PROPOSING AN IQA MODEL FOR GENERAL ENGLISH CURRICULUM AT INDUSTRIAL UNIVERSITY OF HO CHI MINH CITY

Abstract

The construction of internal quality assurance (IQA) for academic programs is crucial for higher education institutions (HEIs) to achieve internationalization, meet employer requirements, and fulfill social accountability. In Vietnam, the quality of General English programs at HEIs is a significant concern, as many Vietnamese students fail to meet minimum exit level requirements, hindering both educational internationalization and employer satisfaction. Ensuring the quality of General English teaching and learning is therefore critical. This study aims to develop an IQA model for General English programs, incorporating three key factors: policy and human resources, instruments, and specific criteria. The first two factors are adapted from an existing QA model, while the criteria are based on the National ELT Accreditation Scheme (NEAS) to ensure the quality of General English teaching for non-English majors. The research uses a quantitative approach, employing survey questionnaires for data collection and analysis, to assess the applicability of NEAS accreditation standards for QA in General English teaching at Industrial University of Ho Chi Minh City (IUH). A qualitative method validates the feasibility of the proposed IQA model. The findings indicate that both experts and English lecturers at IUH recognize the applicability, feasibility, and effectiveness of the NEAS standards and the proposed criteria.