Are principal lecturers at public higher education institutions in Vietnam required to have a doctorate degree?

Are principal lecturers at public higher education institutions in Vietnam required to have a doctorate degree?

Pursuant to Point a, Clause 2, Article 6 of Circular 40/2020/TT-BGDDT regulating the educational qualifications and training standards of principal lecturers at public higher education institutions as follows:

Principal lecturer (Grade II) - Code: V.07.01.02

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2. Standards for educational qualifications and training:
a) Must have a master's degree or higher relevant to the job position, field, or teaching discipline;
b) Must have a training certificate according to the standards of the university lecturer's professional title.

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Thus, the educational qualification requirement for principal lecturers at public higher education institutions is to have a master's degree or higher relevant to the job position, field, or teaching discipline. A doctorate is not mandatory.

Therefore, principal lecturers at public higher education institutions are not required to have a doctorate degree.

Are principal lecturers at public higher education institutions in Vietnam required to have a doctorate degree?​ (Image from the Internet)

What are the duties of principal lecturers at public higher education institutions in Vietnam?

Pursuant to Clause 1, Article 6 of Circular 40/2020/TT-BGDDT, principal lecturers at public higher education institutions have the following duties:

- Teach, guide, and grade theses and graduation projects; participate in teaching master's and doctoral programs and guide, evaluate master's theses, doctoral dissertations if they meet the required standards;

- Lead or participate in the development and enhancement of training programs; propose directions and measures for the development of the assigned field or specialty; actively propose solutions to improve teaching quality, assessment methods for learning outcomes, and student training;

- Lead or participate in compiling training books; lead or participate in performing scientific and technological tasks;

- Lead or participate in evaluating projects, research topics; write and present scientific reports at scientific conferences and seminars; engage in international cooperation activities and ensure the quality of higher education;

- Participate in class management, academic advising; guide discussions, practice, lab work, and internships;

- Participate in training lecturers as required for professional development of the department or specialty;

- Study, enhance political theory, professional knowledge, skills, and teaching methods; engage in practical activities to improve training quality and scientific research;

- Participate in management work, Communist Party, unions, and other tasks as per the regulations of the public higher education institution and other relevant legal provisions.

What are standards regarding professional competence and professional ethics for principal lecturers at public higher education institutions in Vietnam?

- Standards of Professional Competence: According to Clause 3, Article 6 of Circular 40/2020/TT-BGDDT, principal lecturers at public higher education institutions must meet the following standards:

+ Have solid knowledge of the subjects assigned for teaching and fundamental knowledge of some related subjects in the assigned training field;

+ Understand and effectively implement goals, plans, content, and programs of the subjects assigned; promptly grasp practical requirements for the training specialty;

+ Lead at least one scientific and technological task at the institutional or higher level that has been evaluated and accepted with satisfactory results or higher;

+ Lead or participate in compiling at least one training book, which has been evaluated, accepted by a scientific council (approved by the head of the higher education institution or competent authority), and used in training and professional development from the undergraduate level upward, suitable for the teaching or training specialty of the lecturer and has an international standard ISBN code;

+ Be the author of at least three scientific articles published in scientific journals with an international standard ISSN code;

+ Be capable of applying information technology and using foreign languages in performing tasks of the principal lecturer position (Grade II);

+ Employees applying or being considered for promotion from the lecturer's professional title (Grade III), Code V.07.01.03 to the principal lecturer's professional title (Grade II), Code V.07.01.02 must have held the lecturer's professional title (Grade III), Code V.07.01.03 or equivalent for a minimum of nine years for those with a master's degree or six years for those with a doctorate; of which there must be at least one year (full 12 months) holding the lecturer's professional title (Grade III), Code V.07.01.03 up to the end of the deadline for submitting the application for promotion consideration.

- Standards of Professional Ethics: According to Article 3 of Circular 40/2020/TT-BGDDT, principal lecturers at public higher education institutions must meet the following standards on professional ethics:

+ Be passionate about the profession, uphold the qualities, reputation, honor of educators; show solidarity, respect, and cooperation with colleagues in life and work; have compassion, tolerance, and treat students, learners, and researchers (collectively referred to as learners) kindly; protect the legitimate rights and interests of learners, colleagues, and the community.

+ Be dedicated to work; adhere to the rules and regulations of the public higher education institution and the legal provisions of the industry.

+ Be fair in teaching and education, accurately evaluate learners' capabilities; practice thrift, combat academic dishonesty, and prevent corruption and wastefulness.

+ Other professional ethical standards as prescribed by law.