CIRCULAR

Regulations on conditions, procedures, and formalities for opening majors or specializations in training and suspending admissions, revoking decisions to open majors or specializations at the master's and doctoral levels

Pursuant to the Government's Decision No. 249/2016/NQ-CP dated September 1, 2016 on the functions, tasks, powers, and organizational structure of ministries and ministerial-level agencies;

Pursuant to the Education Law dated June 14, 2005; the Law Amending and Supplementing Certain Provisions of the Education Law dated November 25, 2009;

Pursuant to Decree No. 75/2006/NĐ-CP dated August 2, 2006 of the Government detailing and guiding the implementation of certain provisions of the Law on Education; Decree No. 31/2011/NĐ-CP dated May 11, 2011 of the Government amending and supplementing certain provisions of Decree No. 75/2006/NĐ-CP dated August 2, 2006 of the Government detailing and guiding the implementation of certain provisions of the Law on Education; Decree No. 07/2013/NĐ-CP dated January 9, 2013 of the Government amending point b Clause 1 Article 1 of Decree No. 31/2011/NĐ-CP dated May 11, 2011 of the Government amending and supplementing certain provisions of Decree No. 75/2006/NĐ-CP dated August 2, 2006 of the Government detailing and guiding the implementation of certain provisions of the Law on Education;

Pursuant to the Government Decree No. 141/2013/NĐ-CP dated October 24, 2013 detailing and guiding the implementation of certain articles of the Higher Education Law;

Decree No. 123/Decision No. 2016/2025/NĐ-CP Pursuant to the Prime Minister's Decision No. 70/2014/QD-TTg dated December 10, 2014 promulgating the University Charter; The Minister of Education and Training issues this Circular stipulating conditions, procedures, and formalities for opening majors or specializations in training and suspending admissions, revoking decisions to open majors or specializations at the master's and doctoral levels as follows:

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;

1. This Circular stipulates conditions, procedures, and formalities for opening majors or specializations in training and suspending admissions, revoking decisions to open majors or specializations (hereinafter referred to collectively as majors) in training at the master's and doctoral levels.

At the proposal of the Director of the Department of Higher Education,

2. This Circular applies to universities, academies, university institutions (including member universities of national universities and regional universities), research institutes authorized to train at the doctoral level (hereinafter referred to collectively as training institutions); organizations and individuals related to training at the master's and doctoral levels.

Article 1. Scope of regulation and applicable subjects

Article 2. Conditions for Opening Majors in Master’s Degree Training

Universities, academies, and university institutions (hereinafter referred to collectively as master’s degree training institutions) may open majors in master’s degree training when they meet the following conditions:

Registered major

The registered major must be in line with the needs of learners and the human resource requirements for economic and social development at local, regional, and national levels; it must align with the functions and tasks of the master’s degree training institution; and it must be identified in the orientation or development plan of the master’s degree training institution that has been approved by the university council or school council (hereinafter referred to as the school council) or board of directors.

1. b) The name of the training major must be included in the current Level IV Education and Training Catalogue (hereinafter referred to as the Training Catalogue) at the level being applied for, with an 8-digit code number (consistent with the provisions of the Prime Minister's Decision No. 38/2009/QD-TTg dated March 9, 2009 promulgating the Education and Training Catalogue of the national education system), which will be replaced by a Training Catalogue with a 7-digit code number (consistent with the provisions of the Prime Minister's Decision No. 01/2017/QD-TTg dated January 17, 2017 promulgating the Education and Training Catalogue of the national education system). In cases where the name of the training major is not listed in the Training Catalogue, the master’s degree training institution must clarify:

1. - Scientific grounds and forecasts of societal demand for this training major based on survey results, research findings on demand (including at least two opinions on the necessity of training from two organizations or entities requiring the trained workforce).

- Practical experience and training experience from other countries around the world, accompanied by at least two reference master’s degree training programs from foreign educational institutions recognized for quality or permitted to implement and issue diplomas (except for specialized majors only trained in Vietnam or related to security and defense).

c) The bachelor’s degree major must be the correct major or a closely related major (if there is no correct major) and must be the prerequisite major for the registered master’s degree training major, having been trained in regular form at the master’s degree training institution and having graduates.

d) The definition of a closely related major to the registered major shall be determined by the master’s degree training institution and clearly stated in the proposal to open the major.

2. There must be a sufficient and qualified teaching staff and scientific personnel to organize master’s degree training for the registered major, meeting the specific conditions as follows:

a) At least five (5) full-time professors or associate professors holding doctorates in science or in the correct or closely related major to the registered major, and who do not overlap with the list of full-time professors or associate professors required for opening other master’s degree training majors; among them, at least one professor or associate professor in the correct major must take responsibility for organizing and implementing the training program and commit to ensuring training quality before the training institution and society.

b) The condition regarding the teaching staff as stipulated in point a of this clause shall be adjusted to increase for some majors in the Education and Training Catalogue with a 7-digit code number if they are formed from multiple specializations in the Education and Training Catalogue with an 8-digit code number, such that each specialization must have at least one professor or associate professor holding a doctorate in science or in the same registered major, responsible for organizing and implementing the training content within the specialization in the combined major, without overlapping with the list of full-time professors or associate professors in other specializations and without overlapping with full-time professors or associate professors required for opening other master’s degree training majors. In this case, the thesis defense committee for master’s degree candidates shall be established according to the specialization of the combined major.

c) For new majors being trained at the doctoral level in Vietnam, not listed in the Training Catalogue, if there is no full-time professor or associate professor in the same major as stipulated in point a of this clause, then there must be at least one professor, associate professor, or doctor of science in a closely related or suitable major with experience in teaching or working in the field of the registered major, responsible for organizing and implementing the training program and committing to ensuring training quality before the master’s degree training institution and society.

b) The conditions for the teaching staff as stipulated in point a of this clause shall be adjusted to increase for certain fields in the Education and Training Catalogue with seven-digit codes if they are formed from multiple specialties of the Education and Training Catalogue with eight-digit codes, in the direction that each specialty must have at least one lecturer holding the title of professor, associate professor, or doctor of science, doctor in the same field applying for training, responsible for organizing and implementing the training content within their specialty in the combined field, not overlapping with the list of permanent lecturers of other specialties and not overlapping with the permanent lecturers required for establishing master's degree programs in other fields. In this case, the thesis defense council for the master's degree shall be established according to the specialty of the combined field;

c) For new doctoral fields being trained in Vietnam that are not included in the Training Catalogue, if there are no permanent lecturers in the same field as prescribed in point a of this clause, then there must be at least one professor, associate professor, or doctor of science, doctor in a related or suitable field with experience in teaching or working in the registered field, responsible for organizing and implementing the training program and committing to ensure the quality of training before the master's training institution and society;

d) Lecturers teaching theoretical subjects of foundational knowledge and major-specific courses must have a doctoral degree; other lecturers must have at least a master’s degree. The permanent lecturers of the master's training institution must be sufficient to teach at least 70% of the program volume; the remaining program volume shall be carried out by invited lecturers (domestic and foreign) who have signed guest lecturer contracts with the master's training institution. Both permanent and invited lecturers must be trained in accordance with the content of the courses they are assigned to teach.

đ) Within five years from the date of application for opening a major: each lecturer under points a and b of this clause and each lecturer teaching theoretical subjects of foundational knowledge and major-specific courses must have at least three scientific works published in domestic or international specialized scientific journals or have been granted one patent or utility model in the field of the registered major; the master's training institution must have led the implementation of at least two institutional-level or one ministry-level scientific research projects or equivalent related to the field of the registered major.

e) For majors within the health group: each foundational or major-specific course must have one lecturer as stipulated in point d of this clause responsible for it; if there are courses related to medical examination and treatment, then the lecturers and practical instructors must have a medical practice certificate, and must be working directly at medical examination and treatment facilities that meet the conditions for practical training in the health education group according to regulations.

g) For non-state master's training institutions, at least 40% of the lecturers under points a and b of this clause must be within the working age.

3. Having material infrastructure, equipment, libraries, textbooks meeting the requirements for training the registered major at the master's level, specifically:

a) Having sufficient classrooms, libraries with information search rooms providing sources of reference materials (books, textbooks, journals both domestically and internationally) updated within five years from the date of application for opening a major, meeting the requirements for teaching and learning all courses in the training program and implementing thesis topics; or having an electronic library with access rights to databases related to the registered major or connected to other training institutions in the same field and major domestically and internationally to share databases for the registered major.

b) Having sufficient laboratories, practical training bases, experimental production bases with necessary equipment meeting the requirements for teaching, learning, and scientific research in the registered major and ensuring the minimum equipment list serving the training of the major or group of majors as prescribed (if applicable).

c) Having computer rooms connected to the Internet for students to access information.

d) Having an electronic website of the master's training institution regularly updated and publicly announcing commitments to ensure educational quality; publicly listing the permanent faculty, guest lecturers; admitted students, graduates, and graduation rates compared to the number of entrants for each course and major (excluding majors required to keep information confidential according to the law); publicly announcing tuition fees and training costs of the master's training institution.

4. Training programs and some other conditions for implementing the training program:

a) Clearly defining the training program according to a research orientation or an application orientation.

b) Having a training program built in accordance with the Master's Degree Training Regulations and current regulations, ensuring the achievement of training objectives, minimum knowledge volume, and requirements for capabilities that students must achieve upon graduation as committed. The training program must be developed, reviewed, and promulgated in accordance with the regulations of the Ministry of Education and Training.

c) Having announced the training program and the minimum output standards of the majors and levels currently being trained, where the minimum output standard for the master's level must reach level 7 according to the National Qualification Framework of Vietnam.

d) Cooperating with universities worldwide in training activities and science and technology activities (except for majors required to keep information confidential according to the law).

đ) Coordinating with enterprises and labor users in training activities and science and technology activities related to the registered major if the training program follows an application orientation.

e) Having registered for higher education quality assessment or been recognized as meeting quality standards according to current regulations and the quality assessment plan of the Ministry of Education and Training.

g) Having a dedicated management unit meeting the professional requirements for managing master's degree training; having promulgated the master's degree training regulations of the master's training institution.

h) Not violating current regulations on conditions for opening majors, admissions, organization, and management of training in currently trained majors and regulations related to higher education within three years from the date of application for opening a major.

5. When implementing master's degree training at branch campuses for majors already permitted to be trained at the main campus, the branch campus must ensure the minimum material infrastructure conditions as stipulated in point a, b, and c of Clause 3 of this Article. In cases where the branch campus is far from the main campus or inconvenient for travel (lecturers cannot travel back and forth in a day to conduct lectures), the condition regarding the permanent faculty of the branch campus must ensure a minimum of 40% as prescribed in Clause 2 of Article 2 of this Circular, with the remaining permanent faculty being permanent faculty at the main campus of the master's training institution.

Article 3. Conditions for opening doctoral training programs

Training institutions are allowed to open doctoral training programs when they meet the following conditions:

1. b) The name of the training major must be included in the current Level IV Education and Training Catalogue (hereinafter referred to as the Training Catalogue) at the level being applied for, with an 8-digit code number (consistent with the provisions of the Prime Minister's Decision No. 38/2009/QD-TTg dated March 9, 2009 promulgating the Education and Training Catalogue of the national education system), which will be replaced by a Training Catalogue with a 7-digit code number (consistent with the provisions of the Prime Minister's Decision No. 01/2017/QD-TTg dated January 17, 2017 promulgating the Education and Training Catalogue of the national education system). In cases where the name of the training major is not listed in the Training Catalogue, the master’s degree training institution must clarify:

1. Ensuring the conditions stipulated in Clause 1 (except Point c) of Article 2 of this Circular;
2. The master's program in the relevant field or closely related field (if there is no relevant field) is the prerequisite for the doctoral program that has been trained at the institution and has graduates.

2. Having a teaching staff and scientific personnel sufficient in number and quality to organize doctoral training in the registered field, meeting the specific conditions as follows:

a) Having at least 01 professor and 3 doctorate holders in science, doctorate or 02 associate professors and 3 doctorate holders in science, doctorate who are permanent faculty members in the relevant field or closely related field of the registered training program and not overlapping with the list of permanent faculty members required for opening doctoral programs in other fields; among them, there must be at least 01 professor or associate professor in the relevant field responsible for organizing and implementing the training program and committing to ensure the quality of training before the training institution and society. These permanent faculty members must fully meet the conditions prescribed for research supervisors under the current regulations on admissions and training for doctoral degrees;

b) The condition for the teaching staff as stipulated in Point a of this clause shall be adjusted to increase for some fields listed in the Education and Training Catalogue with seven-digit codes if they are combined from multiple specialties in the Education and Training Catalogue with eight-digit codes in the direction that each specialty must have at least 01 faculty member with the title of professor, associate professor, holding a doctorate in science, doctorate in the registered field responsible for organizing and implementing the training content within the specialty in the combined field, not overlapping with the list of permanent faculty members in other specialties and not overlapping with permanent faculty members required for opening programs in other fields at the same level. In this case, the doctoral dissertation evaluation board will be established according to the specialty of the combined field;

c) For new fields being trained at the doctoral level in Vietnam; fields not yet named in the training catalogue if they do not have enough professors, associate professors, doctorate holders in science, doctorate in the relevant field as stipulated in Point a of this clause, then they must have at least 01 professor, associate professor, doctorate holder in science, doctorate in a closely related or suitable field, having experience in teaching or working in the field of the registered training program, responsible for organizing and implementing the training program and committing to ensure the quality of training before the training institution and society;

d) Faculty members participating in teaching the doctoral training program and supervising research students must meet the standards prescribed in the current regulations on admissions and training for doctoral degrees; they must publish research results, be trained appropriately for the content of courses and special topics assigned to them;

đ) Within five years from the date of application to open the field: each faculty member mentioned in Points a, b, c of this clause must publish at least 3 scientific works in specialized domestic or international journals in the field of the registered training program; the training institution must have led the implementation of at least 05 research projects or tasks at the institutional level or higher in the field proposed for training, including at least 01 project or task at the ministry level or equivalent and above;

e) For non-public training institutions, at least 40% of the faculty members mentioned in Points a, b of this clause must be within the working age;

3. Having material facilities, equipment, libraries, textbooks that meet the requirements for doctoral training in the registered field, specifically:

a) Having sufficient classrooms, laboratories, research centers equipped with necessary facilities for doctoral candidates to implement their thesis projects; having workspaces for supervisors and doctoral candidates;

b) Having a traditional library with sufficient information resources for doctoral candidates to refer to when implementing their thesis projects such as books, textbooks, domestic and foreign scientific journals updated within five years from the date of application to open the field; having an electronic library with access rights to databases related to the registered field or connected to other training institutions in the same field and at the same training level domestically and internationally to share databases for the registered field;

d) Having an updated website of the training institution publicly announcing commitments to ensure training quality, publicly listing the permanent faculty members, research projects that have been accepted, international cooperation programs related to the registered field (if any, except fields requiring confidentiality according to the law); publicly listing admitted doctoral candidates, graduates, and those awarded degrees annually by course and field (if applicable, excluding fields requiring confidential information according to the law); publicly listing ongoing research projects (including information about training doctoral candidates within the scope of the project), proposed research projects for recruiting doctoral candidates; publicly listing tuition fees, training costs of the training institution and financial support for doctoral candidates (if any);

đ) Having its own scientific and technological journal;

4. Training programs and some other conditions for implementing the training program:

a) Having published the output standards for different training fields corresponding to various levels, where the minimum output standard for doctoral training is Level 8 according to the National Qualification Framework of Vietnam;

        b) Having international cooperation programs related to the registered field in the exchange of lecturers, students, trainees; having plans to invite foreign experts, Vietnamese experts abroad to participate in teaching and supervising doctoral candidates in the registered field;

c) Ensuring the conditions stipulated in Points b, e, g, h of Clause 4 and Clause 5 of Article 2 of this Circular, corresponding to the doctoral training level.

5. Scientific research institutes established or recognized in writing by the Prime Minister may open graduate programs leading to a Doctorate degree when they meet the conditions stipulated in this Article, except for the condition specified in point b, Clause 1 of this Article.

Article 4. Competence to decide on permission to open graduate programs leading to a Master's degree and a Doctorate degree

1. The Minister of Education and Training decides on granting permission to training institutions to open graduate programs leading to a Master's degree and a Doctorate degree when they meet the conditions stipulated in Articles 2 and 3 of this Circular. Permission to train these programs at the Master's and Doctorate levels in special cases to meet the demand for high-quality human resource training or in specific fields of training shall be decided upon by the Minister of Education and Training after consideration.

2. The Rector of a National University has the autonomy to decide on opening graduate programs leading to a Master's degree and a Doctorate degree for affiliated departments, branch campuses, and member universities when they meet the conditions stipulated in Articles 2 and 3 of this Circular.

3. The heads of training institutions that have been officially recognized as meeting national standards or granted the authority to autonomously open programs may autonomously decide on opening graduate programs leading to a Master's degree and a Doctorate degree when the institution meets the conditions stipulated in Articles 2 and 3 of this Circular.

4. The Director of a Regional University, authorized by the Minister of Education and Training, decides on opening graduate programs leading to a Master's degree and a Doctorate degree for affiliated departments, branch campuses, and member universities when they meet the conditions stipulated in Articles 2 and 3 of this Circular.

Article 5. Procedures and formalities for requesting permission to open graduate programs leading to a Master's degree and a Doctorate degree

1. When there is a need to open a program and self-assessment (according to Model Appendix II attached) shows that all conditions for opening a Master's and Doctorate level program as stipulated in Articles 2 and 3 of this Circular are met, the training institution shall implement the following steps:
   1. The School Council (for public training institutions) or the Board of Management (for private training institutions) shall make a resolution on the policy to open the program;
   2. Organize inspections and confirm the actual conditions regarding faculty members, physical facilities, equipment, libraries, textbooks, scientific research activities, and international cooperation (hereinafter referred to as practical quality assurance conditions) for opening graduate programs leading to a Master's degree and a Doctorate degree (according to Model Appendix IV attached);
   3. Review the graduate training programs leading to a Master's degree and a Doctorate degree and the practical quality assurance conditions according to Article 6 of this Circular;
   4. Submit the application for opening a graduate program to the competent authority responsible for granting permission to open such programs as stipulated in Article 4 of this Circular for review and issuance of a decision to permit the opening of the program according to Article 7 of this Circular.

        2. The application for opening a program includes:

a) A letter from the training institution requesting permission to open a program leading to a Master's degree and a Doctorate degree (summarizing the process of developing the proposal, affirming that all conditions for opening the program as prescribed have been met; not violating the provisions specified in point h, Clause 4 of Article 2 of this Circular;

b) A proposal to open a graduate program leading to a Master's degree and a Doctorate degree developed according to the regulations in Model Appendix I attached, including the main contents: the necessity of opening the program; the capacity of the training institution (faculty members, in-house scientific staff, visiting lecturers of the registered training field; physical facilities, equipment, library, textbooks; scientific research activities and international cooperation); the training program (which can refer to the model in Model Appendix V attached), training plan, and quality assurance plan (including both admission criteria and conditions, and projected enrollment over the first five years); the minutes of the Scientific and Training Council of the training institution approving the proposal to open the program;

 c) A self-assessment form of the conditions for opening the program of the training institution (according to Model Appendix II attached) and the curriculum vitae of the lecturers (according to Model Appendix III attached);

d) Documents related to the development and review of the training program, including: the decision to establish the program drafting team, the decision to establish the program review council and the practical quality assurance conditions (hereinafter referred to as the review council), the conclusion of the review council, and the explanation document of the training institution regarding adjustments and supplements to the training program and practical quality assurance conditions based on the review council's conclusions (if applicable).

3. The application for opening a program shall be prepared in two original copies, submitted to the competent authority (directly or via postal service) and must be publicly announced on the training institution's website at least 20 days before submitting the application for opening the program.

Article 6. Reviewing the training program for master's degree and doctoral degree levels and ensuring practical training quality conditions

1. After confirming the practical training quality assurance conditions, the training institution shall establish a review board. The decision to establish the review board must clearly state the title, level of education, field of study, and workplace unit of each board member.

2. In addition to the standards and composition of the review board specified in Circular No. 07/2015/TT-BGDĐT (issued on April 16, 2015, by the Minister of Education and Training regarding the minimum volume of knowledge, requirements for capabilities that students must achieve upon graduation for each level of higher education training, and the procedures for building, reviewing, and issuing training programs for bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees), the number of review board members must be odd; the remaining members of the review board must come from at least two other training institutions, having experience in training the same field or a closely related field (if the registered training field is new) and at the same level as the reviewed training program, including at least one professor or associate professor (excluding the representative member for the postgraduate student employer).

3. The review board bases its review and conclusion on the draft training program and current regulations; simultaneously, it evaluates and concludes whether the training institution meets the quality assurance requirements of the training program according to current regulations based on the confirmed practical training quality assurance conditions of the training institution (as per Appendix IV attached). For fields with requirements for machinery and laboratory equipment, the review board checks the actual conditions before concluding.

4. The minutes of the review must have signatures and full names of the chairman and secretary of the review board and the seal of the training institution (submitting two copies along with the file).

Article 7. Considering and making decisions to open master's degree and doctoral degree training fields

1. After receiving the application file for opening a training field from the training institution, the competent authority reviews the file:

a) If the application file for opening a training field is complete and meets the stipulated conditions, the head of the competent authority issues a decision to open the master's degree and doctoral degree training fields;

b) If the application file for opening a training field is incomplete or does not meet the stipulated conditions, the competent authority will notify the training institution in writing about the review results and the contents that do not comply with the regulations.

2. The review of the application file for opening master's degree and doctoral degree training fields is conducted within thirty working days from the date of receipt of the complete file in accordance with the training institution's regulations. In necessary cases, the Ministry of Education and Training will organize inspections of the practical training quality assurance conditions at the training institution.

Article 8. Suspension of admissions for master's degree and doctoral degree training fields

1. A training institution is suspended from admitting students for master's degree and doctoral degree training fields when one of the following situations occurs:

a) Failing to ensure one of the conditions for opening a field as prescribed in Article 2 or Article 3 of this Circular;

b) Organizing admissions and training outside the permitted location for master's degree and doctoral degree training;

c) Not meeting the accreditation standards for the registered training field as prescribed by the Ministry of Education and Training;

d) Violating education laws and being administratively punished to the extent that requires suspension of admissions;

e) Failing to comply with Clause 1 of Article 12 of this Circular;

f) Other cases as prescribed by law.

2. Suspension of admissions

a) When discovering that the training institution has violated one of the situations prescribed in Clause 1 of this Article, the Ministry of Education and Training will organize inspections to assess the extent of the violation;

b) Based on the extent of the violation by the training institution, the Minister of Education and Training will issue a decision to suspend admissions for the training field;

c) The minimum duration of suspension of admissions is twelve months and the maximum is twenty-four months;

d) The decision to suspend admissions for master's degree and doctoral degree training fields must clearly specify the reasons for suspending admissions, the duration of suspension, specific measures to ensure the rights of students and lecturers; and publish it on the Ministry of Education and Training's electronic information website.

3. After the suspension period, if the cause leading to the suspension of admissions has been resolved and still meets the conditions in Article 2 or Article 3 of this Circular, the Minister of Education and Training will decide to allow the training institution to resume admissions.

Article 9. Revocation of Decision to Open Master's and Doctoral Programs master's degree, doctoral degree

Clause 1. An educational institution shall have its decision to open master's and doctoral programs revoked by the Ministry of Education and Training if it commits any of the following acts:

Point a) Engaging in fraudulent behavior to obtain permission to open master's and doctoral programs;

b) It seriously violates regulations on admissions, management, and organization of training;

c) It fails to resolve the cause leading to the suspension after the suspension period;

Point d) Violating education laws and regulations to such an extent that administrative penalties must include revoking the decision to open the program;

đ) Other cases as prescribed by law.

Clause 2. The decision to revoke the authorization to train must clearly specify the reasons for revocation, specific measures to ensure the rights and interests of students, research fellows, and lecturers, and be publicly announced on the Ministry of Education and Training’s electronic information website.

Article 10. Responsibilities of Educational Institutions, Examination Boards, and Units with Invited Lecturers and Staff Members Participating in Examination Boards

Clause 1. The head of the educational institution has the responsibility to:

Point a) Ensure the authenticity and accuracy of the application dossier and confirmation of actual conditions meeting quality assurance requirements for opening master's and doctoral programs;

Point b) Provide complete information, documents, and evidence when requested by the examination board or competent authorities;

Point c) Be responsible for the quality assurance conditions for conducting master's and doctoral training activities at the institution;

Point d) Establish an examination board, organize the review of training programs and actual quality assurance conditions in accordance with regulations;

Point đ) Allocate funds and pay according to current regulations for the review of training programs and actual quality assurance conditions;

Point e) Educational institutions authorized to independently open programs under Clauses 3 and 4 of Article 4 shall submit their decisions to open programs and application dossiers as stipulated in Points b, c, and d of Clause 2 of Article 5 of this Circular to the Ministry of Education and Training for inspection and supervision purposes;

Point g) Organize internal inspections, audits, and handling of violations in accordance with the law (including the right to self-suspend admissions, self-revoke the decision to open programs by the university president and heads of institutions granted independent authority to open programs); be subject to management, inspection, and audit by the Ministry of Education and Training and competent authorities regarding the quality assurance conditions for master's and doctoral training at the institution. In cases where the institution violates regulations on opening training programs, the head of the institution and related individuals must bear disciplinary and other legal responsibilities as prescribed, depending on the severity of the violation.

Clause 2. The chairman and members of the examination board must conduct reviews of training programs and actual quality assurance conditions seriously, objectively, and truthfully, and be accountable for the authenticity and accuracy of the review results; be subject to inspection, audit, and oversight by the Ministry of Education and Training and competent authorities; if they violate review regulations, they must bear disciplinary and other legal responsibilities as prescribed, depending on the severity of the violation.

Clause 3. Units with invited lecturers and staff members participating in examination boards must create favorable conditions for these lecturers and staff members to participate in the examination board.

Article 11. Responsibilities of the Ministry of Education and Training

1. Organize the review of files and conditions for opening majors, decide to permit the opening of majors, suspend admissions, and revoke decisions on training master's and doctoral level programs of educational institutions in accordance with regulations.

2. Direct, guide, inspect, and audit the opening of master's and doctoral level training programs in accordance with current regulations, ensuring the quality of training.

3. In case of violation of regulations on permitting the opening of training majors, relevant officials and civil servants must bear disciplinary responsibility and other legal responsibilities as stipulated, depending on the extent of the violation.

Article 12. Transitional Provisions

1. For majors in master's and doctoral level training permitted before this Circular takes effect, within 24 months from the date this Circular takes effect, educational institutions must review and supplement to ensure compliance with the conditions set forth in Clause 2, Clause 3, and Point b, Clause 4, Article 2 (for master's level training majors) and Clause 2, Clause 3, and Point b, Clause 4, Article 3 (for doctoral level training majors) of this Circular; report to the Ministry of Education and Training.

2. In cases where an educational institution does not admit students for five consecutive years for master's level training or eight consecutive years for doctoral level training, if it wishes to resume admissions and organize training again, it must re-register to open the major according to the provisions of this Circular.

3. For new training majors not included in the Training Catalogue, after two graduating classes, the educational institution must organize an evaluation of the training program, quality, and effectiveness of training, employment of graduates, and opinions of employers regarding the training program and human resource needs to serve as the basis for requesting the Ministry of Education and Training to include the name of the new major in the Training Catalogue.

Article 13. Effective Date

This Circular takes effect from the date of... month... year 2017; replacing Circular No. 38/2010/TT-BGDĐT dated October 22, 2010, issued by the Minister of Education and Training, regulating conditions, file requirements, procedures for permitting training, suspending admissions, and revoking decisions to permit training for master's and doctoral level majors.

Article 14. Implementation

The Director of the Office, the Head of the Higher Education Department, Heads of units related to the Ministry of Education and Training; universities, academies, colleges; research institutes permitted to train at the doctoral level; organizations and individuals related to this matter are responsible for implementing this Circular./.