Decision No. 18/2017/QD-TTg on linking between intermediate level, college level, and university level education

Pursuant to …;

Regulations on linking associate degree,

college degree with bachelor's degree

||| Pursuant to the Law on Organization of the Government dated June 19, 2015;

Pursuant to the Higher Education Law on June 18, 2012;

Pursuant to the Law on Vocational Education dated November 27, 2014;

At the proposal of the Minister of Education and Training;

The Prime Minister issues this Decision to regulate linking associate degree, college degree with bachelor's degree. 

DECISION: 

Article 1. Scope of Regulation and Applicability

1. This Decision regulates regular and part-time linking education between associate degree, college degree with bachelor's degree, including: conditions for organizing linking admissions; authority to decide, report and publicize linking admissions; conditions for candidates applying for linking; admission quotas for linking; linking admissions; training programs and organization of linking education; inspection, supervision, and handling violations; transitional provisions and implementation clauses.

2. This Decision applies to national universities, regional universities, academies, universities, including member universities of national universities and regional universities (hereinafter referred to collectively as higher education institutions); secondary vocational schools, colleges; organizations and individuals related to the matter.

Article 2. Conditions for Organizing Linking Admissions

Higher education institutions meeting the following conditions may organize linking admissions between associate degree, college degree with bachelor's degree:

1. For the intended linking majors:

a) The higher education institution has a decision to open a bachelor's degree major in regular form;

b) The higher education institution has been and is implementing a credit-based bachelor's degree training program continuously for at least three consecutive years when deciding to conduct regular linking admissions.

For linking arts majors, the higher education institution has been and is implementing a credit-based or annual system bachelor's degree training program continuously for at least three consecutive years when deciding to conduct regular linking admissions.

For linking health majors, the higher education institution must also ensure that there is at least one graduating class of bachelor's degree students in regular form.

2. The higher education institution has issued regulations on recognizing the transferable value of learning outcomes and accumulated knowledge and skills of exempted learners in the linking training program and publicly disclosed them on the higher education institution’s website.

Article 3. Authority to Decide, Report and Publicize Linking Admissions

1. Authority to Decide Linking Admissions

The head of the higher education institution has the authority to issue a decision on linking admissions between associate degree, college degree with bachelor's degree when fully meeting the conditions stipulated in Article 2 of this Decision. The linking admission decision must clearly state the name of the major, the level and form of linking education, the target group and the form of admission.

2. Reporting and Publicizing Decisions on Linking Admissions

Within three working days from the date of issuing the decision on linking admissions, the higher education institution must directly send or mail a copy of the report to the Ministry of Education and Training, and simultaneously disclose on its website the following contents:

a) The higher education institution's decision on linking admissions;

b) Copies of decisions made by the higher education institution or competent authorities:

- The decision to open a bachelor's degree major in regular form for the intended linking major;

- The decision to implement a credit-based bachelor's degree training program for the intended linking major and the decision on successful candidates of the credit-based bachelor's degree training program for three consecutive years for the higher education institution deciding to conduct regular linking admissions;

- The decision to implement a bachelor's degree training program for the intended linking major and the decision on successful candidates of the regular bachelor's degree training program for three consecutive years for the higher education institution deciding to conduct regular linking admissions for arts majors;

- The decision to recognize graduates of one class organized to implement a regular bachelor's degree training program, for health linking;

- The decision to issue regulations on recognizing the transferable value of learning outcomes and accumulated knowledge and skills of exempted learners when implementing the linking training program (accompanied by the website address of the higher education institution).

Article 4. Conditions for candidates applying for concurrent education programs

1. Graduates of vocational secondary or college level can continue with higher education programs at the bachelor's level in a relevant major or another major if they meet the conditions set forth in the training program.

2. Candidates applying for concurrent education must satisfy the current regulations on university admissions issued by the Ministry of Education and Training and hold one of the following diplomas:

a) A diploma of vocational secondary or college level issued by domestic educational institutions. Holders of vocational secondary diplomas must have completed and passed the required amount of general knowledge equivalent to high school education as stipulated by the Ministry of Education and Training;

b) A diploma of vocational secondary or college level issued by foreign educational institutions must be recognized according to the regulations of the Ministry of Education and Training or the Ministry of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs;

c) For concurrent education in health-related fields, applicants must hold a diploma of vocational secondary or college level in health-related fields, wherein holders of a Medical Assistant diploma may apply for concurrent education at the bachelor’s level in General Medicine, Traditional Medicine, Preventive Medicine, and Dentistry; those holding a vocational secondary or college diploma in Pharmacy may apply for concurrent education at the bachelor’s level in Pharmacy.

Article 5. Admissions Quotas for Concurrent Education Programs

1. The quotas for regular concurrent education admissions and part-time concurrent education admissions are included in the annual total quotas determined for each field of study at higher education institutions, where the quotas for regular concurrent education admissions and part-time concurrent education admissions shall not exceed 20% of the regular admissions quotas and part-time admissions quotas respectively for each field of study.

In special cases requiring concurrent education to fulfill national socio-economic development tasks and ensure national security and defense, the Ministry of Education and Training will compile and report.

2. Higher education institutions must publicly announce the quotas for concurrent education admissions by field of study, target groups, and admission forms, as well as the forms of concurrent education on their official websites and mass media at least 30 days before accepting applications for concurrent education admissions.

Article 6. Concurrent Education Admissions

1. Admissions between vocational secondary and college levels and bachelor's level are conducted through examination-based admissions, assessment-based admissions, or a combination of both, decided by the head of the higher education institution in accordance with the current regulations on university admissions issued by the Ministry of Education and Training.

2. Individuals holding a vocational secondary diploma who apply for bachelor's level admissions are eligible to participate in the annual university admissions alongside high school graduates at the higher education institution.

3. Individuals holding a college diploma who apply for bachelor's level admissions are eligible to participate in concurrent education admissions through the following methods decided by the head of the higher education institution:

a) Participate in the annual university admissions alongside high school graduates at the higher education institution;

b) Take a separate concurrent education admissions examination organized by the higher education institution, which includes basic subjects, foundational subjects, specialized subjects, or practical subjects. The organization of admissions, assessments, and the summoning of successful candidates are carried out in accordance with the current regulations on university admissions issued by the Ministry of Education and Training.

For concurrent education in health-related fields, only separate concurrent education admissions examinations are applied to individuals who already have a professional practice certificate and meet the minimum quality threshold, with each subject score needing to reach five points or above on a ten-point scale.

Article 7. Training Programs and Organization of Concurrent Training Programs

1. The concurrent training program for bachelor's degree in regular form is the current regular bachelor's degree training program applied at higher education institutions. The concurrent training program for bachelor's degree in part-time form is the current part-time bachelor's degree training program applied at higher education institutions.

2. Based on the provisions of Clause 2, Article 2 of this Decision, the head of the higher education institution shall be responsible for organizing and implementing the recognition of the value of transferred learning outcomes and exempted knowledge and skills when studying the concurrent training program for each learner, based on comparing and contrasting the output standards, training program contents, study load, assessment methods, and learning outcomes of learners from the intermediate vocational or college level training programs with the current bachelor's degree training programs of the higher education institution.

Higher education institutions must publicly announce the criteria, procedures, and results of recognizing the value of transferred learning outcomes and exempted knowledge and skills when studying the concurrent training program for each learner on the higher education institution’s website before organizing the training.

3. Learners in the concurrent training program for bachelor's degree in regular form can attend credit courses in the training program alongside regular students, and learners in the concurrent training program for bachelor's degree in part-time form can attend course contents alongside part-time students. The organization of training and issuance of graduation certificates shall be carried out according to the current regulations on bachelor's degree training of the Ministry of Education and Training.

4. For health-related fields, concurrent training in part-time form shall not be organized for the fields of General Medicine, Traditional Medicine, Preventive Medicine, Dentistry, and Pharmacy.

Article 8. Inspection, Supervision, and Handling Violations

1. Inspection and Supervision

The Ministry of Education and Training and other state management agencies shall perform their inspection and supervision functions according to the law regarding activities of concurrent training between intermediate vocational and college levels and bachelor's degree.

2. Disciplinary Actions

Administrative violations in concurrent training between intermediate vocational and college levels and bachelor's degree shall be handled according to the current regulations on administrative penalties in the field of education issued by the Government.

Article 9. Transitional Provisions

1. For recruitment sessions for concurrent training between intermediate vocational and college levels and bachelor's degree prior to the effective date of this Decision, educational institutions shall implement concurrent training according to the regulations on concurrent training of intermediate vocational and bachelor's degree of the Ministry of Education and Training.

2. For recruitment sessions for concurrent training between intermediate vocational and college levels and bachelor's degree after the effective date of this Decision, the provisions of this Decision shall apply.

Article 10. Provisions on implementation

1. This Decision takes effect from July 15, 2017.

2. This Decision abolishes Circular No. 55/2012/TT-BGDĐT dated December 25, 2012, and Circular No. 08/2015/TT-BGDĐT dated April 21, 2015, amending and supplementing Circular No. 55/2012/TT-BGDĐT dated December 25, 2012, of the Ministry of Education and Training on concurrent training of intermediate vocational and bachelor's degree, and other relevant regulations of ministries and sectors on concurrent bachelor's degree training.

3. The Minister of Education and Training, the Minister of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs, ministers and heads of ministerial-level agencies, heads of agencies under the Government, Chairmen of People's Committees of provinces and centrally-run cities, higher education institutions, vocational education institutions, and related organizations and individuals are responsible for implementing this Decision./.