Are joint training programs with foreign countries in Vietnam required to be taught in Vietnamese?

Are joint training programs with foreign countries in Vietnam required to be taught in Vietnamese?

Pursuant to Clause 4, Article 16 of Decree 86/2018/ND-CP:

Scope, scale, enrollment, and teaching language in joint training programs

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4. International cooperation training programs granting foreign degrees and certificates must be taught in a foreign language, not taught in Vietnamese or through an interpreter. Joint training programs granting Vietnamese degrees and certificates may be taught in Vietnamese or through an interpreter.

Thus, for joint training programs granting Vietnamese degrees and certificates, teaching in Vietnamese or through an interpreter is permissible. However, for joint training programs granting foreign degrees and certificates, teaching must be in a foreign language and not in Vietnamese or through an interpreter.

Are joint training programs with foreign countries in Vietnam required to be taught in Vietnamese? (Image from the Internet)

What are the places for implementation of joint training programs with foreign countries?

Pursuant to Article 17 of Decree 86/2018/ND-CP:

Training Programs

1. Joint training shall be implemented according to programs from abroad or jointly constructed programs by both parties; the training program shall be fully conducted in Vietnam or partly in Vietnam and partly abroad; granting foreign degrees and certificates; granting degrees and certificates by both Vietnam and abroad.

2. Foreign training programs carried out in Vietnam must be accredited for educational quality in the home country or recognized by the competent educational authority in the home country; must not contain content detrimental to national defense, national security, community interests; must not propagate religion, distort history; must not negatively impact the culture, ethics, customs, and traditions of Vietnam, and must ensure conditions for linkage between different training levels.

3. The output standards of joint training programs with foreign countries must not be lower than the output standards stipulated by Vietnamese law.

Thus, joint training programs with foreign countries are implemented entirely in Vietnam or partly in Vietnam and partly abroad.

What are the language proficiency requirements for students enrolling in joint training programs with foreign countries in Vietnam?

Pursuant to Clause 3, Article 16 of Decree 86/2018/ND-CP:

Scope, scale, enrollment, and teaching language in joint training programs

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3. Students enrolling in degree-granting programs must meet the following conditions:

a) For degrees granted by Vietnamese higher education institutions, the enrollment conditions for undergraduate, master's, and doctoral programs must adhere to Vietnamese law;

b) For degrees granted by foreign higher education institutions, the enrollment conditions for undergraduate, master's, and doctoral programs must adhere to the conditions of the home country where the foreign institution is established;

c) For degrees granted by both Vietnamese and foreign higher education institutions, enrollees must meet conditions stipulated in points a and b of this clause;

d) Language proficiency: Students enrolling in programs by Vietnamese higher education institutions must at least have a Third Level proficiency according to the Six Levels of Vietnam's Foreign Language Proficiency Framework or equivalent; for degrees granted by foreign higher education institutions or jointly by Vietnamese and foreign higher education institutions, students must at least have a Fourth Level foreign language proficiency according to the Six Levels of Vietnam's Foreign Language Proficiency Framework or equivalent. For foreign language group programs, language proficiency requirements shall follow the foreign educational institution's regulations;

e) Based on the learners' needs, linked educational institutions may organize language training courses to help students achieve the required proficiency as stated in point d of this clause before commencing the official program.

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Therefore, students enrolling in degree-granting joint training programs must meet the following language proficiency conditions. To be specific:

- For programs granting degrees by Vietnamese institutions: a minimum Third Level proficiency according to the Six Levels of Vietnam's Foreign Language Proficiency Framework or equivalent is required;

- For programs granting degrees by foreign higher education institutions or jointly by Vietnamese and foreign higher education institutions: a minimum Fourth Level proficiency according to the Six Levels of Vietnam's Foreign Language Proficiency Framework or equivalent is required.

For foreign language group programs, language proficiency requirements shall follow the regulations of the foreign educational institution.