Differences in Student Basic Need Satisfaction Across University Community Service Offerings in Vietnam

Authors

Myles LynchFollow
Nguyen Lam Phuong, Cornell UniversityFollow
Duong Ngoc Anh, VinUniversityFollow
Huy Ngoc Vu, VinUniversityFollow
Hoang Quang Thang, VinUniversityFollow

Abstract

In 2018, the Vietnam Ministry of Education and Training (MOET) made experiential learning a mandatory component of general education in an effort to enhance student skills pertaining to career and professional success. Community service, as a form of experiential learning, can enable individuals to apply knowledge and skills to address societal challenges beyond classroom settings. The availability and effectiveness of structured community service-learning programs vary across Vietnamese universities. Using Basic Needs Theory (autonomy, competence, relatedness), a sub-theory of Self-Determination Theory, this study examined differences in Vietnamese student need satisfaction based on availability of community service courses, providing insights into program effectiveness. A structured survey was conducted with 331 students from 30 universities and responses to a Likert-scale questionnaire were analyzed using descriptive statistics, one-way Analysis of Variance (ANOVA), and t-tests to evaluate differences between the “Yes” (structured and available), “No” (no availability), and “Unknown” (no knowledge or availability) groups. The Yes group reported stronger basic need satisfaction connected to social connection, project relevance, and social support systems. The Yes group reported higher outcomes in skill application, social development, and clarity of social issues compared to the No and Unknown groups. This study highlights the value of structured programs focused on community service and provides insights for institutionalizing them to support education initiatives and student development in Vietnam. This study can provide valuable insight for higher education administrators, instructors, and institutions who aim to implement or refine community or experiential programs to understand basic need fulfillment for students within emerging adulthood.

Recommended Citation

Lynch, Myles; Lam Phuong, Nguyen; Ngoc Anh, Duong; Ngoc Vu, Huy; and Quang Thang, Hoang (2026) "Differences in Student Basic Need Satisfaction Across University Community Service Offerings in Vietnam," Journal of Youth Development: Vol. 21: Iss. 1, Article 3.
Available at: https://open.clemson.edu/jyd/vol21/iss1/3