Vietnam’s Education Law 2019: Supplementing the title of “Giáo sư danh dự” (honorary professor)

Specifically, according to Clause 2 Article 79 of the Education Law 2019 of Vietnam:

Political/social activists of international prestige, teachers and scientists who are overseas residing Vietnamese and foreign nationals with major contributions to the cause of education and science in Vietnam and possessing a doctoral degree shall be awarded by the title of “Giáo sư danh dự” (honorary professor) by institutions of higher education.

According to previous regulations of the Education Law 2005, there was only the title of “Tiến sĩ danh dự” (honorary doctor), however, from July 01, 2019 which is the effective date of the Education Law 2019 of Vietnam, there will be an additional title of honorary professor.

Awarded individuals, eligibility for award, procedures for awarding “honorary professor” title are specified in Decree No. 84/2020/NĐ-CP of Vietnam’s Government, specifically as follows:

1. Awarded individuals:

- Teachers, scientists;

- Socio-political activists.

2. Eligibility for award:

- An individual must be an oversea Vietnamese or a foreigner with many contributions towards education and science professions of Vietnam and awarded by a higher education institutions providing doctoral education of Vietnam;

- An individual must be an oversea 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;

- Holding a doctorate degree.

3. Procedures for awarding:

- Institutions for higher education shall organize meeting among science and education councils to consider and award the right individuals with the right eligibility;

- Based on decisions of science and education councils, principals and directors of institutions for higher education shall consider and approve. On the basis of resolutions of the institutions’ councils, principals and directors shall decide to award and hold award ceremonies;

- If necessary, principals and directors of institutions of higher education shall request Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Public Security or representative missions of countries where the award candidates come from in writing to provide remarks on whether or not the candidates violate regulations and law of Vietnam, their home countries or international agreements to which Vietnam is a signatory.

4. Decision on awarding the title “honorary professor” must specify the title “Giáo sư danh dự” (Honorary professor)

Institutions for higher education shall publicize information of awarded individuals on their website and submit a decision on awarding to the Ministry of Education and Training after each awarding session.

Le Hai

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