Circular No. 12/2017/TT-BLDTBXH stipulates the minimum amount of knowledge and competency requirements that students must achieve upon graduation from secondary vocational education and college-level programs.

CIRCULAR

Regulations on the minimum amount of knowledge and requirements for skills that students must achieve upon graduation at the intermediate level and higher education level

achieved upon graduation at the level ofintermediate level and higher education level

Pursuant to the Law on Legislative Issuance of Legal Normative Documents dated June 22, 2015;

Based on Decree No. 15/2019/NĐ-CP dated February 1, 2019 of the Government detailing certain provisions and implementation measures of the Vocational Education Law;

Pursuant to Decree No. 14/2017/NĐ-CP dated February 17, 2017, of the Government, stipulating the functions, tasks, powers, and organizational structure of the Ministry of Labor, Invalids, and Social Affairs;

Pursuant to Decree No. 48/2015/NĐ-CP dated May 15, 2015 of the Government detailing certain provisions of the Law on Vocational Education;

Pursuant to Decision No. 1982/QD-TTg dated October 18, 2016 of the Prime Minister approving the National Qualifications Framework of Vietnam;

At the proposal of the Director General of the Vocational Education Department,

The Minister of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs issues this Circular regulating the minimum amount of knowledge and requirements for skills that students must achieve upon graduation at the intermediate level and higher education level minimum volume of knowledge and competence requirements that the student achieves upon graduation at the level of intermediate level and higher education level.

PART I

GENERAL PROVISIONS

Article 1. Scope of Regulation

This Circular regulates the minimum amount of knowledge and requirements for skills that students must achieve upon graduation for training at the intermediate level and higher education level in vocational education.

Article 2. Applicability

This Circular applies to colleges, intermediate schools, and other institutions registered to operate vocational education at the intermediate level and higher education level (hereinafter referred to as "School").

Article 3. Explanation of Terms

In this Circular, the following terms are understood as follows:

1. Competence Achieved by Learners Upon Graduation For each level of vocational education training, it refers to the number of courses, modules, or credits specified in the training program that students must complete when finishing the training program according to each profession and each level of vocational education.

2. Self-Management Capabilities and Responsibility It refers to knowledge, skills, attitudes, occupational responsibilities, and work capabilities of individuals based on applying knowledge, skills, and responsibilities in solving tasks corresponding to the level and profession of training.

3. MINIMUM VOLUME OF KNOWLEDGE AND REQUIREMENTS FOR COMPETENCE THAT LEARNERS ACHIEVE UPON GRADUATION AT THE SECONDARY VOCATIONAL LEVEL AND COLLEGE LEVEL IN TEACHER TRAINING PROGRAMS is the ability to apply knowledge and skills acquired in organizing and performing a task and the individual's responsibility towards the group and the community.

Chapter II

MINIMUM AMOUNT OF KNOWLEDGE AND REQUIREMENTS FOR SKILLS

THAT THE STUDENT ACHIEVES UPON GRADUATION AT THE LEVEL OF

THAT STUDENTS MUST ACHIEVE UPON GRADUATION AT THE INTERMEDIATE LEVEL AND HIGHER EDUCATION LEVEL

Article 4. Minimum amount of knowledge for the intermediate level and higher education level

1. Intermediate level

a) The minimum amount of knowledge for the intermediate level is 35 credits for those with a high school diploma, and 50 credits for those with a junior high school diploma, with a study period of 1 to 2 years depending on the profession or field of training.

b) The theoretical and practical skill volume must ensure a ratio of: theory accounting for 25% to 45%, and practical for 55% to 75% depending on the profession or field of training.

2. College level

a) The minimum amount of knowledge for the higher education level is 60 credits, with a study period of 2 to 3 years depending on the profession or field of training.

b) The theoretical and practical skill volume must ensure a ratio of: theory accounting for 30% to 50%, and practical for 50% to 70% depending on the profession or field of training.

Article 5. Requirements for skills that students must achieve upon graduation at the intermediate level and higher education level

1. Intermediate level training requires graduates to be able to perform some complex tasks in their profession or field; have the ability to apply technology and techniques to work, work independently or in groups, specifically:

a) Knowledge:

- Practical and theoretical knowledge relatively broad within the scope of the profession or field of training;

- Basic knowledge about politics, culture, society, and law meeting the requirements of professional work and social activities in the relevant field;

- Information technology knowledge meeting the requirements of work.

b) Skills:

- Cognitive skills, professional skills to perform tasks, solve problems by selecting and applying basic methods, tools, materials, and information;

- Ability to use specialized terms of the profession or field of training effectively in workplace communication; critique and use alternative solutions; evaluate the quality of work and the results of group members;

- Possess foreign language proficiency level 1/6 of the Vietnamese Foreign Language Proficiency Framework.

c) Self-management and responsibility:

- Work independently under changing working conditions, take personal responsibility and partial responsibility for the group;

- Guide and supervise others to perform predetermined tasks;

- Evaluate the activities of the group and the results achieved.

2. Higher education level training requires graduates to have the ability to perform tasks at the intermediate level and handle more complex tasks in their profession or field; have the ability to innovate, apply modern technology and techniques to work, guide and supervise others in the group to perform tasks, specifically:

a) Knowledge:

- Broad practical and theoretical knowledge within the scope of the profession or field of training;

- Basic knowledge about politics, culture, society, and law meeting the requirements of professional work and social activities in the relevant field;

- Information technology knowledge meeting the requirements of work;

- Practical knowledge about management, principles, and methods of planning, organizing implementation, supervising, and evaluating processes within the scope of the profession or field of training.

b) Skills:

- Cognitive and creative thinking skills to identify, analyze, and evaluate information within a wide range;

- Professional skills to resolve most complex tasks within the scope of the profession or field of training;

- Effective communication skills to convey information, ideas, and solutions to others at the workplace;

- Possess foreign language proficiency level 2/6 of the Vietnamese Foreign Language Proficiency Framework.

c) Self-management and responsibility:

- Work independently or in groups, solve complex tasks under changing working conditions;

- Guide and supervise others to perform assigned tasks; take personal responsibility and responsibility for the group;

- Evaluate the quality of work after completion and the results of group members.

Chapter III

DEVELOPMENT AND ISSUANCE OF REGULATIONS ON THE MINIMUM AMOUNT OF KNOWLEDGE

MINIMUM AND COMPETENCE REQUIREMENTS THAT THE STUDENT MUST

AND REQUIREMENTS FOR SKILLS THAT STUDENTS MUST

ACHIEVE UPON GRADUATION AT THE INTERMEDIATE LEVEL AND HIGHER EDUCATION LEVEL ACCORDING TO EACH PROFESSION OR FIELD OF TRAINING

Article 6. Objectives for establishing the minimum knowledge volume and competency requirements that students must achieve upon graduation at the intermediate and higher vocational levels, categorized by each training field and profession.

1. Establishing and promulgating the minimum knowledge volume and competency requirements that students must achieve upon graduation at the intermediate and higher vocational levels, categorized by each training field and profession, to be made public to society, students, and employers, thereby informing them about occupational competency standards, specialized knowledge, practical skills, cognitive abilities, problem-solving capabilities, and job types that graduates can undertake after graduation at each level and profession.

2. Strengthening cooperative relationships and integration between schools and businesses in training and utilizing labor, meeting the needs of businesses and the labor market.

3. Serving as a basis for schools to develop, revise, and supplement training programs in accordance with the minimum knowledge volume and competency requirements that students must achieve upon graduation at the intermediate and higher vocational levels, categorized by each training field and profession.

Based on the objectives and specialized requirements of each training field and profession; based on practical training experiences, specific conditions of regions, and research and reference to foreign experiences to ensure the minimum knowledge volume and competency requirements that students must achieve upon graduation have scientific, practical value, and can be implemented in reality. The minimum knowledge volume and competency requirements that students must achieve upon graduation at the intermediate and higher vocational levels, categorized by each training field and profession, include the following contents:

1. Name of the training field and profession.

2. Level of training.

3. Requirements for knowledge: basic political, cultural, social, and legal knowledge; specialized knowledge of the training field and profession.

4. Requirements for skills.

- Hard skills: professional skills, occupational practice capabilities, situation handling skills, problem-solving skills.

- Soft skills: communication skills, teamwork skills, independent work skills, foreign language and computer usage skills.

5. Requirements for self-management and responsibility.

- Moral qualities, professional awareness, civic responsibility;

- Responsibility, ethics, professional conduct, service attitude;

- Ability to update knowledge and creativity in work.

6. Job positions for graduates after graduation.

7. Learning capacity and capability enhancement after graduation.

8. Programs, materials, and international standards referenced.

1. Preparation.

a) The General Department of Vocational Education issues a Decision to establish the Steering Committee for building the minimum knowledge volume and competency requirements that students must achieve upon graduation at the intermediate and higher vocational levels, categorized by each training field and profession (hereinafter referred to as the Steering Committee).

b) Organizing training sessions on methods and procedures for building the requirements for the Steering Committee.

2. The Steering Committee organizes the implementation of building the minimum knowledge volume and competency requirements that students must achieve upon graduation at the intermediate and higher vocational levels, categorized by each training field and profession, through the following steps:

a) Developing an overall plan, detailed plan, and schedule for implementation.

b) Studying and conducting surveys on: occupational standards at enterprises; skill levels, job positions, and titles within enterprises; the national skill standard system.

c) Organizing the compilation of objectives, structure, and content of the minimum knowledge volume and competency requirements that students must achieve upon graduation at the intermediate and higher vocational levels, categorized by each training field and profession assigned (model specified in the attached Appendix). (as prescribed in the Appendix attached hereto).

d) Organizing seminars to collect feedback from managers, scientists, experts, lecturers, teachers, and employers to perfect the draft content.

đ) Sending the draft for comments from employers, enterprises, specialized managers, and training managers.

e) Revising and editing the draft content comprehensively based on collected and analyzed feedback.

3. The General Department of Vocational Education implements guidance, inspection, and supervision during the organization of building the minimum knowledge volume and competency requirements that students must achieve upon graduation at the intermediate and higher vocational levels, categorized by each training field and profession.

4. Organizing the review of the minimum knowledge volume and competency requirements that students must achieve upon graduation at the intermediate and higher vocational levels, categorized by each training field and profession.

5. The Minister of Labor, Invalids, and Social Affairs promulgates a Decision stipulating the minimum knowledge volume and competency requirements that students must achieve upon graduation at the intermediate and higher vocational levels, categorized by each training field and profession, for nationwide application.

1. Preparation.

a) The Minister of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs issues a decision to establish the Review Board for the Minimum Volume of Knowledge and Competency Requirements that Students Must Achieve Upon Graduation from Intermediate and Higher Vocational Education Levels by Profession (hereinafter referred to as the Review Board).

b) The General Department of Vocational Education organizes training on methods and procedures for reviewing for the Review Board.

c) Members of the Review Board study the draft, prepare written comments and evaluations, and submit them to the Chairman of the Review Board.

d) The Chairman of the Review Board informs the Steering Committee about the time, place, and main contents of the review meeting.

2. Organization of Review

a) The Steering Committee reports on the results of the development.

b) Members of the Review Board comment and evaluate the draft.

c) The Steering Committee explains and incorporates the opinions of each member of the Review Board.

d) The Chairman of the Review Board summarizes and concludes on the draft.

e) The Chairman of the Review Board organizes voting to assess quality according to criteria and levels of assessment.

f) The Chairman of the Review Board concludes on the quality and proposes the next form of review (if necessary).

g) Record the Minutes of the Review Board Meeting.

h) Report the results of the review and submit for approval: Based on the completed draft by the Steering Committee and approved by the Review Board, the Chairman of the Review Board prepares a report requesting the Director-General of the General Department of Vocational Education to submit to the Minister of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs for consideration and issuance.

Article 10. Steering Committee

1. The Steering Committee is established by the Director-General of the General Department of Vocational Education based on proposals for members from relevant Ministries, sectors, agencies at the level of ministries, localities, enterprises, economic groups, joint-stock companies, and schools for each profession.

2. Number, Composition, and Structure of the Steering Committee

a) The number of members of the Steering Committee ranges from seven to nine, depending on the workload assigned.

b) The Steering Committee consists of: Chairperson, Deputy Chairperson, Secretary, and members.

c) The structure of the Steering Committee includes management staff with experience in the profession, teachers, lecturers, experts, and enterprise representatives.

3. Criteria for the Steering Committee

a) Hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

b) Have at least five years of direct teaching experience or work experience in the field of the profession.

c) Be reputable in the field of the profession.

4. Responsibilities and Authorities of the Steering Committee

a) Organize the development of the Minimum Volume of Knowledge and Competency Requirements that Students Must Achieve Upon Graduation from Intermediate and Higher Vocational Education Levels by Profession.

b) Take responsibility for organizing the development process independently.

c) Directly organize implementation or sign contracts with units to carry out development activities.

d) Be responsible for the content and quality of the assigned work; report to the Review Board and complete the draft; hand over the product to the General Department of Vocational Education after being evaluated by the Review Board and meeting the requirements for issuance.

Article 11. Appraisal Board

1. The Review Board is established by the Minister of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs based on proposals for members from relevant Ministries, sectors, agencies at the level of ministries, localities, enterprises, economic groups, joint-stock companies, and schools.

2. Number, Structure, and Composition of the Review Board

a) The Review Board has from seven to nine members, including: Chairman, Deputy Chairman, Secretary, and members.

b) The composition of the Review Board includes: vocational education management staff, teachers, lecturers, experts, experienced management staff in the profession, and enterprise representatives.

3. Qualification Standards for Members of the Review Board

a) Hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

b) Have at least five years of direct teaching experience or work experience in the field of the profession being reviewed.

c) Be reputable in the field of the profession being reviewed.

4. Functions, Duties, and Authorities of the Review Board

a) The Review Board is a professional advisory body assisting the Minister of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs in reviewing and taking responsibility for the profession being reviewed.

b) Comment and evaluate the Minimum Volume of Knowledge and Competency Requirements that Students Must Achieve Upon Graduation from Intermediate and Higher Vocational Education Levels by Profession assigned for review.

c) Organize review meetings.

d) Report the results of the review to the Director-General of the General Department of Vocational Education for submission to the Minister of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs for approval and issuance.

e) The review report file includes: individual comments and evaluation forms of each member of the Review Board; minutes of all Review Board meetings; reports on the organization and results of the review; a request for the Director-General of the General Department of Vocational Education to submit to the Minister of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs for approval.

5. Principles of Operation of the Review Board

a) The Review Board operates under the direction of its Chairman.

b) A session of the Review Board must have at least two-thirds of its total membership present, including the Chairman and Secretary.

c) The Review Board operates on the principle of democratic centralism; each member of the Review Board comments and evaluates the draft; listens to explanations from the Steering Committee; the Review Board organizes voting to assess; the Chairman of the Review Board concludes.

d) The Minutes of the Review Board meeting must be signed by all participating members.

Article 12. Conditions to ensure the minimum volume of knowledge and requirements for competence that students must achieve upon graduation from intermediate and college levels according to each field and profession.

1. On the basis of the minimum volume of knowledge and requirements for competence that students must achieve upon graduation from intermediate and college levels according to each field and profession which have been issued, schools shall consolidate and strengthen the conditions to ensure quality in accordance with the regulations; ensuring standards on: training programs, teaching materials; experimental, practical, internship facilities; teaching staff, teaching methods, examination and evaluation; cooperation between schools and enterprises and other social organizations.

2. At least once every three years, the minimum volume of knowledge and requirements for competence that students must achieve upon graduation from intermediate and college levels according to each field and profession must be reviewed, adjusted, and supplemented to meet practical needs, scientific and technological development, and labor market demands, as well as enterprise requirements.

Chapter IV

IMPLEMENTING PROVISIONS

Article 13. Responsibilities of the Ministry of Labor - Invalids and Social Affairs

1. To take the lead and coordinate with ministries, sectors, localities in directing the organization of building and issuing the minimum volume of knowledge and requirements for competence that students must achieve upon graduation from intermediate and college levels according to each field and profession; organizing inspections and audits of the implementation of regulations on the minimum volume of knowledge and requirements for competence at schools.

2. To direct the updating, amendment, and supplementation of the minimum volume of knowledge and requirements for competence that students must achieve upon graduation from intermediate and college levels according to each field and profession in line with changes in science and technology, production and service organizations of the labor market.

Article 14. Responsibilities of Ministries, agencies equivalent to ministries, government agencies, political-social organizations, and provincial-level People's Committees directly under the Central Government.

Coordinate with the Ministry of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs to organize the construction of the minimum volume of knowledge and requirements for competence that students must achieve upon graduation from intermediate and college levels according to each field and profession.

Direct subordinate schools to base on the minimum volume of knowledge and requirements for competence that students must achieve upon graduation from intermediate and college levels according to each field and profession to build, supplement, amend, and issue their own training programs.

Article 15. Responsibilities of Schools.

1. Based on the minimum volume of knowledge and requirements for competence that students must achieve upon graduation from intermediate and college levels according to each field and profession issued, organize the construction, supplementation, amendment, and approval of training programs and teaching materials for intermediate and college levels for each field and profession of the school.

2. Internally inspect, audit, and self-evaluate the implementation of regulations on the minimum volume of knowledge and requirements for competence that students achieve upon graduation for intermediate and college levels of the school.

Article 16. Effective Date

Article 1. This Circular takes effect from June 15, 2017.

2. Ministries, agencies equivalent to ministries, government agencies, provincial People's Committees directly under the Central Government, political-social organizations, the General Department of Vocational Education, Departments of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs, colleges, intermediate schools, and other entities registered for vocational education activities at intermediate and college levels are responsible for implementing this Circular./.