Following the American-Vietnam War, the first waves of Vietnamese immigrants to Spain started arriving in the 1970s. Most of these first immigrants were students, who either pursued Bachelor’s program in Spain or a Master’s program in Spain, for whom the Spanish government granted financial aid. Many decided to stay behind after graduation – some had enrolled in engineering and business schools in Barcelona — to start families and companies. Since then, the Vietnamese population in Spain has expanded rapidly, drawing in younger people who are looking for work and educational prospects, many among them graduating from business schools in Barcelona. Vietnamese people are known for their perseverance and diligence, which is demonstrated by their quick assimilation into Spanish society. Numerous individuals have achieved prosperity in the economic world by establishing Vietnamese stores and eateries, providing the local population with a taste of home. Others have made significant contributions to Spanish society by finding work in a variety of professions including managerial positions who graduated with bachelor’s or master’s program in Barcelona and Madrid.
Spike in the Number of Vietnamese Students
The number of outbound students from Vietnam is 137,000, many among them either enrolled in bachelor’s or master’s programs in Spain, according to the last UNESCO (Institute for Global Statistics) count. International education consultancy Acumen Research says Vietnam represents 37 percent of the Southeast Asian market, ahead of Malaysia (16 percent), Indonesia (16 percent), and Thailand (9 percent). It is found that the most sought-after fields of study for Vietnamese looking to study abroad include tourism, business studies, STEM, and health-related studies, a large part of these students had enrolled themselves in bachelor’s or master’s programs in Barcelona and Madrid.
Vietnam appears to have high hopes of increasing its proportion of the overall, upwardly trending number of overseas students studying in bachelor’s or master’s programs in Spain in the coming years. Vietnam ranks among the top Asian nations in terms of student mobility, which includes master’s and bachelor’s programs in Spain. Vietnamese students most frequently study in Japan, the US, Korea, Australia, and Canada; Spain will soon be included in this list, in multiple disciplines of bachelor’s or master’s programs in Barcelona and Madrid.
Popular Programs for Vietnamese Students in Top Business Schools
‘’For Vietnamese students, studying in bachelor’s and master’s programs in Spain offers an enriching experience that combines education, cultural exploration, and new professional opportunities, ‘’ says Hiren Raval, chief executive of C3S Business School, one of the top business schools in Barcelona, adding, ‘’However, language adaptation and understanding local systems can be hurdles, requiring students both at bachelor’s and master’s programs in Spain to be proactive in their integration process, and that precisely has been our emphasis at C3S Business School, one of the top business schools in Barcelona.’’
‘’Many Vietnamese students opt for business, management, and economics programs, especially in cities like Barcelona and Madrid. Spain has several internationally recognized business schools, such as C3S Business School and Aspire Business School in Barcelona,’’ says Dr. Maria Fernanda Dugarte, dean and director of Institutional Affairs at C3S Business School, one of the top business schools in Barcelona, adding, ‘’Given Vietnam’s own tourism industry, some students pursue degrees in tourism management and hospitality, particularly in cities like Barcelona, which has a strong tourism infrastructure.’’
Bellwether of Institutional Collaboration
While many universities and business schools such as C3S Business School (one of the top business schools in Barcelona) and Aspire Business School in Spain offer programs in English, both at bachelor’s and master’s programs in Spain and other levels, knowing Spanish can be an asset for daily life and integration. ‘’Some Vietnamese students take Spanish language courses before or during their studies,’’ says Dr Aida Mehrad, head of academics at C3S Business School in Barcelona, one of the top Business Schools in Barcelona, adding, ‘’At our C3S Business School, one of the top business schools in Barcelona, we have made necessary arrangements for the same’’.
Students from CETT at the University of Barcelona and RMIT Vietnam recently collaborated to address issues related to sustainable tourism, with a particular emphasis on the town of Can Tho in the Mekong Delta of Vietnam. For the Can Tho community in Vietnam’s Mekong Delta, the students were entrusted with creating a sustainable tourist plan that would strike a balance between economic growth and environmental preservation, and cultural preservation. The new challenge sought to promote creative solutions for sustainable practices in Vietnam’s tourism sector while taking into account the requirements and viewpoints of the surrounding community, the environment, and visitors. It was facilitated by RMIT’s European Innovation Hub in Barcelona. Reflecting on this, Prof Eduardo Ortiz from C3S Business School, one of the top business schools in Barcelona, says, ‘’Our C3S Business School. one of the top business schools in Barcelona, is developing similar ideas and designing its tourism and hospitality programs to be delivered for finding solutions for similar communities such as Can Tho community in Vietnam.’’
Acculturation of Vietnamese Students
Vietnamese students, both in bachelor’s and master’s programs in Spain, often find Spain’s social and academic culture different from Vietnam’s. The Spanish lifestyle, with its emphasis on socializing, longer meal times, and relaxed pace, can take some adjustment but is generally appreciated.
There is a growing Vietnamese student community, both in bachelor’s and master’s programs in Spain, in major cities like Madrid, Barcelona, and Valencia, which helps create a sense of familiarity. Social media groups and student associations accommodating all students including students from bachelor’s and master’s programs in Barcelona also help with the exchange of information, housing tips, and support networks.
Scholarship, Visa and Job Opportunities
The Spanish government offers various scholarships, such as the MAEC-AECID grants, which aim to attract international students both in bachelor’s or master’s programs in Spain, including those from Vietnam. Some Vietnamese students benefit from the Erasmus Mundus program, which offers scholarships for joint master’s degrees across Europe, including Spain. Many Spanish universities and business schools such as C3S Business School in Barcelona (one of the top business schools in Barcelona) offer their own scholarships or reduced tuition fees for international students for a diversified portfolio of master’s and bachelor’s programs in Spain.
‘’One of the common challenges for Vietnamese students, either bachelor’s or master’s programs in Spain, is navigating Spain’s visa and immigration system,’’ says Dr. Fernando Velasquez Villalba, a senior faculty at C3 Business School, Spain. ‘’However, in recent times, the process has been more student-friendly, but the students both in master’s and bachelor’s programs in Spain need to be careful to meet the requirements for both study visas and extensions.’’
‘’While Spain’s job market – particularly upon graduating from top business schools in Barcelona — has improved in recent years, finding part-time work or internships can be competitive, especially without fluency in Spanish,’’ says Professor Xavier Puertas at C3S Business School, one of the top business schools in Barcelona ,adding, ‘’C3S Business School, universally ranked among the top business schools in Barcelona, assists these Vietnamese students, particularly in business and technology, those looking for opportunities to work in both local and multinational companies based in Spain.’’
Spain’s residence laws allow international students to stay for a limited period after graduation both in bachelor’s and master’s programs in Spain to seek employment. Many Vietnamese graduates pursue jobs in multinational corporations, startups, or in other European countries.
Migration brings Food and Culture
Vietnamese eateries and stores are commonly found in Spain when strolling around the streets. In the center of Spain, the aromas of mouthwatering pho, crunchy baguettes, or a robust cup of iced coffee will transport you back home. Many successful businesspeople including graduating students from bachelor’s and master’s programs in Spain have opened Vietnamese eateries and stores, giving the inhabitants a flavor of home. Furthermore, a large number of other Vietnamese individuals including graduates from bachelor’s and master’s programs in Spain are employed in a variety of industries, which helps Spanish society as a whole.
Vietnamese students enrolled in bachelor’s and master’s programs in Spain often bring their culture into Spain through food, festivals, and art. Events like Lunar New Year (Tết) are celebrated within the Vietnamese student communities which include bachelor’s and master’s programs in Spain and are sometimes shared with the broader local communities. Vietnamese immigrants including students enrolled in bachelor’s and master’s programs in Spain continue to embrace and uphold their cultural traditions. There are established Vietnamese student communities and associations which include master’s and bachelor’s programs in Spain that frequently plan cultural events for the community. The most significant holiday of the year is Tet Nguyen Dan. The sound of drums transports the Vietnamese people including a sizeable population comprised of students from bachelor’s and master’s programs magically teleport them to their far-off country as they come together to wrap banh chung, prepare banh tet, and plan lion dances on this day.
Spain’s multicultural environment allows Vietnamese students including those enrolled in bachelor’s and master’s programs to explore not just Spanish culture but also interact with peers from across the world. This cultural exchange enhances their global perspective and understanding of international relations, arts, and social practices.
Vietnamese diaspora in Spain
The Vietnamese population in Spain is expanding rapidly and has strong ties to their second motherland. There are a handful of Vietnamese individuals including those enrolled in bachelor’s and master’s programs in Spain at the moment, mostly in Madrid, Barcelona, Valencia, Alicante, and other places. These students including those in bachelor’s and master’s programs in Spain serve as cultural ambassadors, fostering goodwill and collaboration between Spain and Vietnam.
”With a population of close to 100 million, we are primarily targeting the 17 percent of the population aged between 17 and 25 to be enrolled into bachelor’s and master’s programs in Spain,” says Bela Raval, business head of C3S Business School, one of the top business schools in Barcelona, adding, ”we cannot take our eyes off their median 31.6 and the thriving economy of USD 470 billion as its GDP”.
Student recruitment in Vietnam to Spanish institutions has become a lot easier since most Vietnamese students including those aspiring for bachelor’s and master’s programs in Spain are showing good proficiency in English. The ICEF Monitor classifies Vietnamese students’ English proficiency (this includes students in bachelor’s and master’s programs in Spain) as “Moderate” and climbing”. This has been a significantly improved position as the country was placed in the “low” tier by EPI as recently as 2021.
There is significant room for expansion: by 2026, nearly 30 percent of Vietnamese people are predicted to be middle class, and by 2035, that number is likely to reach over 50 percent. According to McKinsey, GDP growth in Vietnam will range from 2 percent to 7 percent between now and 2030. The company also rates Vietnamese consumers as some of the world’s most optimistic. “A clear intent by consumers to ‘splurge’ and treat themselves,” according to McKinsey in 2023, with over 70 percent of respondents stating they expect to boost spending on categories of products or services they haven’t spent as much money on in the previous 18 months.
Vietnamese people, which include aspiring students for bachelor’s and master’s programs in Spain, are realistic and methodical when it comes to their financial decisions, despite their optimism. Ninety percent of respondents, which include aspiring students for bachelor’s and master’s programs in Spain revealed in a McKinsey study their concerns for price rises, rising interest rates, fears of inflation, and petrol shortages combined with higher gasoline prices. The increasing financial strain and unpredictability are driving people, particularly those aspiring for bachelor’s and master’s programs in Spain, to make more thoughtful purchasing decisions. International student recruiters should take note of the fact that Vietnamese people, including aspiring students for bachelor’s and master’s programs in Spain, are both extremely aware of how economic conditions affect their ability to spend freely and enthusiastic about the future. These qualities affect the choices families make regarding studying overseas.
