strategically, can serve as a catalyst for growth, competitiveness and global reputation.

Looking ahead, BUV targets entry into Asia’s top 100 universities by 2030 and the world’s top 100 by 2050.

QS concluded that the university’s long-term commitment to rigorous standards and global alignment places it on track to become a future research and innovation leader, contributing to Việt Nam’s goal of narrowing the gap with leading education systems worldwide.