Joint Circular No. 05/2015/TTLT-BGDĐT-BTC guides the admission process and financial regulations for implementing Decision No. 599/QĐ-TTg dated April 17, 2013 of the Prime Minister on the Project "Training cadres abroad with state budget funding for the period 2013-2020".

JOINT CIRCULAR

Guidelines for Admissions and Financial Regulations Implementing Decision No. 599/QĐ-TTg dated April 17, 2013 of the Prime Minister on the Project "Training Cadres Abroad with State Budget Funding for the Period 2013-2020"dated April 17, 2013 of the Prime Minister on the Project "Training Cadres Abroad with State Budget Funding for the Period 2013-2020"; The Ministry of Education and Training and the Ministry of Finance issue this Joint Circular to provide guidelines for admissions and financial regulations implementing Decision No. 599/QĐ-TTg dated April 17, 2013 of the Prime Minister on the Project "Training Cadres Abroad with State Budget Funding for the Period 2013-2020".

______________________

Pursuant to Decree No. 36/2012/NĐ-CP dated April 18, 2012, of the Government stipulating the functions, tasks, powers, and organizational structure of Ministries and ministerial-level agencies;

Pursuant to Decree No. 32/2008/NĐ-CP dated March 19, 2008 of the Government stipulating the functions, tasks, powers, and organizational structure of the Ministry of Education and Training;

Pursuant to Decree No. 215/2013/NĐ-CP dated December 23, 2013, promulgated by the Government stipulating the functions, tasks, powers, and organizational structure of the Ministry of Finance;

Pursuant to Decree No. 60/2003/NĐ-CP dated June 6, 2003, promulgated by the Government detailing and guiding the implementation of the Law on State Budget;

1. This Joint Circular stipulates the admissions process and financial regulations for implementing the Project "Training Cadres Abroad with State Budget Funding for the Period 2013-2020" approved by Decision No. 599/QĐ-TTg dated April 17, 2013.

2. This Joint Circular applies to organizations and individuals involved in implementing Project No. 599.

PART I

GENERAL PROVISIONS

Article 1. Scope of Regulation and Applicability

Article 2. Admissions Objectives

1. Bachelor's degree:

a) Students who have won international Olympic competitions;

b) Students with special talents in the fields of Culture-Arts, Physical Education-Sports.

2. Master's degree:

a) Lecturers at higher education institutions;

b) Officials, civil servants, employees working at scientific research and technology agencies, ministries, sectors, and state agencies.

Article 3. Implementation Timeframe and Training Methods

1. Implementation timeframe of the Project: From 2013 to 2020. Among which, new candidates will be recruited from 2015 to 2017.

2. Training methods:

a) Full-time training abroad;

b) Combined training method including part-time training in Vietnam and part-time training abroad.

FULL-TIME TRAINING ABROAD

Article 4. Eligibility Criteria for Candidates

Chapter II

As specified in Article 2 of this Joint Circular.

a) Having good political and moral qualities, sufficient health to study abroad, not currently under disciplinary action or criminal investigation;

b) Registering to be admitted for higher-level training than their current qualifications;

Article 5. Eligibility Requirements

1. General conditions:

c) Registering to study a field abroad that matches the field they won an international award in (for undergraduate students) or their bachelor’s degree field (for master’s students), or aligns with the work requirements of the sending agency or locality (for master’s students);

d) Meeting the foreign language proficiency requirements as stipulated in Article 6 of this Joint Circular;

đ) Committing to completing their studies and returning to serve in Vietnam after graduation according to the regulations, confirmed by their current workplace (for master’s degree candidates) or family (for undergraduate degree candidates);

e) Undergraduate candidates must be high school graduates and currently studying their first or second year at a Vietnamese higher education institution at the time of the announcement of the admission notice;

g) Master’s degree candidates must be under 35 years old as of the date of the announcement of the admission notice.

Applicants must meet the general eligibility criteria as stipulated in Clause 1 of this Article and specific criteria corresponding to their level of study as follows:

a) Bachelor's degree:

2. Specific Conditions:

- Candidates specified in point a, Clause 1, Article 2 of this Joint Circular must be students selected and sent by the Ministry of Education and Training to participate in and win first, second, or third place in international Olympic competitions;

- Candidates specified in point b, Clause 1, Article 2 of this Joint Circular must be students selected and sent by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism to participate in and win first, second, or third place in international competitions in the fields of Culture-Arts and Physical Education-Sports.

b) Master's degree:

- Candidates specified in Article 2, Clause 2 of this Joint Circular must hold a regular bachelor's degree with a minimum grade of good or better. In cases where candidates hold a bachelor's degree issued by a foreign educational institution, such degrees must be recognized by the competent authority or go through the recognition procedures at the Educational Testing and Quality Assurance Agency, Ministry of Education and Training (except for those studying under state budget scholarships and bilateral agreements managed by the Ministry of Education and Training);

- Candidates specified in point a, Clause 2, Article 2 of this Joint Circular must be full-time lecturers working at Vietnamese higher education institutions, having worked continuously for at least two years at the sending institution, and been selected and nominated for admission by the institution;

- Candidates specified in point b, Clause 2, Article 2 of this Joint Circular must comply with the current regulations for state officials, civil servants, and employees going abroad for training funded by the state budget and be selected and nominated for admission by the sending agency.

- The subject specified in point a, Clause 2, Article 2 of this Joint Circular must be a full-time lecturer currently working at Vietnamese higher education institutions, having at least two consecutive years of work at the institution sending them to study, and selected and nominated for admission by the institution;

- The subject specified in point b, Clause 2, Article 2 of this Joint Circular must comply with the current regulations for state officials, civil servants, and public employees studying abroad at the expense of the state budget and be selected and nominated for admission by the competent authority.

Article 6. Foreign Language Requirements

1. Applicants falling under the category specified in Clause 1, Article 2 of this Joint Circular must possess an international foreign language certificate for the language to be used in their studies, equivalent to at least B1 level according to the European Framework of Reference for Languages, issued by an authorized international testing agency within two years from the application date.

2. Applicants falling under the category specified in Clause 2, Article 2 of this Joint Circular must possess an international foreign language certificate for the language to be used in their studies, equivalent to at least B2 level according to the European Framework of Reference for Languages, issued by an authorized international testing agency within two years from the application date.

3. Exemption from Foreign Language Certificate

Applicants who have graduated from overseas and return to that country for further studies, or whose language used in overseas studies matches the language required for higher education programs, are exempted from submitting a foreign language certificate.

Article 7. Duration and Form of Training

1. Duration of Training

a) For undergraduate level: In accordance with the requirements of the training program abroad but not exceeding four years. The Minister of Education and Training shall consider and decide on cases where the duration exceeds four years based on the training program's requirements;

b) For master’s level: In accordance with the requirements of the training program but not exceeding two years. The Minister of Education and Training shall consider and decide on cases where the duration exceeds two years based on the training program's requirements.

2. Form of Training: Regular full-time.

Article 8. Fields of Study and Countries Sending Students Abroad

1. Fields of Study

a) Undergraduate level: Successful applicants will be sent to study fields where they won international Olympic medals, international awards in cultural and artistic fields, or sports;

b) Master’s level: Priority will be given to enrollment and training in specific fields or groups of fields. Fields selected for overseas training are those which cannot be trained domestically due to insufficient capacity or conditions to ensure quality training, and are in line with actual needs for priority training for higher education institutions, scientific research agencies, and technological agencies, ministries, sectors, and other state agencies, including: Priority technology fields such as information and communication technology, biotechnology, new materials technology, machine manufacturing and automation technology, environmental technology; nuclear energy science and technology fields; basic sciences; engineering sciences; medical and pharmaceutical sciences; agricultural, forestry, and fisheries sciences; administrative public sciences; social and human sciences.

2. Countries Sending Students Abroad

Priority will be given to sending students to advanced countries worldwide and to foreign educational institutions that have signed cooperation agreements with the Ministry of Education and Training. A list of foreign educational institutions that have signed cooperation agreements is published on the website of the Department of International Training - Ministry of Education and Training at the address: www.vied.vn.

a) Undergraduate level: Priority will be given to sending students to the United Kingdom, Canada, Germany, the United States, Russia, Japan, Australia, France, Singapore, China, and other countries with strengths in specific training areas;

b) Master’s level: Priority will be given to sending students to the United Kingdom, Canada, Germany, the Netherlands, South Korea, the United States, Russia, Japan, New Zealand, Australia, France, Singapore, China (including Hong Kong and Taiwan), and other countries with strengths in specific training areas.

Article 9. Application for admission and announcement of enrollment

1. The application for admission shall be implemented in accordance with the provisions of Article 11 of Circular No. 01/2013/TT-BGDĐT dated January 29, 2013, issued by the Minister of Education and Training on the regulations for overseas student recruitment.

2. Enrollment announcements are issued annually and may be conducted once or twice per year based on educational levels. The content of the enrollment announcement includes the number of scholarships, scholarship quota allocation (if applicable), countries for training, educational level and field of study, scholarship benefits, target groups, eligibility criteria, application materials, and deadlines for submission.

3. Enrollment announcements are publicly posted on the Ministry of Education and Training's website at www.moet.gov.vn and the Overseas Training Department's website at www.vied.vn.

Article 10. Admission process and dispatch of successful candidates for overseas training

1. Annually, the Ministry of Education and Training establishes an Admissions Board to review the list of applicants according to the admission principles stipulated in Clause 2 of this Article, and submit it to the Minister of Education and Training for consideration and decision.

2. Admission Principles

a) Bachelor’s degree level: In cases where applicants have equal qualifications, those meeting more criteria will be admitted. The admission process involves ranking the list of applicants from highest to lowest based on the following criteria:

- International award achievements;

- National high school examination results;

- Average grade point average of previous semesters at the current university (up to the time of application);

- Average grade point average of three years of high school;

- Foreign language score (as specified in the enrollment announcement);

- Other priority criteria and achievements as prescribed;

- Evaluation and priority order as recommended by the recommending agency (if applicable).

b) Master’s degree level: In cases where applicants have equal qualifications, those meeting more criteria will be admitted. The admission process involves ranking the list of applicants from highest to lowest based on the following criteria:

- Years of work experience;

- Field of study applied for;

- Undergraduate graduation results;

- Scientific research works (articles, scientific reports, awards, patents...), academic and research achievements, and work performance;

- Priority targets based on region;

- Foreign language score (as specified in the enrollment announcement);

- Evaluation and priority order as recommended by the recommending agency.

3. The Minister of Education and Training decides the list of successful candidates for overseas training. Before making the decision to go abroad, successful candidates must obtain an international language certificate that meets the requirements set by the foreign training institution (except for those under Clause 3 of Article 6 of this Joint Circular).

4. The validity period of the successful selection result is twelve months from the date of signing the approval decision.

5. Contacting training institutions for candidates is carried out in the following ways:

a) The Overseas Training Department conducts procedures to register for study with foreign training institutions for candidates;

b) Candidates contact foreign training institutions themselves.

6. After candidates receive acceptance letters from foreign training institutions and meet all requirements regarding application materials and current regulations, the Director of the Overseas Training Department issues a decision to dispatch successful candidates for overseas training in accordance with Circular No. 01/2013/TT-BGDĐT dated January 29, 2013, issued by the Minister of Education and Training on the regulations for overseas student recruitment.

Chapter III

TRAINING THROUGH COOPERATION METHODS

Article 11. Eligible Applicants for Recruitment

Candidates applying through the combined training method are those specified in Clause 2, Article 2 of this Joint Circular.

Article 12. Conditions for Recruitment

The conditions for recruitment for combined training methods are implemented according to the provisions of Clause 1 and Point b, Clause 2, Article 5 of this Joint Circular.

Article 13. Duration and Form of Training

1. Through the 1+1 method (part of the training period conducted domestically and part conducted abroad).

2. Training form: full-time concentrated.

Article 14. Fields of Study and Countries Sending Students Abroad

1. Fields of study: Priority will be given to enrolling and training in fields/major fields. The selected fields for combined training are those that align with the state's orientation and the need to enhance the capacity of domestic training institutions through cooperation and collaboration with reputable foreign partners, including: Information Technology and Telecommunications, Biotechnology, New Materials Technology, Environmental Technology; basic sciences; engineering sciences.

2. Countries sending students abroad: Priority will be given to sending students for training in Germany, the United States, Japan, New Zealand, Australia, France, and the Russian Federation.

Article 15. Conditions for Registering Master’s Degree Training Tasks under Combined Methods

1. Conditions for training institutions to be assigned tasks for Master’s degree training under combined methods:

a) Being a training institution entrusted by the Ministry of Education and Training with the task of training Master’s degrees in the registered specialty or having been permitted by the Ministry of Education and Training to collaborate with foreign countries to implement joint programs in the registered field;

b) Having a cooperation agreement for Master’s degree training signed between both parties ensuring the implementation of the contents stipulated in the proposal to undertake the training task as provided for in Clause 2 of this Article;

c) Domestic training institutions can only cooperate in Master’s degree training with reputable international Master’s degree training institutions recognized by the competent authority in their respective countries;

d) Having a proposal for Master’s degree training under combined methods developed in accordance with the provisions of Clause 2 of this Article.

2. Proposals for Master’s degree training under combined methods shall be developed based on the following main contents and requirements:

a) Introduction to the foreign partner school; experience in cooperative Master’s degree training;

b) Field of training, training program, scale of training;

c) Target audience, recruitment conditions;

d) Quality assurance conditions for implementing combined training programs, including faculty and scientific staff; infrastructure; training and scientific research activities of both sides; international cooperation experience in Master’s degree training with partner schools;

đ) Regulations of domestic Master’s degree training institutions and foreign Master’s degree training institutions regarding combined training methods, clearly stating the responsibilities of each side in organizing training; the application of foreign training regulations to Vietnamese training institutions;

e) Training plan detailing the duration and training schedule in Vietnam and at the foreign training institution; responsibilities of both sides throughout the Master’s degree training process;

g) Organizing training activities: applying the regulations and requirements for Master’s degree training of foreign training institutions according to combined methods;

h) Implementation structure of the proposal, risk management measures;

i) Responsibilities of all parties in coordinating admissions, training, and evaluation; Vietnamese and foreign lecturers participating in teaching and guidance; the training institution responsible for issuing diplomas; other related contents;

k) Detailed budget estimate.

Article 16. Documents and procedures for assigning tasks to train master's degree programs through collaborative methods

1. The application documents for receiving tasks to train master's degree programs through collaborative methods include:

a) A proposal requesting to undertake the task of training master's degree programs through collaborative methods;

b) Minutes of the agreement on collaborative training between domestic master's degree training institutions and foreign master's degree training institutions;

c) A training program for master's degree programs through collaborative methods;

d) Minutes of the approval of the training program by the Scientific and Training Council of the training institution;

đ) Documentation proving that the foreign training institution or the master's degree training program of the foreign training institution has been quality assessed;

2. Procedure for considering the assignment of tasks to train master's degree programs through collaborative methods.

a) The training institution applying for collaborative training tasks shall send five sets of application documents to the Department of International Training - Ministry of Education and Training via postal service or directly;

b) Within five working days from the date of receipt of the application documents, the Department of International Training shall check the validity of the documents. In case the documents are invalid, the Department of International Training shall notify the training institution in writing to submit the documents for amendment and supplementation;

c) Within thirty working days from the date of receipt of valid application documents, the Department of International Training shall take the lead in coordinating with relevant units under the Ministry of Education and Training to review the documents, and submit a decision to assign tasks to train master's degree programs through collaborative methods to the training institution if the documents are complete and meet the conditions, or issue a notice not to assign tasks to train master's degree programs through collaborative methods to the training institution if the documents do not meet the conditions.

Article 17. Admissions and organization of training

1. Each year, training institutions assigned tasks to train master's degree programs through collaborative methods shall issue announcements on admissions, specifying details about quotas, training majors, target groups, admission requirements; application documents and admission fees, selection time; organization of admissions and issuance of decisions recognizing successful candidates according to the approved master's degree training program through collaborative methods.

2. The organization of training shall be carried out strictly in accordance with the regulations and training plans stated in the accepted master's degree training task assignment program approved by the Ministry of Education and Training.

3. Domestic training institutions are responsible for determining the plan to send students to study at foreign training institutions according to the agreed training program; the Department of International Training is responsible for coordinating with domestic training institutions to decide and handle procedures for sending students to study abroad according to the plan. Before making a decision to study abroad, successful candidates must have an international language certificate meeting the requirements set by the foreign training institution (except for those falling under Clause 3 of Article 6 of this Joint Circular).

4. Regularly every six months and upon completion of the training period, exchange students shall report their academic and research results to the Department of International Training and the domestic master's degree training institution in accordance with current regulations.

Article 18. Responsibilities and rights of lecturers teaching master's programs and supervisors guiding students under the combined training method

1. During the period when students are trained domestically, lecturers teaching the master's training program and supervisors (including foreign lecturers and supervisors) shall fully implement the provisions on the duties and responsibilities of lecturers and supervisors as stipulated in the current Master's Training Regulations and the combined training project approved by the Ministry of Education and Training.

2. During the period when exchange students are trained at overseas educational institutions, supervisors (including domestic institution supervisors) shall fully implement the provisions on the duties and responsibilities of supervisors of overseas educational institutions and the provisions in the combined training project approved by the Ministry of Education and Training.

Chapter IV

FINANCIAL REGULATIONS

Article 19. Content and expenditure levels for training and financial management

1. The content and expenditure levels for training and financial management shall be implemented according to the provisions set forth in Joint Circular No. 144/2007/TTLT-BTC-BGDĐT-BNG dated December 5, 2007, issued by the Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Education and Training, and Ministry of Foreign Affairs, guiding the issuance and management of funds for training Vietnamese exchange students abroad from state budget sources, and Joint Circular No. 206/2010/TTLT-BTC-BGDĐT-BNG dated December 15, 2010, issued by the Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Education and Training, and Ministry of Foreign Affairs, amending and supplementing Joint Circular No. 144/2007/TTLT-BTC-BGDĐT-BNG, and any subsequent amendments and supplements (if applicable).

2. Health insurance: For countries that do not have the health insurance level specified in Clause 1 of this Article, the minimum health insurance level of countries in the region shall apply.

Article 20. Costs for foreign language training for exchange students studying for a bachelor’s degree

Based on the number of candidates selected to study for a bachelor’s degree and the allocated budget, the Ministry of Education and Training shall organize foreign language training for a maximum of six months before studying abroad if there are at least ten students per class with the same proficiency level. In cases where the number of admitted students is insufficient to form a class, exchange students must self-study to reach the required foreign language proficiency level to be sent abroad during the validity period of the admission approval decision.

The content and expenditure levels for foreign language training shall be applied and implemented according to the provisions set forth in Circular No. 139/2010/TT-BTC dated September 21, 2010, issued by the Ministry of Finance regarding the preparation of budgets, management, and utilization of state budget funds for cadre and civil servant training and development.

Article 21. Budget preparation and approval

1. Annually, based on the guidelines for preparing the state budget issued by the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Education and Training shall determine the number of people to be trained for each profession in the planned year, the training methods for each country sending trainees (in detail, including the number of exchange students currently studying, the number of new exchange students to enroll, and the number of exchange students completing their studies and returning home), and submit these to the Ministry of Finance as a basis for consolidation and allocation of the budget for expenses.

2. The funding for Project 599 (for full-time training abroad and combined training methods abroad) is allocated within the annual state budget of the Ministry of Education and Training to pay for overseas educational institutions and exchange students according to regulations. Funding for domestic training under the combined training method and foreign language training for exchange students studying for a bachelor’s degree is allocated within the annual state budget of the Ministry of Education and Training to pay for domestic educational institutions according to current regulations.

3. Any annual budget allocation that remains unused will be transferred to the following year for continued use.

Chapter V

IMPLEMENTATION

Article 22. Responsibilities of the Ministry of Education and Training

1. Direct the implementation of Project 599 to ensure quality, effectiveness, and proactive balance in prioritizing professions for overseas training.

2. Develop a comprehensive training plan and budget estimate for the entire Project 599, including detailed projections on the number of trainees, training methods (full-time overseas training and combined training), training plans, and overall budget estimates for implementing Project 599 and annual budget estimates, to be submitted to the Ministry of Finance for review and decision by the competent authority; bear responsibility for balancing overall quotas and quotas by country within the approved total budget limit in Project 599, ensuring that enrollment does not exceed training quotas and that new training does not exceed the project implementation period.

3. Monitor, evaluate the progress and quality of Project 599 implementation, supervise the reception and job placement of Project 599 scholarship students after graduation; periodically summarize and conclude, assess the results of implementation, and report to the Prime Minister.

Article 23. Responsibilities of the Ministry of Finance

1. Participate with the Ministry of Education and Training in building an overall plan for implementing the project regarding the number, occupational structure, level, training methods (full-time overseas training and combined training), and total budget estimate for implementing Project 599.

2. Annually, coordinate with the Ministry of Education and Training to compile and submit to the competent authority for approval the annual budget estimate for implementing Project 599.

3. Coordinate with the Ministry of Education and Training to inspect the management and use of funds for implementing Project 599 according to the purpose, target group, and financial regulations.

Article 24. Responsibilities, rights, and obligations of the sending agency

For master's degree students, the sending agency is responsible for developing an annual plan for sending for training and arranging jobs for scholarship students within six months after they return from overseas studies. Beyond this period, if the sending agency does not issue a reception decision or arrange jobs for graduated scholarship students, the sending agency shall be responsible for reimbursing the full cost of training to the state budget according to current regulations.

Article 25. Responsibilities, rights, and obligations of scholarship students

1. Complete the registered training program and return to Vietnam, reporting to the Ministry of Education and Training after graduation to process re-reception procedures.

2. Self-fund training costs if these costs exceed the ceiling set by the state or extend the training period beyond the decision to send for training.

3. Reimburse the full cost of training if the training program is not completed, or if the required service period following completion of the training program is not fully served according to the assignment of the sending agency. The reimbursement of training costs shall be carried out according to current state regulations on scholarship and training cost reimbursement.

Article 26. Implementation

1. Other human resource training projects abroad

2. This Circular takes effect from April 24, 2015.

3. During implementation, if the legal normative documents cited in this Circular are amended, supplemented, or replaced by new documents, the new documents will apply.

4. In case of difficulties or obstacles, units are requested to promptly reflect them to the Ministry of Education and Training and the Ministry of Finance for research and resolution./.