What is the right of autonomy in terms of academic and specialized operations of universities in Vietnam?

What are the conditions for universities to exercise autonomy in Vietnam?

According to Clause 2, Article 32 of the Law on Higher Education 2012 amended by Clause 17, Article 1 of the Amended Law on Higher Education 2018, the conditions for a university to exercise autonomy include:

- The university has established a university council or a higher education council; and has been accredited by a legitimate educational quality assurance organization.

- The university has issued and implemented regulations on organization and operation; financial regulations; other internal management processes, policies, and quality assurance policies that meet state standards.

- The university decentralizes autonomy and responsibility to each unit and individual within the university.

- The university discloses quality assurance conditions, accreditation results, the employment rate of graduates, and other information as required by law.

What is the right of autonomy in terms of academic and specialized operations of universities in Vietnam? (Image from the Internet)

What is the right of autonomy in terms of academic and specialized operations of universities in Vietnam?

Based on Clause 1, Article 13 of Decree 99/2019/ND-CP, the autonomy of universities in academic and professional activities is as follows:

- Authorized to issue and implement internal regulations on admission, training, science and technology, and domestic and international cooperation in accordance with the law.

- The university determines and publicly announces admission methods and quotas as prescribed by the Ministry of Education and Training, excluding defense and security fields governed by the direct management authority.

- The university decides:

+ The organization and management methods for different training levels and forms.

+ To build, appraise, and issue training programs in accordance with the Vietnam National Qualifications Framework, maintain training program standards, and ensure it does not harm national defense, security, public interests, distort history, negatively affect culture, ethics, customs, and national unity, or world peace and security, and must not contain religious propaganda.

+ To compile, select, appraise, approve and use teaching materials and higher education textbooks (except for compulsory subjects); organize implementation and evaluate the quality of higher education programs.

+ To design templates, print blanks, issue, and manage diplomas and certificates in accordance with the law.

- Decides on distance education, joint training at the undergraduate level in a part-time mode with eligible domestic institutions following the law.

- Decides on science and technology activities in accordance with Article 16 of Decree 99/2019/ND-CP; decides on international cooperation activities specified in Clauses 3, 5, and 6 of Article 44 of the Law on Higher Education 2012, complying with legal regulations.

- If conditions for autonomy prescribed in Clause 17 are met, the university can independently open new training sectors as specified in Clause 18, and independently engage in international joint training activities as outlined in Clause 30, Article 1 of the Amended Law on Higher Education 2018.

Universities have the autonomy to decide on new training programs, joint international training for their constituent colleges and training units when they meet the conditions for opening programs as specified in Clauses 1 and 2, Article 33, and for international joint training as specified in Article 45 of the Law on Higher Education 2012.

Member colleges of universities have the autonomy to decide on new training programs and joint international training when they meet the required conditions specified in Clause 3, Article 33, and Clause 5, Article 45 of the Law on Higher Education 2012, in line with the organization and operation regulations of the university.

Universities that have not met the conditions prescribed in Clause 17, Article 1 of the Amended Law on Higher Education 2018 must conduct new program openings and international joint training in accordance with the law.

- Exercising other academic and professional autonomy rights in compliance with legal regulations.

What are the accountability responsibilities of universities in Vietnam when exercising autonomy?

According to Clause 4, Article 13 of Decree 99/2019/ND-CP, the accountability responsibilities of universities when exercising autonomy are as follows:

- Universities must fully comply with the regulations and periodic and ad-hoc reporting requirements from the owners and competent state management agencies; submit internal regulations stated at point b, Clause 2, Article 16 of the Law on Higher Education 2012 and the regulations and decisions mentioned at points a, d, and e, Clause 1, Article 13 of Decree 99/2019/ND-CP to the Ministry of Education and Training within 30 days of issuance to serve state management on higher education;

- Be responsible to students, owners, competent state management agencies, and stakeholders for ensuring training quality as prescribed by the law, internal regulations, and the university's commitments;

- Fully disclose information on the university's website, including:

+ The university's mission and vision;

+ Internal regulations and policies;

+ Faculty list by field, level, title, and other quality assurance conditions;

+ Accreditation results of training programs and the university;

+ Training program output standards, modes of training, and training schedule;

+ Admission scheme and plan, annual admission and graduation list by field, training level, training scale, and the employment rate of students 12 months after graduation;

+ Diploma, certificate templates, and annual lists of diploma, certificate issuance;

+ Training costs, tuition fees, admission service fees, and other fees for students each academic year and the entire course;

+ Policies for tuition fee waivers, reductions, scholarships, and other content as prescribed by the law;

- Publicly announce admission quotas, new program decisions, and joint training decisions along with supporting documents on the university’s website at least 30 working days before implementation; send notifications and decisions to the Ministry of Education and Training within 30 days from the date of notification or decision issuance;

- Regularly update the university’s data on the national higher education database system as prescribed by the Ministry of Education and Training; be accountable before the law for issued documents, decisions, and autonomy activities performed;

- Implement financial reporting policies as prescribed and disclose financial reports on the university's website, except for information classified as state secrets.