Localising Programme Information for Vietnamese Students
A prospective student in Vietnam opens a programme page in Vietnamese. The page names the award and describes the programme as full-time. The student still needs to know what the qualification title means, who awards it and whether they will study online or on campus. A localised page should answer those questions using information the institution has published and can confirm.
Explain terms in the context of their education system
Words such as college, diploma and qualification can carry different meanings across education systems. Petrova et al. (2021) discuss how translating university websites can raise questions of equivalence, particularly for qualification titles. Where a familiar Vietnamese term could suggest a different award or level, keep the official title and explain it briefly using the institution’s documentation or the relevant qualifications framework.
| Term or label | What to clarify |
|---|---|
| Qualification title | Use the official award name, identify the awarding institution and explain the level where an official source specifies it. |
| Full-time | Explain the study load the institution expects. Give the verified mode of delivery separately. |
| Distance learning | Explain how teaching and assessment are delivered and identify any published attendance requirements. |
Organise the page around applicants’ questions
Localisation also involves how information is organised and how readers find it. Tang and Ding (2023) identified a gap between website content and prospective students’ information needs in a study of 12 Chinese universities’ international websites. Diwanji (2023) examined how international students experienced the usability, interactivity and inclusiveness of a university website.
Ask a Vietnamese-speaking reader to find the information they would need to decide whether to apply.
- Who the programme is for. The intended audience, entry requirements and application documents.
- What qualification it leads to. The official award title, its level and the institution that awards it.
- How students will study. The delivery mode, duration, assessment and graduation requirements.
- What it costs. Tuition fees and a link to the institution’s current fee information.
Give applicants a clear route from the Vietnamese page to the institution’s application information and, where relevant, official visa guidance. Place those links where readers are likely to need them.
Make programme information easy to verify
Use the institution’s current programme specification, admissions policy and published fees when preparing the Vietnamese version. Link readers to the official programme page or policy behind each important detail. For statements about accreditation, recognition or legal status, use the relevant official source and keep the scope of its wording clear.
If sources differ or a term is unclear, send the question to the institution for confirmation before publishing. When the institution updates programme details, review the Vietnamese page and any related brochures or communications together.
How Swiss Academic Support works with institutions
Swiss Academic Support (SAS) helps international higher education institutions translate, edit and organise programme information for Vietnamese readers. Depending on the arrangement, SAS can help develop local websites and communication channels, explain unfamiliar terms and respond to initial enquiries using the institution’s published information.
When a question requires confirmation about an award, admission condition or programme detail, SAS refers it to the institution or the relevant authority. This gives prospective students a clear route to the source that can confirm the answer.
References
Diwanji, V. S. (2023). Improving accessibility and inclusiveness of university websites for international students: A mixed-methods usability assessment. Technology, Pedagogy and Education, 32(1), 65–90. https://doi.org/10.1080/1475939X.2022.2089724.
Petrova, Y., Bogemova, O., & Lantikova, O. (2021). Translation of university web sites as a stage of web site localization. In A. G. Shirin, M. V. Zvyaglova, O. A. Fikhtner, E. Y. Ignateva, & N. A. Shaydorova (Eds.), Education in a Changing World: Global Challenges and National Priorities (Vol. 114, pp. 266–273). European Publisher. https://doi.org/10.15405/epsbs.2021.07.02.32.
Tang, Y., & Ding, H. (2023). Content strategy and intercultural communication: Analysis of international websites of Chinese universities. Journal of Technical Writing and Communication, 53(4), 356–381. https://doi.org/10.1177/00472816231171982.
