Procedures and cycle for quality assessment of training programs at higher education levels in Vietnam from April 4, 2025

Procedures and cycle for quality assessment of training programs at higher education levels in Vietnam from April 4, 2025​ (Image from Internet)

The Minister of Education and Training of Vietnam issues Circular 04/2025/TT-BGDDT dated February 17, 2025, stipulating the quality accreditation of degree programs in higher education.

Procedures and cycle for quality assessment of training programs at higher education levels in Vietnam from April 4, 2025

According to Article 12 of Circular 04/2025/TT-BGDDT, the procedure and cycle of quality accreditation for higher education degree programs are specified as follows:

- The quality accreditation process includes four steps:

+ Self-assessment;

+ External assessment;

+ Verification of assessment results;

+ Recognition of meeting the education quality standards.

- The quality accreditation of degree programs is conducted on a 5-year cycle for programs evaluated at a passing level, except as provided in Clause 4, Article 12 of Circular 04/2025/TT-BGDDT.

- For programs evaluated at a conditional passing level, quality improvements must continue for a maximum of 2 years (24 months) to achieve a passing evaluation.

- For programs assessed at a passing level in the previous cycle, if they continue to be evaluated at a passing level with higher standard and criteria achievement rates and the quality improvement results meet requirements by addressing weaknesses noted in the previous cycle, the next quality accreditation cycle will be 7 years.

Evaluation methods for quality accreditation of higher education degree programs in Vietnam

According to Article 13 of Circular 04/2025/TT-BGDDT, the evaluation methods for quality accreditation of higher education degree programs are instructed as follows:

- Programs undergo self-assessment and external assessment according to the standards and criteria in the Quality Standards of Program Evaluation in Chapter II of this Circular; conditional criteria include: Criterion 1.3 and 1.6 under Standard 1; Criterion 2.2 and 2.4 under Standard 2; Criterion 3.2 under Standard 3; Criterion 4.5 under Standard 4; Criterion 5.2 under Standard 5; Criterion 6.1 under Standard 6; Criterion 7.3 under Standard 7; Criterion 8.2 under Standard 8.

- Criteria are evaluated at 2 levels:

+ Passing: A criterion is rated as passing when the training institution has a formal approach to quality assurance, a clear, systematic implementation aligned with relevant policies/regulations/processes to ensure the requirement of the criterion is met and there is evidence of regular improvements.

+ Not passing: A criterion is rated as not passing when the training institution does not have a formal approach to quality assurance, lacks systemic policies/regulations/processes to meet the criterion, or, having policies/regulations/processes, fails to apply them consistently/formally to ensure the criterion is met; there is no evidence of quality improvement.

Based on point a, b, clause 2, Article 13 of Circular 04/2025/TT-BGDDT, education quality accreditation organizations specify more detailed criteria for passing and not passing levels and develop assessment guidance to help institutions understand their status to improve program quality.

- Standards are evaluated at 2 levels:

+ Passing: A standard is rated as passing when there are no more than 2 criteria rated as not passing and all remaining criteria, including conditional criteria, are rated as passing.

+ Not passing: A standard is rated as not passing when there is a conditional criterion or more than 2 criteria rated as not passing.

- Degree programs are evaluated at 3 levels:

+ Passing: The program is rated as passing when all standards are rated as passing.

+ Conditional passing: The program is rated as conditional passing when no more than 2 standards and 16 criteria are rated as not passing. To achieve a passing evaluation, the institution must improve quality within a maximum of 24 months from the date the program is recognized as conditional passing by the education quality accreditation organization.

+ Not passing: The program is rated as not passing when it does not meet the provisions at point a or b, clause 4, Article 13 of Circular 04/2025/TT-BGDDT.

Circular 04/2025/TT-BGDDT takes effect from April 4, 2025.

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