Vietnam: What is the standard teaching hour norm for university lecturers during the probationary period?

What is the standard teaching hour norm for university lecturers in Vietnam during the probationary period?

Under Article 3 of Circular 20/2020/TT-BGDDT, the regulations are as follows:

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

1. The working period for lecturers during the academic year is 44 weeks (equivalent to 1,760 administrative hours) to perform teaching, scientific research, community service, and other professional tasks, determined according to the academic year after deducting the prescribed days off.

2. standard teaching hours are a unit of time converted from the necessary labor hours to complete a certain amount of work assigned to a lecturer, equivalent to one theoretical teaching lesson at the undergraduate level conducted in class (or taught online), including the necessary working hours before, during, and after the lecture.

3. Teaching time in the training plan is calculated by standard teaching hours, in which one theoretical teaching lesson at the undergraduate level conducted in class (or taught online) of 50 minutes is counted as one standard teaching hour, as specified in Clause 1 of Article 6 of this Circular.

For special teaching contents, undergraduate teaching lessons in class (or online teaching) over 50 minutes are converted by the head of the higher education institution as appropriate.

4. The standard teaching hour norm for lecturers in an academic year is set from 200 to 350 standard teaching hours (equivalent to 600 to 1,050 administrative hours); in which, direct in-class (or online) standard teaching hours must ensure a minimum of 50% of the prescribed norms. The head of the higher education institution decides the standard teaching hour norm for lecturers in an academic year based on the unit's goals, development strategy, the specificity of subjects, specializations, and the unit's specific conditions.

5. Special Cases

a) Lecturers during probation and internships are only required to complete a maximum of 50% of the standard teaching hour norm and are exempt from research duties to have time for class observations, assistance teaching, and internships.

b) Lecturers on social insurance leave or leave as per the current Labor Code regulations are considered for an appropriate reduction from the standard teaching hours corresponding to their leave duration.

Thus, the standard teaching hour norm for university lecturers in Vietnam during the probationary period are a maximum of 50% of the standard teaching hour norm. The standard teaching hour norm for lecturers in an academic year is set from 200 to 350 standard teaching hours (equivalent to 600 to 1,050 administrative hours).

What is the standard teaching hour norm for university lecturers in Vietnam during the probationary period? (Image from the Internet)

How many standard teaching hours is one theoretical lesson in master’s training classes of university lecturers in Vietnam equivalent to?

As specified in Clause 1 of Article 6 of Circular 20/2020/TT-BGDDT:

Converting professional activities to standard teaching hours

1. Teaching:

a) One theoretical lesson conducted in class or online for up to 40 students is counted as 1.0 standard teaching hour; one theoretical lesson combined with practical demonstration in a training field, military training ground, or physical education course is counted as 1.0 standard teaching hour. For classes with more than 40 students, depending on specific working conditions for each class in different specialties, one theoretical lesson conducted in class or online can be multiplied by a conversion factor but not exceeding 1.5; the head of the higher education institution specifies the conversion of teaching activities to standard teaching hours under this clause.

b) One specialized lesson, theoretical lesson for master’s or doctoral training classes, or a lesson in a foreign language for a subject other than foreign languages shall be equivalent to 1.5 to 2.0 standard teaching hours.

2. Other professional activities:

a) The head of the higher education institution specifies the conversion of time for other professional activities to standard teaching hours as appropriate;

b) For tasks with remuneration from other funding sources, time for these tasks is not converted to standard teaching hours; however, these tasks are considered when assessing the fulfillment of annual tasks without exceeding the labor norms.

Thus, one theoretical lesson in master’s training classes of university lecturers in Vietnam is equivalent to 1.5 to 2.0 standard teaching hours.

What are the minimum administrative hours for scientific research tasks performed by university lecturers in Vietnam during an academic year?

Under Article 5 of Circular 20/2020/TT-BGDDT:

Regulations on Scientific Research

1. Lecturers must allocate at least one-third of their total annual working period (equivalent to 586 administrative hours) to scientific research tasks.

2. Assigning and performing scientific research tasks for lecturers must be appropriate to the conditions, scientific potential, and development strategy of the higher education institution, as well as to the professional capacity of the lecturers.

3. Each year, lecturers must complete the assigned scientific research tasks corresponding to their title or current position. The results of the lecturers’ scientific research are assessed through scientific and technological products, research and technology transfer activities; at a minimum, this is equivalent to one institutional research project that has met requirements or one article published in a scientific journal with an international standard ISSN code or one scientific report at a specialized conference.

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

4. For lecturers who do not complete the scientific research tasks, the head of the higher education institution reviews the circumstances and appropriate measures during the annual task assessment, assigns responsibilities, resolves relevant policies, and allows the conversion of standard teaching hours to research hours for these lecturers.

Thus, university lecturers must allocate at least one-third of their total annual working period to perform scientific research tasks, equivalent to 586 administrative hours.