How many scientific research hours are required for university lecturers in Vietnam?​

How many scientific research hours are required for university lecturers in Vietnam?​

under article 3 of Circular 20/2020/TT-BGDDT:

Working time, standard teaching hours, and standard teaching hour norms

1. The working time of lecturers in the academic year is 44 weeks (equivalent to 1,760 office hours) to fulfill duties of teaching, scientific research, community service, and other specialized duties, determined according to the academic year after deducting the legally prescribed days off.

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Scientific research is one of the duties of university lecturers.

Furthermore, according to Article 5 of Circular 20/2020/TT-BGDDT:

Regulations on Scientific Research

1. Lecturers must dedicate at least 1/3 of their total working time in the academic year (equivalent to 586 office hours) to undertake scientific research duties.

2. The assignment and implementation of scientific research duties to lecturers must be suitable to the conditions, scientific potential, and development strategy of higher education institutions, as well as the professional capacity of the lecturers.

3. Each year, lecturers must complete the assigned scientific research duties corresponding to the title or position they hold. The scientific research results of lecturers are evaluated through scientific and technological products, research activities, and technology transfer; at a minimum equivalent to a successfully evaluated institution-level scientific research project or an article published in a scientific journal with an ISSN, or a scientific report at a specialized conference.

The head of the higher education institution assigns scientific research duties to lecturers and specifies the number of hours for scientific research converted from various types of scientific and technological products, research activities, and technology transfer.

4. For lecturers who do not fulfill their scientific research duties as stipulated, the head of the higher education institution shall consider the degree and specific circumstances when evaluating the fulfillment of duties in the academic year, rankings, and resolving related policies; additionally, they may allow the conversion of teaching hours to scientific research hours for these lecturers.

Therefore, according to the above regulations, university lecturers must dedicate at least 1/3 of their total working time in the academic year (equivalent to 586 office hours) to scientific research.

How many scientific research hours are required for university lecturers in Vietnam?​? (Image from the Internet)

What are the responsibilities of the principals of universities regarding the scientific research of lecturers in Vietnam?

According to Article 8 of Circular 20/2020/TT-BGDDT, principals of universities have the responsibility to issue documents detailing the working policies of lecturers at the institution, ensuring that each lecturer simultaneously performs both teaching and scientific research duties.

What are the duties and powers of the principals of universities in Vietnam?

According to Clause 3 of Article 20 of the Law on Higher Education 2012, amended by Clause 14 Article 1 of the Law on Amendments to Law on Higher Education 2018, the duties and powers of the principal of a higher education institution are specified as follows:

- Act as the legal representative and account holder of the higher education institution, unless otherwise prescribed by the internal rules and regulations of the for-profit or non-profit private higher education institution;

- Organize professional and academic activities, personnel, finance, assets, domestic and international cooperation and other activities prescribed by law, the higher education institution’s internal rules and regulations and decisions of the school council;

- Submit documents to the school council for issuance after getting comments from relevant entities within the higher education institution; issue other regulations of the higher education institution in accordance with its existing internal rules and regulations;

- Propose designation and dismissal of managers under the management of the school council; designate and dismiss other managers of the higher education institution; decide investment projects in accordance with the higher education institution’s internal rules and regulations;

- Submit annual reports to the school council on performance of the principal and the board of administrators, finance and assets of the higher education institution; ensure transparency and availability of information; comply with regulations on reporting and inspections by competent authorities; assume accountability for the principal’s duties and powers;

- Perform other duties and powers prescribed by law; take responsibility before the law, the school council and relevant parties; be supervised by relevant organizations and individuals regarding fulfillment of given duties and powers.