Guidance on suspension of education quality accreditation operations in Vietnam from November 20, 2024

Guidance on suspension of education quality accreditation operations in Vietnam from November 20, 2024 (Image from the Internet)

On October 5, 2024, the Government of Vietnam issued Decree 125/2024/ND-CP on regulatory requirements for educational investment and business operation in Vietnam.

1. Guidance on suspension of education quality accreditation operations in Vietnam from November 20, 2024

According to Article 110 of Decree 125/2024/ND-CP, the suspension of education quality accreditation operations in Vietnam is executed as follows:

- An organization conducting educational quality assurance activities will be suspended if it falls under any of the following circumstances:

+ Engages in fraudulent activities to be permitted to conduct educational quality assurance activities;

+ Fails to maintain any of the conditions stipulated in Article 106, Article 108 of Decree 125/2024/ND-CP during its operations;

+ Executes educational quality assurance activities contrary to principles leading to inaccurate recognition of educational quality assurance results;

+ Other cases as stipulated by law.

- The Minister of Education and Training decides on the suspension of education quality accreditation operations.

- Implementation process:

+ Upon detecting that an educational quality assurance organization violates one of the cases stipulated in Clause 1, Article 110 of Decree 125/2024/ND-CP, the Ministry of Education and Training decides to establish an inspection team, organizes inspections to assess the level of violation, and prepares an inspection record to notify the organization of the violation;

+ Based on the level of violation, the Minister of Education and Training considers and decides on suspending educational quality assurance activities.

The decision to suspend educational quality assurance activities is publicly announced in mass media;

+ During the suspension period, if the causes leading to the suspension are rectified, the educational quality assurance organization must notify in writing with evidence to the Minister of Education and Training.

Within 7 working days from the date of receiving the notification from the educational quality assurance organization, the Minister of Education and Training issues a decision allowing the organization to resume its activities, which is publicly announced in mass media.

2. Eligibility requirements for establishment of a public education quality accreditation organization in Vietnam

The regulatory eligibility requirements for establishment of a public education quality accreditation organization, or approval of establishment of a private education quality accreditation organization in Vietnam are specifically stipulated in Article 106 of Decree 125/2024/ND-CP as follows:

- The establishment of public educational quality assurance organizations or permitting the establishment of private educational quality assurance organizations must meet the following conditions:

+ Have a proposal for establishment or permission to establish an educational quality assurance organization;

+ Have a plan for facilities, finance, and personnel for the activities of the educational quality assurance organization;

+ Public educational quality assurance organizations must ensure funding for regular expenses and investments.

- The establishment of public educational quality assurance organizations or the permission for private educational quality assurance organizations to conduct quality assurance in the field of higher education must meet the following conditions:

+ Meet the conditions for establishment or permission to establish an educational quality assurance organization as stipulated in Clause 1, Article 106 of Decree 125/2024/ND-CP;

+ Have a plan for organizational structure, personnel, and finance to ensure that the educational quality assurance organization is independent of the state management agency and higher education institutions as follows:

The  educational  quality  assurance  organization  must  have  legal  standing;  autonomy,  and  make  its  own  decisions  regarding  organizational  structure,  personnel,  and  professional  activities  according  to  its  organizational  and  operational  regulations;  there  should  be  no  concurrent  appointments  or  secondment  from  the  state  management  agency  or  higher  education  institutions;

The  educational  quality  assurance  organization  must  ensure  self-financing  of  its  operations  and  make  independent  decisions  on  its  finances  according  to  financial  regulations  and  legal  provisions;  it  shall  not  receive  financing  support  from  the  competent  management  agency,  higher  education  institutions,  or  investors  of  the  higher  education  institution.

- The establishment of educational quality assurance organizations under the Ministry of Public Security and the Ministry of National Defense is performed according to separate regulations of the Government of Vietnam.

More details can be found in Decree 125/2024/ND-CP which comes into force in Vietnam from November 20, 2024.

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