The development of a contextualised set of evaluation criteria for studying internationalisation at a Vietnamese public university : a dissertation presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Education at Massey University, Manawatū, New Zealand

The aim of this thesis is to explore the development of a contextualised set of evaluation criteria for studying internationalisation at a Vietnamese public university. The literature on internationalisation has so far paid little attention to Vietnam, a context which is at an early stage in conceptualising a plan for its internationalisation. This thesis, therefore, will assist Vietnamese universities in this effort in order to become a part of the global higher education system. Having access to a set of relevant evaluation criteria will not only enable them to better understand their current level of internationalisation but also inform their future internationalisation strategy. The research process was supported by two conceptual frameworks: practical participation evaluation and utilization-focused evaluation approaches. A mixture of qualitative and quantitative research methods was employed to conduct the three-phase development of the contextualised set of evaluation criteria. A collaborative partnership was also developed with the institutional stakeholders from a key university for which the set of criteria was contextualised for evaluating the internationalisation process. The findings from this study indicated that the development of a contextualised set of evaluation criteria for internationalisation at a Vietnamese public university was informed by a complexity of contextual factors. In particular, the domestic-focused nature of institutional internationalisation was found to be shaped not only by national economic and political rationales but also the institutional structure of single focus on teaching. The complexity was further expanded to (national) cultural relevance, institutional purposes for the evaluation, and the institutional mono-disciplinary structure when it came to the evaluation of that internationalisation. As a result of the study, a modelling process for developing a contextualised set of criteria for internationalisation at Vietnamese public universities was established. Insights into the complexity of the process for contextualising a set of evaluation criteria to study internationalisation at a Vietnam university also led to implications and recommendations for institutional stakeholders at the key university in the study (policy implementers and senior leaders), other universities, and policy makers

Evaluating the Heterogeneous Effect of Firm Risk on Firm Value

Purpose- This paper aims to investigate the effect of firm risk on the firm value to see how the firm value is changing when the risk level is changed. Our result indicates that a higher level of risk can reduce firm value.  Design/Methodology- We apply a Bayesian causal technique for a sample data set of US public firms. The causal approach helps us to focus on the reliable and unbiased results instead of the association-based findings. Findings- The results show a negative effect of risk on the firms’ value for the sample data. However, we investigate the potential effect of the risk across the distribution of the firm value. We witness the more substantial effect of risk on firms with a higher value. Practical Implications- Helps firms to evaluate their risk and its effect, so they can adjust their decisions and take actions to reduce the undesired effects of firm risk

Impact of Economic Freedom and Corruption Perceptions Index on Foreign Direct Investment in Vietnam

Foreign direct investment is an important source of investment capital that is indispensable to contribute to each country's total investment capital. FDI attraction has always been of special interest to governments in both developed and developing countries. The empirical method was employed on a secondary time series data set during the period 1999-2018 to determine the impact of economic freedom index and corruption perceptions index on foreign direct investment in Vietnam by using the linear approach. The empirical results show that the relationship between corruption perceptions index and foreign direct investment is a positive sign at a 1% significant level. The effect of economic freedom index on foreign direct investment has a positive effect at a 5% significant level

Automatic detection of pavement crack feature on images taken from specialized road surface survey vehicle

Approaching to PDCA (Plan - Do - Check - Take Action) in management of infrastructure asset requires digital transformation, sufficient data and strong database supporting management, analysis as well as creation of data-driven decision making tools. For pavements, data including condition indicators such as roughness and rutting depth are collected automatically during the survey vehicle travelling. However, pavement crack ratio and crack features of pattern and segmentation have not been detected by the system but manual in the case in Vietnam. The paper presents result of research on algorithm of statistic machine learning model in AI applying deep learning algorithm to automatically detect crack feature on pavement photos for enhancement of the performance and productivity of current survey technology. In the research, a deep architecture using convolutional neural network (CNN) for crack segmentation on gray scale images has been developed. The results show the CNN model for crack segmentation is better than other methods using traditional digital processing such as the Gabor filters or threshold and machine learning such as Adaboost

Users\u27 Searching Behaviour in Using Online Databases at Vietnam National University - Ho Chi Minh City

Purpose: This paper focuses on identifying the searching behaviors of the users, their difficulties as well as their expectations from library supports while using online databases at the Central Library of Vietnam National University – Ho Chi Minh city. Methods: Usage Reports of six online databases subscribed by the Central Library were analyzed and a survey by emailing users a questionnaire was conducted. Findings: The amount of usage increases yearly, however it is still low in comparison with the amount of subscribers who have registered for using online databases. Users did search for their research and study rather than for their teaching or professional knowledge update. Often they looked for journal articles and thesis rather than e-book. Key words and titles were used the most when searching. Reading the guidance from the library websites or from the databases was most used. This suggested that most users did not know how to use the databases and preferred to learn by themselves. Email was user preferred mean to communicate with library staff. English language and database searching skills were the biggest barriers preventing users from employing online database. Originality and implication: This paper provides the understanding of users‟ behaviors and suggests the necessity to assist users in using online databases in Vietnam universities. Up to now, these issues have not been known. They are relevant to improve the utilization of online databases

Analysis of genetic factors influencing transformation efficiency of Rosa hybrida cultivars

The production of ornamental roses makes substantial contributions to the global floriculture industry; furthermore, roses have been used for medicine, perfume and food purposes for centuries and are among the top five ornamentals worldwide. However, the traditional methods for breeding roses are time-consuming and may have unwittingly eliminated agronomically useful traits. One of the alternatives is genetic transformation, an efficient technology for improving useful agronomic rose traits without these limitations. To improve the efficiency of transformations in the rose, the propagation and regeneration capacity of 96 rose genotypes were investigated to find suitable varieties for regeneration and micropropagation, as well as for genetic modifications. By combining genetic analysis and association mapping, candidate genes associated with regenerating and propagating traits were identified. For phenotypic analyses, the shoot regeneration and in vitro propagation traits of 96 rose genotypes were investigated. Shoot regeneration rates varied significantly between genotypes, with values from 0.88–88.33%, and shoot ratios (number of shoots per explant) varied from 0.008–1.2. Significant differences in callus size on CIM1 (callus inducing medium 1) were observed on a scale of 0–4 and 0.82–4 on CIM2. Significant variation in shoot multiplication rate was found with variation from 0.5–4.24 among genotypes. Significant variation in in vitro root number (ranging from 0.12–18.7), root length (0.26–25.76 cm) as well as in vivo root number, root length and root biomass were recorded among the genotypes. These analyses indicated significant genetic influence acting on these traits. For genetic analysis, GWAS (Genome Wide Association Study) was performed to detect the molecular markers associated with the traits (root and shoot characteristics as well as callus formation). In this analysis, 12 SNP (Single Nucleotide Polymorphism) markers from ESTs (Expressed Sequence Tags) matching known candidate genes involved in shoot morphogenesis were detected. For callus formation, 26 SNPs that are significantly associated with callus formation on CIM1 and 13 SNPs significantly associated with callus formation on CIM2 were found. A total of 6 SNPs were found to be significantly associated with shoot multiplication rate. For rooting traits, 49 SNPs were significantly associated with in vitro root length, 98 SNPs were associated with in vivo root number, 218 SNPs were associated with in vivo root length and 4 SNPs were associated with in vivo root biomass. Additionally, by using the KASP (kompetitive allelspezifische PCR) technology to verify significantly associated markers for shoot organogenesis in other populations of garden roses, the trihelix transcription factor GT2-like (Rh12GR_53908_964P) and a putative leucine-rich repeat receptor-like protein kinase (Rh12GR_21560_124Q) were determined to influence shoot organogenesis in roses. Other detected markers should be used in future experiments to validate the genes in other populations and examine their functionality in transgenic approaches

Desarrollo de la presión del sujetador: Sistema de medición con aire y sensor de presión

Introduction: This paper is the result of the research “Development of bra pressure measuring system using air pressure sensor” developed in the Ha Noi University of Science and Technology in 2019.  Proplem: The pressure of the bra on the human body affects the comfort of the wearer and the wearer's health. Therefore, bra pressure is one of the most important parameters taken into account when designing and manufacturing bras. Objective: To determine the pressure value of a bra, it is necessary to use a suitable pressure measuring device. Methodology: The device operates on the principle of resitive gas pressure sensor, with 8 measuring channels. The system is controlled by the computer via programming software in the Visual C language, measuring the pressure of the shirt on the position on the curved surface of the human body. Pressure values ​​and timed charts are displayed on the computer. The measuring device was tested with GE Druck DPI 610 pressure generator.  Results: Test results showed that the device has a sensitivity of 0.01 kPa, measuring range from 0.1to 10 kPa and an accuracy of 0.01 kPa. Conclusion: This measurement system is important for objectively assessing the pressure of the bra on the wearer.  Originality: This paper presents the results of research and design of the PB228 system when measuring the pressure of the bra on the wearer's body in static, dynamic and static-dynamic combined states.  Limitations: The accuracy of the device only applies in standard condition

TEXT-BASED VOCABULARY INSTRUCTION AS A LEARNING TOOL FOR EFL FRESHMEN’S READING COMPREHENSION

This paper reports a study which examines how text-based vocabulary instruction influences English as a foreign language (EFL) freshmen’s reading comprehension and explore their perceptions on this type of instruction in reading comprehension. It was a quasi- experimental study with control and experimental groups including eighty freshmen at a university. The quantitative data from reading tests for pre-test and post-test were used to examine students’ reading comprehension over nine weeks. The qualitative analysis used semi-structured interviews to examine students’ perceptions towards text-based vocabulary instruction in reading comprehension. The findings reveal that text-based vocabulary instruction influenced positively students’ reading achievement after the experiment and that they had positive perceptions towards this type of instruction in their reading lessons.   Article visualizations

Mediating Effect of Social Commerce Continuance Use Intention on the Relationship Between Perceived Values and Brand Loyalty

The purpose of this paper is to examine the mediating effect of social commerce continuance use intention on the relationship between perceived values and brand loyalty in the social commerce context. The data was collected from 176 members of the Apple Watch Social Commerce site in Vietnam via an online questionnaire. Applying the structural equation modelling method, we found that social commerce continuance use intention has mediating effects on the relationship between perceived values and brand loyalty. Keywords: Perceived values, continuance use intention, brand loyalty, social commerce, Vietnam DOI: 10.7176/EJBM/12-11-07 Publication date: April 30th 202

Teachers’ identity construction: A case study of Vietnamese teachers in communicative English classroom

Notwithstanding the attempts of the Vietnamese government to change traditional teaching styles, from teacher-centredness to student-centredness, current educational studies in Vietnam indicate that the status quo remains mostly the same (Pham, 2018). Taking into account this slow transformation, educational researchers have gradually shifted their attention to Vietnamese teachers’ identities to address this situation. However, educational studies focusing on this emerging area that are situated within a qualitative paradigm are scarce. Many of these educational studies adopt less critical research instruments, such as questionnaires, classroom observations and interviews. This study seeks to fill this research space in Vietnam educational research by exploring Vietnamese teachers’ identities from a linguistic and discourse perspective. The two main focuses are (1) how the participants discursively mobilise their identities in the classroom discourse and (2) how the findings enrich Vietnamese teachers’ professional development in Vietnam. Situated within the social constructivism paradigm, the thesis explores and analyses Vietnamese teachers’ identity construction from a micro-level of communicative classroom interaction. Among many other discourse strategies, the study focuses on three main discursive strategies and processes that the teachers deploy to portray themselves, namely code switching, humour and negotiation of face. It is found that besides the traditional identities, there is a construction of a wide range of other, less expected teachers’ identities, such as being friend-like, playful, approachable, supportive, and empathic. It is therefore suggested that the participants’ identity construction is moving towards student-centredness. This study contributes to the current research of Vietnamese teachers’ identities at theoretical, methodological and practical levels. Theoretically, it highlights the importance of conceptualising Vietnamese teachers’ identities as dynamic and multifaceted in nature. Methodologically, it demonstrates how looking at teachers’ identity construction from a linguistic and micro-level of classroom interaction can reveal the complexity of such a construct, as well as the complexity of classroom life. And finally, it suggests, on a practical level, the engagement of various forms of empirical evidence of classroom interactions in teachers’ development courses to create more meaningful reflection opportunities for teachers in Vietnam