Has the Vietnam Ministry of Education and Training officially approved the joint organization of exams for issuing IELTS certificates by the British Council?
Has the Vietnam Ministry of Education and Training officially approved the joint organization of exams for issuing IELTS certificates by the British Council?
On November 18, 2022, the Ministry of Education and Training issued Decision 3773/QD-BGDDT in 2022 regarding approving the joint organization of exams for issuing foreign language certificates, including IELTS certificates.
The approved foreign partner is the British Council, and four Vietnamese companies have been authorized to conduct the joint organization of exams for issuing IELTS certificates:
- British Council Limited Liability Company (LLC).
- Dong A Educational Technology LLC.
- ODIN Education Development and Training Joint Stock Company.
- University Access Centre Vietnam LLC.
Previously, on November 11, 2022, the Vietnam Ministry of Education and Training issued Decision 3646/QD-BGDDT in 2022 approving five companies to jointly organize exams for issuing Aptis certificates with the British Council for five years, effective from November 11, 2022.
This is the first certification by the British Council approved for the joint organization of exams for issuing foreign language certificates of foreign countries.
On November 17, 2022, the Ministry of Education and Training issued Decision 3730/QD-BGDDT in 2022, approving the joint organization of exams for issuing IELTS certificates between IDP Education Co., Ltd (Vietnam) and IELTS Australia Pty Ltd (Australia). IDP is one of the two entities owning the exams for issuing IELTS certificates in Vietnam and holding the exams for issuing IELTS certificates in Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, and Da Nang.
On the same day, the Vietnam Ministry of Education and Training also issued Decision 3731/QD-BGDDT in 2022, approving the joint organization of exams for issuing Linguaskill certificates between REAP Technology Research, Application, and Experiment Joint Stock Company and the Chancellor, Masters, and Scholars of the University of Cambridge operating through Cambridge University Press & Assessment and Cambridge Assessment English.
Thus, the British Council and the four companies British Council (Vietnam) LLC, Dong A Educational Technology LLC, ODIN Education Development and Training Joint Stock Company, and University Access Centre Vietnam LLC are the subsequent entities approved by the Ministry of Education and Training for organizing exams for issuing foreign language certificates.
Has the Vietnam Ministry of Education and Training officially approved the joint organization of exams for issuing IELTS certificates by the British Council??
Are the involved parties required to notify the Vietnam Ministry of Education and Training about the schedule for holding the exam for issuing IELTS certificates?
According to Article 4 of Decision 3773/QD-BGDDT in 2022, British Council (Vietnam) LLC, Dong A Educational Technology LLC, ODIN Education Development and Training Joint Stock Company, and University Access Centre Vietnam LLC are responsible for notifying the Department of Education under the People’s Committee of the province or municipality where the exam is being organized in writing at least five days before the exam date;
Simultaneously, they must submit reports on activities related to the organization of exams for issuing IELTS certificates every six months (before June 25 and December 25 each year) and whenever there are changes according to Article 2 of this Decision to the Ministry of Education and Training (through the Quality Assurance Department);
- Be subject to inspection, supervision, and monitoring by the Ministry of Education and Training and the Department of Education under the People’s Committee of the province or municipality where the exam site is located.
The joint operation term for organizing the exams for issuing IELTS certificates by these entities is five years, effective from November 18, 2022.
Where are the authorized venues for organizing the exams for issuing IELTS certificates in Vietnam?
According to Article 2 of Decision 3773/QD-BGDDT in 2022, the approved venues for organizing the exams for issuing IELTS certificates are documented in the Scheme for organizing the exam for issuing IELTS certificates approved on November 16, 2022 as follows:
Exam venues in Hanoi:
- B3/D7 Block, Alley 25 Tho Thap, Dich Vong Hau Ward, Cau Giay District, Hanoi.- BTU 05-L51, Do Nghia New Urban Area, Ha Dong District, Hanoi.- 345 Doi Can, Ba Dinh District, Hanoi.- 1 Dong Tac, Dong Da District, Hanoi.
Exam venues in Hai Phong:
Ha Linh Building, Road No. 6, Sao Do Urban Area, Anh Dung Ward, Duong Kinh District, Hai Phong.
Exam venues in Nghe An:
A2-01-02 Minh Khang Urban Area, Nghi Phu Commune, Vinh City.
Exam venues in Thua Thien Hue:
5th Floor, HCC Building, 28 Ly Thuong Kiet, Hue City.
Exam venues in Ho Chi Minh City:
- Viettel Building, 285 Cach Mang Thang Tam, Ward 12, District 10, Ho Chi Minh City.- 56 Nguyen Dinh Chieu, Da Kao, District 1.- 154-154A Tran Quang Khai, Tan Dinh Ward, District 1.
What are the requirements for organizing exams for issuing foreign language certificates of foreign countries in Vietnam?
According to Clause 2, Article 3 of Circular 11/2022/TT-BGDDT, foreign facilities of foreign language proficiency assessment shall provide information on the following factors of quality assurance:
- Exam questions that ensure reliability, accuracy, objectivity, transparency, and fairness in assessing participants’ foreign language proficiency; do not violate laws, fine customs and culture of Vietnam; are confidential when being copied, packed, transported (if any), preserved and used; sample exam questions shall be published for participants to easily and adequately access them;
- Procedures for registration for exam participation, procedures for exam organization, ensuring strictness, science, reliability, accuracy, objectivity, transparency, and fairness in assessing participants’ foreign language proficiency and preventing and eliminating acts of cheating. Procedures for registration for exam participation, regulations on exam participation, and documents on exam guide publicly disclosed on official and legal electronic information websites of foreign facilities of foreign language proficiency assessment;
- Physical facilities and equipment to organize the exam; assurance of security, safety, and confidentiality during and after the exam;
- Clear and strict regulations on staff, technical staff, and employees of Joint Parties when participating in the exam organization;
- Table of exam result conversion with the Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR) recognized by agencies prescribed in Clause 1 of this Article;
- Exam results are timely disclosed, certificates of foreign language proficiency are issued on time, procedures for issuing additional certificates, and exam result look-up is convenient for participants; exam results are stored on the data system to serve the verification of exam results during their effective period; clear and convenient procedures for receiving and settling complaints on exam results for participants; effective measures to ensure the confidentiality of personal identification information.
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