Vietnam: What is a parent university? Does the organizational structure of a parent university include the title of principal?

What is a parent university in Vietnam?

Under Clause 3, Article 4 of the Law on Higher Education 2012, as amended by Clause 2, Article 1 of the Law on Amendments to Law on Higher Education 2018, the regulations are as follows:

Article 4. Definitions

For the purposes of this Law, the terms below are construed as follows:

1. “higher education institution” means an education institution of the national education system and is permitted to provide higher education training, engage in science and technology activities and serve the community.

2. “university” means a higher education institution that provides training in multiple academic disciplines and has an organizational structure conformable with this Law.

3. “parent university” also refers to a higher education institution that provides training in multiple fields, has an organizational structure conformable with this Law and multiple units that pursuit the same missions and objectives.

...

Thus, a parent university is a higher education institution.

A parent university provides training in multiple fields, has an organizational structure conformable with the Law on Higher Education 2012 and multiple units that pursuit the same missions and objectives.

What is a parent university in Vietnam? Does the organizational structure of a parent university include the title of principal? (Image from the Internet)

Does the organizational structure of a parent university in Vietnam include the title of principal?

Under Article 15 of the Law on Higher Education 2012, as amended by Clause 9, Article 1 of the Law on Amendments to Law on Higher Education 2018, the organizational structure of a parent university is stipulated as follows:

Organizational structure of a parent university

1. The organizational structure of a parent university consists of:

a) The school council;

b) The principal and vice-principals;

c) The science and training council; other councils (if any);

d) Affiliated universities and research institutes (if any); schools, boards, science and technology organizations, library and other organizations serving training activities;

dd) Faculties, campuses, research institutes, service facilities, centers, enterprises, business establishments and other units (if any) necessary for development of the parent university.

2. The specific organizational structure or a parent university, relationship and level of autonomy of its subsidiaries, affiliated units and internal units shall be specified in the university’s internal rules and regulations.

Thus, the organizational structure of a parent university in Vietnam does include the title of principal.

What are the responsibilities and powers of the school council of a parent university?

Under Article 18 of the Law on Higher Education 2012, as amended by Clause 13, Article 1 of the Law on Amendments to Law on Higher Education 2018, the responsibilities and powers of the school council of a parent university are as follows:

- The public school council of a parent university has the following responsibilities and powers:

+ Decide the development strategies, development plans, annual plans of the parent university, its reorganization and admission of new members as prescribed by law;

+ Issue the parent university’s internal rules and regulations, finance regulations and grassroots democracy regulations, except for the cases specified in in Clause 2, Article 29 of the Law on Higher Education 2012, in compliance with the provisions of the Law on Higher Education 2012 and other relevant legal provisions;

+ Decide the training orientation, scientific activities, international cooperation and ensure higher education quality;

+ Decide organizational structure and subsidiaries of the parent university; standards of the president, vice-presidents (if any) and members of the school council; standards of the director and vice-directors;

Issue or propose issuance of decisions on recognition and dismissal of the director; designate and dismiss vice-directors as proposed by the director, except as provided in Clause 3, Article 8 of the Law on Higher Education 2012;

Deciding on managerial positions in the affiliated units and internal units prescribed by the parent university’s internal rules and regulations; organize annual assessment of performance of the school council president and director; hold mid-tenure or irregular vote on confidence in the school council president or director;

+ Decide policies on investment, development of facilities and resources commonly shared in the parent university; policies on attracting investments in development of the parent university; policies of investment and use of valuable assets under the management of the parent university according to its internal rules and regulations; salaries, bonuses and other benefits of managers of affiliated units and internal units of the parent university according to their performance; tuition fees and assistance for students; approve financial plans; ratify annual financial statements and statements of lawful sources of income of the university;

+ Supervise the implementation of decisions issued by the school council, implementation of democracy regulations and the director’s accountability;

Supervise the management and use of funds and assets of the parent university; submit annual reports on supervision results and performance of the school council to the school assembly;

+ Adhere to law; take responsibility before the law and to competent authorities and relevant parties for decisions made by the school council;

Ensure transparency and availability of information and reports; facilitate inspections by competent authorities; assume accountability within the scope responsibility and power of the school council; facilitate supervision by the society, organizations and individuals within the parent university;

+ Perform responsibilities and entitlements specified in the parent university’s internal rules and regulations; other responsibilities and entitlements to their affiliated units and internal units according to Clause 2, Article 16 of the Law on Higher Education 2012 (amended by Clause 10, Article 1 of the Law on Amendments to Law on Higher Education 2018).

- The school council of a for-profit or non-profit private university has the same responsibilities and entitlements specified in Clause 2, Article 16a of the Law on Higher Education 2012 (added after Article 16 by Clause 11, Article 1 of the Law on Amendments to Law on Higher Education 2018); is entitled to directly designate and dismiss the university’s principal in accordance with its internal rules and regulations.