Beyond compliance : building ESG as a strategic operating system for Vietnam's K-12 privated education industry | |
| Author | Phan Dang Khoa |
| Call Number | AIT Proj. no.PM-ESG-26-06 |
| Subject(s) | Social responsibility of business--Vietnam Sustainable development--Vietnam Private schools--Vietnam |
| Note | A project report submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Professional Master in ESG (Environment-Social-Governance) Management |
| Publisher | Asian Institute of Technology |
| Abstract | The private K-12 education sector in Vietnam is witnessing a paradox of rapid market expansion alongside a critical "trust crisis" following high-profile governance failures in 2024- 2025 (Vietnam.vn, 2025; E.vnexpress.net, 2024). While global education trends increasingly emphasize sustainability, Vietnamese private schools often treat Environment, Social, and Governance (ESG) factors as fragmented charitable activities rather than a core strategy. This thesis addresses this gap by proposing the integration of ESG as a Strategic Operating System (SOS), specifically expanded into the ESGTQ framework (Environment, Social, Governance, Technology, and Quality) to align with the demands of the digital era and educational excellence. Employing a mixed-methods explanatory design, the study analyzed data from a survey of 224 stakeholders (leaders, teachers, parents) and 12 in-depth interviews. Quantitative results revealed a high consensus on the strategic importance of all five ESGTQ pillars (M > 4.1), with the Social pillar rated highest (M = 4.23). However, a significant "Perception gap" was identified (p < 0.05), where school leaders consistently rated ESG performance significantly higher than parents, highlighting an issue of information asymmetry. Qualitative analysis further uncovered seven critical barriers, most notably the lack of Governance Transparency and Skills Gaps. Triangulation of the data identified a "Core Implementation Triangle" comprising Governance Transparency, Systematic Integration, and Stakeholder Engagement as the minimum viable mechanism required to bridge the gap between awareness and practice. Based on these findings, the thesis proposes a Multi-Tier Stakeholder Awareness Model and a flexible Three-Pathway Implementation Roadmap (Governance-driven, Integration-led, and Engagement-focused). The study concludes that for Vietnamese private schools, ESG is not merely a compliance cost but a significant investment for legitimacy, risk management, and long-term survival. This research contributes the first empirical framework for integrating ESG into the unique context of Vietnam’s K-12 private education. |
| Year | 2026 |
| Type | Project |
| School | School of Management |
| Department | Other Field of Studies (No Department) |
| Academic Program/FoS | Professional Master in Environment, Social & Government Managment (PMESG) |
| Chairperson(s) | Levermore, Roger |
| Examination Committee(s) | Shah, Faiz H.;Brubaker, Richard |
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