What is the “honorary professor” title? What are the eligibility requirements for awarding the “honorary professor” title in Vietnam?

What is the “honorary professor” title? What are the eligibility requirements for awarding the “honorary professor” title in Vietnam?

Under the provisions of Clause 1 Article 5 of Decree 84/2020/ND-CP, the “honorary professor” title is awarded to educators, scientists, and political and social activists. To be awarded the “honorary professor” title, the following criteria must be met:

- Teachers, scientists

+ Be an overseas Vietnamese or a foreigner with many contributions towards education and science professions of Vietnam and awarded by a higher education institution providing doctoral education of Vietnam

+ Hold a doctorate degree.

- Socio-political activists.

+ Be an overseas Vietnamese or a foreigner with many contributions towards education and science professions of Vietnam, internationally accredited, contributing towards friendship and socio-economic development of Vietnam, and awarded by a higher education institutions providing doctoral education of Vietnam

+ Hold a doctorate degree.

What is the “honorary professor” title? What are the eligibility requirements for awarding the “honorary professor” title in Vietnam? (Image from the Internet)

What are the duties of a professor in Vietnam?

According to Article 3 of Decision 37/2018/QD-TTg, the duties of a professor are as follows:

- Perform tasks of lecturers under the provisions of the Law on Education, the Law on Higher Education, working regimes of lecturers and other relevant laws.

- Design the academic curriculum, syllabus and other books used for academic purposes; deliver lectures and provide instructions for preparation of undergraduate essays, dissertations, master's theses, specialty or major theses, doctoral dissertations, and perform other relevant tasks.

- Research and promote scientific application and technology transfer, and assure the training quality.

- Train himself/herself in ethics, scientific etiquette, professional skills and knowledge, and provide the major group or team's members with orientations towards involvement in scientific and technological researches.

- Collaborate with other colleagues in performing academic duties; participate in scientific and technological counseling and technology transfers in order to meet the needs for performing economic, social, national defence and security activities and other tasks.

What are the general standards for the professor or associate professor title in Vietnam?

According to Article 4 of Decision 37/2018/QD-TTg, the general standards for the professor or associate professor title in Vietnam are as follows:

- Avoid violating the teacher's ethics, not to be subject to disciplinary actions which may be a reprimand or more serious one or execution of criminal judgements; ensure authenticity and impartiality for training, scientific research and other activities.

- Have the period of performance of duties of a lecturer at the undergraduate or higher level:

+ He/she must accumulate adequate time to perform lecturing duties at the undergraduate and higher level under the provisions;

+ The period during which he/she holds the position as an educational expert at an overseas higher education establishment shall be assumed as the period of performance of lecturing duties at the undergraduate and higher level as provided by a diplomatic note or guest lecturer contract of that establishment, clearly stating his/her duties and lecturing timelength, or under the decision of the Minister of Education and Training that sends him/her abroad as an overseas educational expert;

+ He/she has been acquiring 10 successive years' experience in performing lecturing duties at the undergraduate and higher level till the submission deadline. With respect to such period of experience, if he/she has received internship or refresher programs for less than 12 months in the last 3 years, that 12-month timelength shall not be considered as an interval in the period of these last 3 years.

- He/she must successfully finish assigned duties and fully meet lecture hour requirements in accordance with regulations adopted by the Minister of Education and Training, including at least a half of such lecture hours during which he/she is directly giving in-class lectures. Guest lecturers shall be required to attain at least 50% of the lecture hour norm as prescribed in this clause.

The head of a higher education establishment shall review and evaluate in writing the tasks assigned to lecturers, clearly stating the course's title, level of training, fostering, level of completion of teaching volume, dissertation guide, thesis, project or thesis; about the training results and research of the lecturers.

- Proficiency in at least one foreign language for professional work and ability to communicate in English.

- Have enough grades of scientific works converted into minimum grades as prescribed.