Vietnam: Are higher education institutions allowed to design their own blank degrees?

Are higher education institutions in Vietnam allowed to design their own blank degrees?

The printing blank higher education degrees, Level 4 of VQF diplomas in teacher training and Level 5 of VQF advanced diplomas in teacher training is regulated under Article 10 of the Regulation on management of lower secondary diplomas, upper secondary diplomas, Level 4 of VQF diplomas in teacher training, Level 5 of VQF advanced diplomas in teacher training, higher education degrees and certificates of the national educational system certificates of national educational system 475685 (hereinafter referred to as the Regulation) issued together with Circular 21/2019/TT-BGDDT as follows:

Printing blank higher education degrees, Level 4 of VQF diplomas in teacher training and Level 5 of VQF advanced diplomas in teacher training

1. Higher education institutions have the power to design specimens and print blank higher education degrees. Pedagogical institutions have the power to print blank Level 4 of VQF diplomas in teacher training and Level 5 of VQF advanced diplomas in teacher training using the specimens prescribed by the Ministry of Education and Training and may add their logos and additional patterns to such diplomas.

2. The head of a higher education institution or pedagogical institution shall approve and send the degree/certificate specimen to the Ministry of Education and Training, the supervisory authority and the public security authority of the province where the institution’s headquarters is located for reporting. After at least 30 working days from the date of reporting, the head shall announce the specimen on the institution’s website or web portal (“portal”), organize printing of blanks degrees or certificates and take responsibility for the contents written on such blanks degrees or certificates.

Thus, according to the above regulation, higher education institutions are allowed to design and print their own blank higher education degrees.

However, this must be done according to the specimens prescribed by the Ministry of Education and Training, and may add their logos and additional patterns to such diplomas.

Are higher education institutions in Vietnam allowed to design their own blank degrees? (Image from the Internet)

What are the regulations on the management of blank higher education degrees in Vietnam?

The management of blank higher education degrees regulated under Article 11 of the Regulation issued together with Circular 21/2019/TT-BGDDT as follows:

- Blank degrees and certificates must be strictly managed and properly used to avoid loss.

- Blank degrees and certificates must be assigned codes for management. Such codes shall be natural numbers assigned in a continuous and ascending manner upon printing; ensure codes of each type of degree or certificate are distinguishable and printing location is identifiable. Each code shall be written on a single blank degree or certificate.

- For blank degrees and certificates that are damaged, wrongly written, of poor quality or have fallen into disuse due to change of specimen, the head of the issuing authority must decide to establish a handling council. The handling council shall convene, consider and draw up a record of disposal specifying the quantity, codes, disposal reason, and state of the blank degrees and certificates pre-disposal and disposal method. Records of disposal must be added to dossiers for monitoring and management.

This regulation is also applicable to wrongly written degrees and certificates that have obtained signatures and seals from persons with competence in issuing such degrees and certificates.

- In case a blank degree or certificate is lost, the unit managing such blank degree or certificate shall make a record of the incident, immediately inform the nearest public security authority, and report to the supervisory authority and the Ministry of Education and Training.

What are the responsibilities of the head of a higher education institution in printing and managing blank higher education degrees in Vietnam?

According to Clause 2, Article 12 of the Regulation issued together with Circular 21/2019/TT-BGDDT, the responsibilities of the head of a higher education institution in printing and managing blank higher education degrees in Vietnam are:

- Promulgate the regulation on printing procedures and management, and on preservation, security, use and provision of blank degrees and certificates, which must specify the responsibility of each unit and individual and sanctions against violations;

- Compile dossiers to manage printing, provision, use, revocation and annulment of blank degrees and certificates. Such dossiers must be capable of informing current use of each blank degree or certificate when necessary;

- Cooperate with the public authority of the locality where the educational institution’s headquarters is located in printing, security, management and use of blank degrees and certificates;

- Ensure facilities, equipment and prevention of fires and explosions for printing and preservation of blank degrees and certificates as prescribed by law;

- Regulate assignment of codes and signs used to identify blank degrees and certificates printed by the educational institution for the purposes of security, identification and prevention of forgery of blank degrees and certificates;

- Organize inspection of printing, preservation, provision and use of blank degrees and certificates.