Understanding the transformative potential of international education for Vietnamese overseas graduates and their communities Lien Thi Pham Thesis Submitted in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY Department of Sociology Macquarie University May 2016 i Table of Contents 1 Introduction ....................................................................................................................... 1 1.1 Introduction ......................................................................................................................... 1 1.2 Current discourses of international education ..................................................................... 4 1.3 Contending viewpoints of international education .............................................................. 7 1.4 Overview of the research ................................................................................................... 12 1.5 Key arguments of the research .......................................................................................... 18 1.6 Significance of the research ............................................................................................... 22 1.7 Structure of the thesis ........................................................................................................ 24 THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK AND METHODOLOGICAL DESIGN ..................... 26 2 The Sen-Bourdieu theoretical framework: Conceptualising normative agency ....... 26 2.1 Introduction ....................................................................................................................... 26 2.2 Theoretical foundations and key features of the agency-focused Capability Approach (CA) ................................................................................................................................... 27 2.3 Operationalising the CA .................................................................................................... 33 2.4 Operationalising the agency-focused CA using Bourdieu’s theory of practice and reflexive sociology ............................................................................................................ 36 2.5 Challenges and limitations of the Sen-Bourdieu conceptual framework .......................... 48 2.6 Conclusion: Summarising key concepts of the Sen-Bourdieu framework ........................ 52 3 The methodological design: From theory to praxis of reflexive sociology ................. 56 3.1 Introduction ....................................................................................................................... 56 3.2 Case study and mixed method approach ........................................................................... 57 3.3 Phase 1: Surveys ................................................................................................................ 64 3.4 Phase 2: Interviews ............................................................................................................ 73 3.5 Reflection on the research process .................................................................................... 82 3.6 Conclusion ......................................................................................................................... 87 THE CASE STUDY OF VIET NAM AND VIETNAMESE OVERSEAS-EDUCATED RETURNEES ................................................................................................................... 89 4 Encountering the Vietnamese habitus ........................................................................... 89 4.1 Introduction ....................................................................................................................... 89 4.2 Personalism: the virtues of personal relations ................................................................... 91 4.3 Individualism: Self and society relations .......................................................................... 95 4.4 Nationalism and democratic-centralism: State-society relations ...................................... 97 4.5 Economic pragmatism: from the Mekong Delta economy to economic reform of Doi Moi ......................................................................................................................................... 102 4.6 Educational values and internationalism ......................................................................... 104 4.7 Conclusion ....................................................................................................................... 111 5 Values, motivations and expectations of acquired international education ............. 113 5.1 Introduction ..................................................................................................................... 113 5.2 Habitus and values .......................................................................................................... 114 5.3 Summary of survey responses about values and attitudinal changes .............................. 115 5.4 Motivations, expectations and goals of acquired overseas education ............................. 118 ii 5.5 Filial piety as the principle of morality ........................................................................... 122 5.6 Western supremacy and instrumentality of education ..................................................... 125 5.7 Self, individualisation and individualism ........................................................................ 131 5.8 Conclusion ....................................................................................................................... 133 6 Practical experiences in the “professional” field ........................................................ 138 6.1 Introduction ..................................................................................................................... 138 6.2 Viet Nam’s business environment ................................................................................... 139 6.3 Participants’ attributes in the “professional” field ........................................................... 143 6.4 Resource opportunity structures ...................................................................................... 144 6.5 Cultural opportunity structures ........................................................................................ 154 6.5 Career opportunity structures .......................................................................................... 162 6.7 Conclusion: Summary of findings and implications ....................................................... 166 7 Practical experiences in the “intellectual” field .......................................................... 170 7.1 Introduction ..................................................................................................................... 170 7.2 Viet Nam’s higher education system ............................................................................... 171 7.3 Summary of participants by types of universities ........................................................... 176 7.4 Resource opportunity structures ...................................................................................... 177 7.5 Cultural opportunity structures ........................................................................................ 187 7.6 Career opportunity structures .......................................................................................... 194 7.6 Conclusion: Summary of findings and implications ....................................................... 199 8 Practical experiences in the “civic” field ..................................................................... 203 8.1 Introduction ..................................................................................................................... 203 8.2 The nature of community and civic culture in Viet Nam ................................................ 203 8.3 Overview of returnees’ engagement in community work ............................................... 207 8.4 Resource opportunity structures ...................................................................................... 209 8.5 Cultural opportunity structures ........................................................................................ 216 8.6 Community work opportunity structures ......................................................................... 227 8.7 Conclusion: Summary of findings and implications ....................................................... 230 9 Conclusion: Recap, reflection and future research directions .................................. 232 9.1 Introduction ..................................................................................................................... 232 9.2 Recapping the key empirical findings ............................................................................. 233 9.3 Theoretical implications for conceptualising normative agency and empowerment ...... 246 9.4 Reflection on the use of Bourdieuian theories to supplement Sen’s CA ........................ 251 9.5 Implications of the research for ethical development ...................................................... 255 9.6 Conclusion: Limitations of the research and suggestions for future research directions 259 References .............................................................................................................................. 263 Appendix I. List of Vietnamese Student Abroad Organisations,