The practice of administrative supervision in an international context – The case of Vietnam

Collaborative international partnerships offer important benefits for institutions of higher education, both domestically and abroad. Recently, a Midwestern institution formed an important partnership with a sister institution in Vietnam that provides opportunities for cultural and academic exchange across cultures that differ dramatically. Very little research has been conducted in Vietnam, especially regarding instructional supervision. Using a collaborative, developmental model of supervision, this paper analyzes the influence of introducing a relationship oriented model of supervision as professional development training to principals in Vietnam. Findings indicate both challenges and opportunities for this collaborative leadership style in the context of education in Vietnam.