Developing a faculty-librarian collaboration model to support teaching and research at Vietnamese universities

PurposeThis paper aims to design a collaborative model amongst faculty and librarian to support teaching and research congruent with the Vietnamese context.Design/methodology/approachThe mix-method research is used in three stages to (1) study the situation and problems of faculty-librarian collaboration by using semi-structured interviews with 29 participants, (2) survey factors influencing the collaboration from 455 samples, (3) evaluate and arrange the influence level of factors from 18 experts' perspectives.FindingsThe research results show that in order to enhance the quality and gain goals of the collaboration, it is necessary to meet three elements, in which universities must (1) meet essential conditions and factors, (2) identify collaborative objectives and activities, collaborative process/guidelines, and evaluating collaboration; and (3) clarify the participation and support of stakeholders to achieve common outcomes.Research limitations/implicationsThis study carried out with representatives for key informant group at four universities in Vietnam, thus, the research results could not cover all current situation of the faculty–librarian collaboration at universities.Originality/valueThis paper provides the detail picture of faculty–librarian collaboration practices and factors having influence this activity at Vietnamese universities. Then, the findings help administrators, faculty and librarians understand and deploy a reasonable plan in accordance with the university's features to enhance the effectiveness and success of the faculty–librarian collaboration.