The Fulbright School of Public Policy and Management (FSPPM) in Ho Chi Minh City received accreditation from the Network of Schools of Public Policy, Affairs, and Administrations (NASPAA) on July 26, becoming the first accredited public policy school in Southeast Asia, the establishment annonunced this week.

The school’s Master of Public Policy Program is accredited by NASPAA for a period of seven years, which is the highest possible accreditation outcome that can be expected in the field, the institution said in a press release on Monday.

NASPAA is an international accrediting body for policy and management schools.

There are only 183 accredited schools in the U.S. and just eight internationally.

Recognized as the strictest accrediting system, it bases its assessment on rigorous scientific evidence gathered to show that students are learning at the highest levels in the profession of public policy and management and that they are highly capable of working in the public, private and non-profit sectors.

“This is a great milestone in our efforts to become a leading policy and management school of graduate education,” said Dr. Vu Thanh Tu Anh, dean of Fulbright School.

“International accreditation, however, is not our ultimate target. It is more critical that we continuously strive for the highest academic standards, setting up to be a world-class institution. We will continue to serve Vietnamese society through our excellent, impactful teaching and research,” he added.

“NASPAA accreditation is considered the highest award recognizing outstanding accomplishments in the field of public policy and management,” said Dr. Terry Buss, Fulbright School’s senior advisor on international accreditation.

“As testament to the rigor of the assessment, there are hundreds of schools seeking accreditation but less than 200 who have achieved it.”  

The accreditation process ordinarily requires three years of continuous work in evidence gathering, analysis and evaluation before NASPAA makes an accreditation decision.

FSPPM, based on its own high standards and accomplishments, was able to complete the process in less[1]  than two years.

Founded in 1995, the Fulbright School of Public Policy and Management (formerly the Fulbright Economics Teaching Program) was a partnership between[2]  the University of Economics Ho Chi Minh City and the Harvard Kennedy School, USA. 

As the pioneer of education and research in applied economics, Fulbright School has been highly recognized not only for its excellence in teaching and research but also for its impactful engagement in Vietnam’s public policy dialogues.

Its alumni currently hold senior positions in both public and private sectors in the Southeast Asian country.

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