What are minimum qualifications for the position of higher education lecturer in Vietnam?

What are minimum qualifications for the position of higher education lecturer in Vietnam?

Based on Article 54 of the 2012 Law on Higher Education (amended by Clause 29 of Article 1 of the 2018 Law on Amendments to the Law on Higher Education), the regulations concerning lecturers are as follows:

Lecturers

1. A lecturer at a higher education institution must have a clear identity; good moral qualities; sufficient health to carry out their duties; qualifications that meet the requirements of this Law, the organizational and operational regulations of the higher education institution.

2. Lecturer titles include teaching assistant, lecturer, senior lecturer, associate professor, and professor. Higher education institutions appoint lecturers according to the provisions of law, organizational and operational regulations, job position guidelines, and usage needs of the institutions.

3. The minimum qualification for the title of a higher education teaching lecturer is a master’s degree, excluding teaching assistants; the qualification for teaching master’s and doctoral levels is a doctoral degree. Higher education institutions prioritize recruiting individuals with doctoral degrees to be lecturers and aim to develop and reward a team of leading professors to advance the training fields.

4. The Minister of Education and Training issues standards and appointment procedures for lecturer titles; minimum ratio of full-time lecturers at higher education institutions; standards for practical lecturers and those of specific intensive training programs.

According to the regulation, higher education lecturers must have at least a master's degree, except for teaching assistants.

According to Clause 2 of Article 4 of Circular 40/2020/TT-BGDDT, the education levels of higher education teaching assistantsare as follows:

Teaching Assistant (Class III) - Code: V.07.01.23

1. Duties:

a) Support lecturers (Class III), senior lecturers (Class II), and high-level lecturers (Class I) in teaching activities, including preparing lectures, tutoring, guiding exercises, discussions, experiments, practices, internships, and grading;

b) Study and enhance their knowledge of political theories, professional skills, and teaching methodologies; participate in practical activities to improve the quality of education and scientific research;

c) Participate in management tasks, Party and union activities, and fulfill other duties as per the organizational and operational regulations of public higher education institutions and relevant legal provisions.

2. Standards of educational qualifications and training:

Hold a higher education degree or higher suitable to the job position, field, or subject of teaching.

3. Standards of professional competence:

a) Master the basic knowledge of the subject assigned for guiding practices, experiments, internships, and have a broad understanding of related subjects within the training field;

b) Understand and correctly implement the objectives, plans, content, and program of assigned subjects within the training field. Identify the practicalities and development trends of training and research for the field domestically and internationally;

c) Effectively and safely use teaching and instructional equipment;

d) Be capable of applying information technology and using foreign languages in performing the duties of a Class III teaching assistant.

As such, the minimum qualification for a higher education lecturer is a master's degree, while for a teaching assistant, the minimum qualification is a bachelor's degree.

What are minimum qualifications for the position of higher education lecturer in Vietnam?​ (Image from Internet)

What are the duties and powers of a higher education lecturer in Vietnam?

According to Article 55 of the 2012 Law on Higher Education (amended by Clause 30 of Article 1 of the 2018 Law on Amendments to the Law on Higher Education), the duties and powers of a higher education lecturer are as follows:

- Teaching, developing training programs, ensuring the quality of training programs;

- Researching, developing scientific applications, and technology transfer, ensuring training quality;

- Studying and enhancing their knowledge of political theories, professional skills, and teaching methodologies; participating in practical activities to improve the quality of education and scientific research;

- Maintaining the ethical standards, reputation, and honor of a lecturer;

- Respecting the personality of learners, treating them fairly, and protecting their legitimate rights and interests;

- Participating in the management and supervision of higher education institutions, participating in Party and union activities, and other assigned tasks;

- Being independent in professional opinions during teaching and research, ensuring compliance with the interests of the State and society; permitted to enter guest lecturing and research contracts with other higher education institutions, research institutions, agencies, and organizations according to the stipulations of their employing institution;

- Being appointed to lecturer titles, awarded the titles of People's Teacher, Meritorious Teacher, and other commendations according to the law;

- Other duties and powers according to the organizational and operational regulations of the higher education institutions and relevant legal provisions.

What are prohibted acts of higher education lecturers in Vietnam?

According to Article 58 of the 2012 Law on Higher Education, higher education lecturers are prohibited from performing the following actions:

- Insulting the honor and dignity; infringing the body of learners and others.

- Cheating in training and scientific research activities.

- Abusing the title of teacher and educational activities to commit illegal acts.