Abstract

This scoping review synthesizes research on the impact of university autonomy on academic staff at local universities in Vietnam. The findings indicate that existing studies primarily examine six areas: income and remuneration, career motivation, research activities, participation in governance, professional development, and work pressure. University autonomy can enhance academic staff quality by providing greater discretion and more opportunities for career development. However, it also presents challenges related to performance pressures, research requirements, and disparities in resources across higher education institutions. The review identifies gaps in the literature concerning the distinctive context of local universities and proposes directions for future research.

Keywords: Academic staff, higher education governance, local universities, scoping review, university autonomy, vietnam.