Vietnam: What is the course timelength in post-secondary and college programs?

What is the course timelength in post-secondary and college programs in Vietnam?

Under Clause 1, Article 5 of Circular 01/2024/TT-BLDTBXH stipulating the course timelength in post-secondary and college programs in Vietnam is as follows:

- The course timelength for college programs is designed to be from 02 to 03 academic years and must ensure a minimum of 60 credits.

- The course timelength for post-secondary programs is designed to be from 01 to 02 academic years and must ensure a minimum of 35 credits for those with a high school diploma, and a minimum of 50 credits for those with a secondary school diploma. The head of the vocational education and training institution, based on the training requirements of the industry, shall stipulate the learning content for the 15 credit difference for subjects graduating from secondary school, ensuring that learners have the basic knowledge to absorb the specialized content of the training profession.

- The course timelength for learners who are exempted or retain learning results due to prior learning shall be correspondingly reduced with the time for the exempted or retained content.

- The course timelength includes learning time and time for common activities, in which:

Learning time includes actual learning time and the time for testing, assessing the end of the module; review and graduation exam periods for academic year training. Actual learning time is the time students spend listening to lectures in class, experimenting, discussing, practicing, interning, or learning through an integrated method of theory and practice at practice locations.

Time for common activities includes: opening and closing ceremonies, mid-term and end-of-year summaries; summer vacation, holidays, and pre-planned activities.

- The learning time for theory and practice, internship, and experiment must ensure the following ratio depending on each training profession:

For post-secondary level: theory to account for 25% - 45%; practice, internship, experiment from 55% - 75% of the program duration.

For college level: theory to account for 30% - 50%; practice, internship, experiment from 50% - 70% of the program duration.

- The test and examination time for theory is counted as hours of theoretical learning; the test and examination time for practice and integrated learning is counted as practical hours.

- The course timelength for training programs in the sectors of culture, arts, physical education, and sports with specific characteristics shall be prescribed by the Government of Vietnam.

What is the course timelength in post-secondary and college programs in Vietnam? (Image from the Internet)

How many hours of theoretical learning at minimum is one credit in post-secondary and college programs in Vietnam equivalent to?

Under Clause 2, Article 5 of Circular 01/2024/TT-BLDTBXH:

Course timelength and time units in training programs

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2. Time Units and Conversion of Time in Training Programs

Learning time is calculated in hours and converted to credits to determine the minimum learning load according to the regulations of the Vietnam National Qualifications Framework. The time unit in the training program is converted as follows:

a) One hour of theoretical learning is 45 minutes, one hour of practical/integrated/internship learning is 60 minutes.

b) One credit is stipulated to be at least 15 hours of theoretical learning; or 30 hours of practice, experimentation, discussion; or 45 hours of internship, thesis, major essay, project, graduation thesis. The time learners spend in self-study, self-preparation under guidance is necessary for them to absorb the knowledge and skills, but is not converted into credits in the training program.

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Therefore, one credit is stipulated to be at least 15 hours of theoretical learning in post-secondary and college programs.

What are the requirements on training materials​ for post-secondary and college programs in Vietnam?

Under Article 10 of Circular 01/2024/TT-BLDTBXH, the requirements on training materials​ for post-secondary and college programs in Vietnam are as follows:

- Comply with the objectives, requirements, and content of the training program and subjects, modules in the program.

- Ensure accuracy, systematicity, pedagogical nature; ensure balance and appropriateness between professional content and illustrative images, diagrams, and drawings.

- The content of knowledge, skills, and competency requirements of learners must meet the objectives of each chapter and lesson in each subject, module.

- Each chapter and lesson must have a system of questions, exercises, and methods for testing and evaluating learners' knowledge and skills; the training material must have a reference list; references must have clear sources.

- Present concisely, simply, and understandably; use common, consistent professional terminology; illustrative images, diagrams, and drawings must clarify knowledge and skills.

- Ensure compatibility with equipment, learning resources, and other teaching methods and means.