LE THI PHUONG DUNG
MEASURING SUSTAINABLE PERFORMANCE
IN VIETNAMESE HIGHER EDUCATION:
A CASE STUDY OF A SELF-FINANCED
INSTITUTION AMID GLOBAL INTEGRATION
Field:
Financial Management
Code:
8340202
Hanoi, 2025
LE THI PHUONG DUNG
MEASURING SUSTAINABLE PERFORMANCE
IN VIETNAMESE HIGHER EDUCATION:
A CASE STUDY OF A SELF-FINANCED
INSTITUTION AMID GLOBAL INTEGRATION
Field:
Financial Management
Code:
8340202
Supervisor:
Dr. Nguyen Thi Kim Oanh
Hanoi, 2025
i
Letter of Declaration
I certify that the Master thesis titled “Measuring sustainable performance in
Vietnamese higher education: a case study of a self-financed institution amid global
integration” represents my original research. I have adhered to research ethics
diligently, and the conclusions reached in this study are derived exclusively from my
own data. The research’s findings have not been published previously elsewhere. I
am fully accountable for the accuracy of the numerical data, details, and other
elements presented in this study.
ii
Acknowledgement
First and foremost, I would like to sincerely thank Dr. Nguyen Thi Kim Oanh
for her invaluable guidance throughout this project. Her enthusiasm, dedication, and
insightful feedback were essential in completing this work within the designated
timeframe. I look forward to golden chances of collaborating with her again in the
future.
Additionally, I would like to share my genuine thanks with all my colleagues,
professors, and students at the International School, Vietnam National University
Hanoi, for their generous time and support during the data collection process. This
research could not have been finalized without their contributions.
Finally, I would like to extend my deepest gratitude to our families for their
constant love, resilience, encouragement, and emotional support. Their presence has
been a significant source of strength during this journey, and we are truly grateful for
their unwavering support.
iii
TABLES OF CONTENT
Letter of Declaration .......................................................................................................................... i
Acknowledgement ............................................................................................................................ ii
Summary ........................................................................................................................................... iv
List of abbreviations ......................................................................................................................... v
List of Tables .................................................................................................................................... vi
List of Figures ................................................................................................................................. vii
CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION .................................................................................................... 1
1.1 Rationale of study ........................................................................................................... 1
1.2 Aim and objectives .......................................................................................................... 2
1.3 Research questions.......................................................................................................... 3
1.4 Scope of the study ........................................................................................................... 3
1.5 Research method ............................................................................................................. 3
1.6 Research finding ............................................................................................................. 3
1.7 Structure of the study ..................................................................................................... 4
CHAPTER 2: LITERATURE REVIEW ........................................................................................ 5
2.1 Sustainable performance and its importance ............................................................... 5
2.2 Measuring sustainable performance in higher education ........................................... 6
2.3 Theoretical foundation for measuring sustainable performance in higher education
9
2.4 Proposing sustainable performance indicators in higher education ........................ 16
CHAPTER 3: RESEARCH METHODS ...................................................................................... 17
3.1 Delphi Method ............................................................................................................... 17
3.2 Application of Modified Delphi Method in developing performance indicators for
the sustainability BSC in higher education ............................................................................. 19
CHAPTER 4: DATA ANALYSIS AND RESEARCH FINDINGS ............................................ 29
4.1 Data analytical technique ............................................................................................. 29
4.2 Research findings .......................................................................................................... 29
4.2.1. First-round survey results .............................................................................................. 29
4.2.2. Second-round survey results.......................................................................................... 32
CHAPTER 5: DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION .................................................................... 39
5.1 Discussion ........................................................................................................................ 39
5.2 Implications of the study ................................................................................................ 40
5.3 Conclusion ....................................................................................................................... 41
References ........................................................................................................................................ 43
APPENDIX 1: SURVERY QUESTIONARE ROUND 1 ............................................................ 47
APPENDIX 2: SURVERY QUESTIONARE ROUND 2 ............................................................ 52
