With 5 years of experience working as a lecturer, is one qualified to become an accreditor of higher education in Vietnam?

With 5 years of experience working as a lecturer, is one qualified to become an accreditor of higher education in Vietnam?

First, according to Article 2 of Circular 14/2022/TT-BGDDT, a accreditor of higher education is someone who meets the stipulated standards and participates in quality assurance activities as regulated by the Minister of Education and Training.

Additionally, under Article 4 of Circular 14/2022/TT-BGDDT, the standards for a accreditor of higher education are:

[1] Possess good moral character, honesty, objectivity, and impartiality in their work.

[2] Display a professional, scientific attitude and working style; be responsible and collaborative in their work; comply with the law.

[3] Have extensive knowledge and practical experience in quality assurance and higher education, and teacher training quality assurance.

[4] Be knowledgeable about policies and laws concerning higher education and teacher training colleges.

[5] Have the ability to independently and autonomously make comments, evaluations, and recommendations regarding the quality assurance and quality accreditation of educational establishments and training programs based on standards issued by the Minister of Education and Training.

[6] Have at least 5 years of experience as a lecturer or in the field of higher education management or teacher training.

[7] Possess a valid quality assurance officer card.

As such, correlating with the above regulations, a lecturer with 5 years of experience cannot transition to become a accreditor of higher education without fulfilling all the conditions listed above.

Therefore, university lecturers with 5 years of experience wishing to transition to become accreditors of higher education need to meet all 7 conditions presented.

With 5 years of experience working as a lecturer, is one qualified to become an accreditor of higher education in Vietnam? (Image from the Internet)

What are prohibited acts of accreditors of higher education in Vietnam?

According to Clause 3, Article 5 of Circular 14/2022/TT-BGDDT, the prohibited acts of accreditors of higher education in Vietnam are as follows:

- Exploiting their duties and powers as quality assurance officers to perform actions contrary to the principles of quality assurance activities for personal gain from educational institutions, quality assurance organizations, and other related organizations or individuals;

- Colluding with or establishing relationships with educational institutions or quality assurance organizations to violate legal regulations in negotiating and signing quality assurance consultancy contracts, affecting the public interest or the legitimate interests of organizations or individuals;

- Receiving or demanding any money or other benefits from educational institutions and other related organizations or individuals beyond the agreed remuneration and expenses stipulated by contracts and legal regulations;

- Insulting the honor or undermining the reputation of colleagues; exploiting their influence to intervene unlawfully in the activities of colleagues;

- Other prohibited actions as regulated by the law.

What are the responsibilities and powers of accreditors of higher education in Vietnam?

According to Article 5 of Circular 14/2022/TT-BGDDT, the responsibilities and powers of accreditors of higher education are as follows:

* Responsibilities and powers of accreditors of higher education:

- Participating in external assessment teams, and quality assurance councils of quality assurance organizations as stipulated;

- Maintaining independence in professional opinions, honesty, objectivity, fairness, transparency in performing duties and exercising powers;

- Other tasks and powers as prescribed by relevant laws and lawful agreements with quality assurance organizations.

* Responsibilities of accreditors of higher education

- Uphold the qualities, reputation, and honor of quality assurance officers; comply with regulations of the law and those of institutions, organizations, and units concerning quality assurance activities;

- Within each 5-year (60 months) period from the date of issue of the card, participate in at least 2 external assessment teams and 1 continuous professional capacity enhancement course for quality assurance officers organized by an accredited quality assurance training organization or 1 professional capacity enhancement course for quality assurance officers organized by the Ministry of Education and Training;

- Provide explanations regarding quality assurance activities to state management agencies upon request.

What are the cases where accreditors are not allowed to join external evaluation teams or education accreditation councils in Vietnam?

According to Article 6 of Circular 14/2022/TT-BGDDT, cases where accreditors are not allowed to join external evaluation teams or education accreditation councils include:

- Quality assurance officers not allowed to join evaluation teams, quality assurance councils include:

+ When working for organizations or individuals that invest in the educational institutions registering for quality assurance;

+ When having a spouse, parents, children, siblings; spouse's parents, siblings; or guardians; or ward (collectively referred to as close relatives) working or studying at educational institutions registering for quality assurance;

+ When having been a student or employee at educational institutions registering for quality assurance;

+ When providing self-evaluation consultancy services within the last 24 months before the decision to establish the external evaluation team.

- Quality assurance officers are prohibited from joining an external evaluation team, or quality assurance council when involved in complaints and petitions being reviewed and addressed by authorized agencies according to regulations.