Urbanization and institutional characteristics as predictors of proportion of PhD faculty in Vietnamese higher education

This study examines the institutional factors affecting the proportion of PhD-holding faculty in Vietnamese higher education institutions, with a focus on urbanization level. This study employed a beta-binomial generalized linear model to analyze data gathered from 202 universities across all regions in Vietnam. Results reveal significant geographic disparities: Universities in low urbanization areas had a lower proportion of PhD-qualified faculty compared to those in higher urbanized regions. Doctoral program status emerged as a strong institutional predictor, while institutional control and revenue showed no significant effects. Additionally, enrollment exhibited a nonlinear relationship with faculty qualifications, indicating complex dynamics between institutional size and academic staffing. These findings highlight systemic challenges in achieving national targets for doctoral faculty ratios by 2030, as set by the Vietnam Ministry of Education and Training. The results also underscore the need for targeted policies and intervention to support local universities to meet the requirements. The study contributes to the current limited literature on the relationship between spatial disparities and quality of faculty within a developing country context. Importantly, this study offers actionable insights for policymakers seeking to reduce structural inequalities in Vietnam’s higher education system.