Is it possible for colleges in Vietnam to issue bridge program degrees?

Is it possible for colleges in Vietnam to issue bridge program degrees?

To determine whether a college has the function to issue bridge program degrees, it must be established that the college meets the requirements for conducting bridge programs.

Based on Article 3 of Circular 27/2017/TT-BLDTBXH, the requirements for bridge program training as follows:

Requirements for bridge program training

Schools may organize bridge program training when the following requirements are met:

1. They have been granted a certificate of registration for vocational education activities at the intermediate and college levels for the fields and professions the school intends to offer bridge program training in, at the corresponding level.

2. They have issued a bridge program training program for the fields and professions the school intends to offer, which is developed according to the provisions of Article 7 of this Circular.

3. For bridge program training in the healthcare field, the school must also ensure the condition of having at least one batch of students at the intermediate and college levels in a formal training format who have graduated.

If these conditions are met, the college can organize bridge program training and issue degrees accordingly.

Therefore, a college wishing to conduct bridge program training must be authorized to organize such training and issue degrees and transcripts.

Is it possible for colleges in Vietnam to issue bridge program degrees?​ (Image from the Internet)

What is the duration of bridge program training in Vietnam?

According to Article 6 of Circular 27/2017/TT-BLDTBXH, the duration of bridge program training is as stipulated:

Duration of bridge program training

1. The duration of bridge program training is determined based on the volume of knowledge and skills prescribed for each program according to each level and training method.

2. The bridge program training duration according to the term system between intermediate and college levels ranges from 01 (one) to 02 (two) academic years, depending on the field or profession for individuals with a certificate of intermediate-level graduation in the same field or profession.

3. The duration of bridge program training according to a modular or credit accumulation method between different levels in vocational education is the time required for learners to accumulate sufficient modules or credits for each training program.

4. The school principal shall prescribe the duration of bridge program training for each field or profession and for each specific learner group.

Furthermore, Article 7 of Circular 27/2017/TT-BLDTBXH specifies as follows:

- Bridge program training programs are constructed on the principle of succession and integration to minimize the time spent revisiting knowledge and skills already acquired by learners in other training programs.

- The bridge program training program must accurately reflect objectives, content, training duration; teaching, learning, and evaluation methods.

- The bridge program training program must ensure that it provides the requisite knowledge and skills that learners lack and updates new knowledge and skills relevant to the industry or profession at the corresponding training level.

- The school principal decides on the modules, subjects, or content that learners need not repeat, based on the training program.

Thus, the duration of bridge program training depends on the knowledge and skills prescribed for each program according to each level and training method.

In general, the bridge program training duration ranges from 01 (one) to 02 (two) academic years, depending on the field and profession.

Can someone with an intermediate diploma in Vietnam apply for bridge program training?

According to Article 5 of Circular 27/2017/TT-BLDTBXH, the regulations on enrollment for bridge program training are as follows:

Enrollment for bridge program training

1. Enrollment subjects for intermediate-level bridge program training

a) Individuals with a primary certificate, primary vocational certificate in the same field, and a lower secondary education diploma or higher;

b) Individuals with an intermediate diploma, intermediate vocational diploma, professional intermediate diploma who wish to pursue credit transfer to obtain a second intermediate diploma.

2. Enrollment subjects for college-level bridge program training

a) Individuals with an intermediate diploma in the same field and a high school diploma or equivalent;

b) Individuals with an intermediate diploma but no high school diploma must ensure they have studied and passed the required amount of high school-level cultural knowledge as stipulated by the Ministry of Education and Training;

c) Individuals with a college diploma, college vocational diploma who wish to pursue credit transfer to obtain a second college diploma.

3. The time and form of enrollment for bridge program training are implemented according to Circular No. 05/2017/TT-BLĐTBXH dated March 2, 2017, by the Minister of Labor, War Invalids, and Social Affairs regulating the admission and determination of enrollment quotas at the intermediate and college levels.

4. In addition to the provisions in paragraphs 1, 2, and 3 of this Article, schools may stipulate additional conditions to ensure training quality but not contrary to the provisions in this Circular.

5. The annual bridge program training enrollment scale for each field and profession at each training level is within the enrollment scale stipulated in the certificate of registration for vocational education activities issued to the school by a competent authority.

Therefore, the organization of enrollment for bridge program training is regulated according to the level of enrollment, enrollment time, training quality, and enrollment scale as stated above.