Abstract

The quality of higher education in Vietnam depends strongly on the capacity of its teaching workforce, particularly lecturers responsible for foreign-language education for non-language-major students at regional universities. Despite their pivotal role in ensuring students achieve Vietnam’s national foreign-language proficiency benchmarks, the professional development of non-specialized foreign language lecturers remains uneven and insufficient across regional institutions. This study investigates the current status of lecturer development in three regional universities—Thai Nguyen University, Hue University, and the University of Danang—through the lens of a competency-based human resource development (HRD) framework.

Using a mixed-methods design, the research collected data from 201 participants (100 lecturers and 101 academic managers). Quantitative data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, reliability analysis, and factor analysis to examine six key HRD dimensions: planning, recruitment, deployment, training, evaluation, and professional environment. Qualitative interview data were thematically analyzed to enrich and contextualize the survey findings.

Results reveal that while training and lecturer deployment are relatively well-implemented, major gaps persist in long-term workforce planning, competency-based recruitment, performance evaluation, and the creation of motivational, growth-oriented academic environments. Differences in perceptions between lecturers and managers further indicate misalignment in HRD implementation. These findings highlight the urgency of adopting a competency-based HRD model for lecturer development, ensuring alignment between institutional strategies, competency standards, and the professional needs of lecturers.

The study proposes an integrated development model centered on a competency framework specifically designed for non-specialized foreign language lecturers, emphasizing synchronized improvements across HRD functions. Practical implications and policy recommendations are offered for enhancing the quality, sustainability, and effectiveness of foreign-language teaching in regional Vietnamese universities

Keywords

  • non-specialized foreign language lecturers
  • lecturer development
  • competency-based approach
  • regional universities
  • human resource development

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