Re-examining the Role of Global Textbooks in Higher Education: A Case Study from Vietnam

Abstract

This article is based on a study that investigated the pedagogical impact of global English textbooks on teaching and learning processes in higher education, with a specific focus on Vietnamese universities. Through a mixed-methods case study design, the research explored how international textbooks are used by lecturers and perceived by students, examining their role in shaping classroom practices and learning outcomes. Findings from interviews with lecturers of English and survey data from students indicate that while textbooks provide structured content, pedagogical support, and assessment alignment, their effectiveness is moderated by factors such as cultural relevance, student proficiency, and teacher adaptability. The study highlights the need for critical engagement with textbook materials.  This study also found that the lecturers involved demonstrated consistently high levels of creativity and autonomy when working with global English textbooks. These insights are valuable for educators, curriculum developers, and policymakers navigating textbook-driven instruction in diverse higher education contexts. Although focused on a single case, research in Vietnam has significance due to its position as one of the world’s fastest-developing economies. It may also have potential relevance for our understanding of textbook use globally, within other rapidly developing countries, in which the learning of English is a focus of recent government policy.