Police education in Vietnam

Ms Melissa Jardine4
4Global Law Enforcement and Public Health Association, Centre for Law Enforcement and Public Health, Melbourne, Australia

Assumptions that police typically eschew tertiary education are based on studies in the global North or Western countries. In Southeast and East Asia, a history of university qualifications to enter civil service has also shaped the nature of police training. The presentation will draw on data from a case study of policing and police culture in northern Vietnam to describe approaches to training in a two tier system with two and four year curriculums. Interviews with police students and officers found positive attitudes towards the specialised Bachelor degree (4 year) program which is essential to progress through the ranks. Implications of the training model on career pathways and policing practices will be discussed. The analysis will consider how wider political, social and cultural influences shape the structure of police education and possibilities for reform.


Biography:

Melissa Jardine is a Director for the Global Law Enforcement & Public Health Association. She was a Victoria Police officer for 10 years working at the frontline and in criminal investigations. She has a long term interest in the development of policing and security in Asia. In 2017, Melissa was selected as an Asia 21 Young Leader by the Asia Society.