International Journal of Social Science Research (IJSSR)

University Autonomy in Vietnam under the 2025 Law on Higher Education: A Perspective from Administrative Law Theory

University autonomy has become a central component of higher education reform in Vietnam in the context of public administration reform and the development of a socialist rule-of-law state. The 2025 Law on Higher Education introduces significant adjustments to the design and implementation of university autonomy, reflecting a shift from a model of direct administrative control to one based on decentralization, accountability, and the control of public power. This article approaches university autonomy from the perspective of administrative law, conceptualizing it as a legally institutionalized form of controlled administrative decentralization. Based on an analysis of the provisions of the 2025 Law on Higher Education, combined with policy arguments presented in the Government’s explanatory reports and a comparison with the practice of legal implementation, the article clarifies the legal nature, scope, and limitations of university autonomy. Accordingly, it identifies key legal issues arising in the current governance framework of higher education and proposes several directions for legal reform aimed at ensuring a balance between granting autonomy and controlling administrative power in the higher education sector.