Circular No. 18/2017/TT-BGDĐT stipulates the conditions, content, and form of the examination for promotion to higher ranks in teaching positions at public higher education institutions.

CIRCULAR

Regulations on conditions, content, and form of examinations for promotion to teaching positions in public higher education institutions

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Pursuant to the Civil Servant Law No. 58/2010/QH12 dated November 15, 2010;

Pursuant to Decree No. 29/2012/NĐ-CP dated April 12, 2012 of the Government on recruitment, utilization, and management of civil servants;

Pursuant to Decree No. 69/2017/NĐ-CP dated May 25, 2017 of the Government stipulating the functions, tasks, powers, and organizational structure of the Ministry of Education and Training;

After receiving the unified opinion of the Ministry of Home Affairs in Circular No. 2785/BNV-CCVC dated May 26, 2017 regarding the draft Circular on regulations on conditions, content, and form of examinations for promotion to teaching positions in public higher education institutions;

the Director the proposal of The Director of the Teacher and Educational Management Staff Department,

The Minister of Education and Training issues this Circular on regulations on conditions, content, and form of examinations for promotion to teaching positions in public higher education institutions.

PART I

GENERAL PROVISIONS

Article 1. Scope of Regulation and Applicability

1. This Circular stipulates the conditions, content, and form of examinations for promotion from lecturer (Class III) to associate professor (Class II) and from associate professor (Class II) to full professor (Class I) in public higher education institutions.

2. This Circular applies to teaching staff in public higher education institutions participating in examinations for promotion to teaching positions; related organizations and individuals.

For teaching staff in public teacher training colleges, the provisions of this Circular shall apply to their participation in examinations for promotion to teaching positions.

Article 2. Principles of examination for promotion

1. The selection of teaching staff to participate in examinations for promotion to teaching positions is based on job positions, occupational title structure, and the needs of public higher education institutions.

2. The organization of examinations for promotion to teaching positions must be equal, transparent, fair, objective, and in accordance with the law.

Article 3. Conditions for participation in examinations

Teaching staff who are selected to participate in examinations for promotion to teaching positions must meet the following conditions:

1. Public higher education institutions have a need and are authorized to send them to participate in the examinations.

2. They hold the position of lecturer (Class III), code V.07.01.03 for those applying for promotion to associate professor (Class II), code V.07.01.02; they hold the position of associate professor (Class II), code V.07.01.02 for those applying for promotion to full professor (Class I), code V.07.01.01.

3. They are evaluated by the head of the public higher education institution as having sufficient moral and professional ethics, performing well in their duties for a continuous period of three years up to the deadline for submitting examination registration forms, and not being in a disciplinary action period or having been notified about potential disciplinary actions according to the law.

4. They meet the standards of the occupational title level they are applying for as prescribed in Joint Circular No. 36/2014/TTLT-BGDĐT-BNV dated November 28, 2014 of the Ministry of Education and Training and the Ministry of Home Affairs on the codes and standards of teaching positions for teaching staff in public higher education institutions.

Article 4. Exemption from foreign language examination in promotion examinations

1. Exemption from foreign language examination for teaching staff falling under any of the following cases:

a) Having studied or researched abroad full-time and obtained a bachelor's, master's, or doctoral degree from a foreign educational institution using one of the languages English, Russian, French, German, or Chinese in their studies; the degree has been recognized by the competent authority according to current regulations.

b) Already holding a second bachelor's degree in one of the languages English, French, Russian, German, or Chinese.

c) Already holding a Foreign Language Level 3 certificate according to the 6-level Vietnamese Foreign Language Proficiency Framework (B1 according to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages) or an international English language certificate such as TOEFL PBT 450 points, TOEFL CBT 133 points, TOEFL iBT 45 points, IELTS 4.5 points or higher for promotion from lecturer (Class III) to associate professor (Class II); a Foreign Language Level 4 certificate according to the 6-level Vietnamese Foreign Language Proficiency Framework (B2 according to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages) or an international English language certificate such as TOEFL PBT 500 points, TOEFL CBT 173 points, TOEFL iBT 61 points, IELTS 5.5 points or higher for promotion from associate professor (Class II) to full professor (Class I).

The foreign language certificates mentioned in this point remain valid for two years (24 months) from the date of the deadline for submitting examination registration forms.

2. For lecturers specializing in foreign languages, the exemption from foreign language examination provisions in Clause 1 of this Article must be in a language different from the foreign language they are currently teaching.

Article 5. Exemption from computer science examination in promotion examinations

 Exemption from computer science examination for teaching staff who have graduated from a secondary level or higher in computer science or information technology.

Chapter II

CONTENT AND FORM OF EXAMINATIONS FOR PROMOTION FROM LECTURER (CLASS III) TO ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR (CLASS II)

Article 6. General Knowledge Exam

1. Competition Content:

a) The Party's guidelines, policies, and laws of the State on education and training in general and higher education in particular;

b) International trends, strategies, and policies for developing higher education in Vietnam;

c) Policies and state management of higher education;

d) Issues related to the reform of higher education management and school governance;

đ) Views and strategic orientations for the development of fields or specialized training programs of the institution;

e) Laws on civil servants that are consistent with the standard occupational title of associate professor (Class II);

g) The volume of knowledge in the exam and the content of the exam on the field of education and training is 70%, and on civil servant laws is 30%;

2. Examination format: Essay.

3. Examination time: 180 minutes.

Article 7. Professional Knowledge and Skills Exam

1. Examination content: Civil servants participating in the examination present a comprehensive report on their teaching and scientific research results from the time they were appointed to their current position until the registration date for the examination, discussing issues related to their professional field.

2. Examination format: Presentation and direct interview.

3. Examination time for presentation and interview: 30 minutes/person.

Article 8. Foreign Language Exam

1. Examination content: Reading comprehension and writing skills at level 3 (B1) according to the standard occupational title of associate professor (Class II), which civil servants choose one of the following foreign languages: English, French, Russian, German, Chinese.

In case of lecturers specializing in foreign languages, they must take the second foreign language exam at level 3 (B1) according to the standard occupational title of associate professor (Class II).

2. Examination format: Writing.

3. Examination time: 90 minutes.

Article 9. Computer Science Exam

1. Examination content: Basic information technology usage skills according to the standard occupational title of associate professor (Class II).

2. Examination format: Multiple choice or practical work on a computer.

3. Examination time: 45 minutes.

Chapter III

CONTENT AND FORM OF THE EXAMINATION FOR PROMOTION TO SENIOR PROFESSOR (CLASS I) FROM ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR (CLASS II)

Article 10. General Knowledge Exam

1. Competition Content:

a) The Party's guidelines, policies, and laws of the State on education and training in general and higher education in particular;

b) International trends, strategies, and policies for developing higher education in Vietnam;

c) Policies and state management of higher education;

d) Issues related to the reform of higher education management and school governance;

đ) Views and strategic orientations for the development of fields or specialized training programs of the institution;

e) Laws on civil servants that are consistent with the standard occupational title of senior professor (Class I);

g) The volume of knowledge in the exam and the content of the exam on the field of education and training is 70%, and on civil servant laws is 30%;

2. Examination format: Essay.

3. Examination time: 180 minutes.

Article 11. Professional Knowledge and Skills Exam

1. Examination content: Civil servants participating in the examination present a comprehensive report on their teaching and scientific research results from the time they were appointed to their current position until the registration date for the examination, discussing issues related to their professional field.

2. Examination format: Presentation and direct interview.

3. Examination time for presentation and interview: 30 minutes/person.

Article 12. Foreign Language Exam

1. Examination content: Reading comprehension, writing, listening, and speaking (conversation) skills at level 4 (B2) according to the standard occupational title of senior professor (Class I), which civil servants choose one of the following foreign languages: English, French, Russian, German, Chinese.

In case of lecturers specializing in foreign languages, they must take the second foreign language exam at level 4 (B2) according to the standard occupational title of senior professor (Class I).

2. Examination format: Writing and interview (conversation).

3. Examination time: Writing 90 minutes and interview (conversation) 15 minutes.

Article 13. Computer Science Exam

1. Examination content: Basic information technology usage skills according to the standard occupational title of senior professor (Class I).

2. Examination format: Multiple choice or practical work on a computer.

3. Examination time: 45 minutes.

Chapter IV

IMPLEMENTATION

Article 14. Implementation Provisions

1. The Minister, Head of a ministry-level agency, Head of an agency under the Government, Chairman of the People's Committee of a province or centrally governed city, and Heads of higher education institutions shall, based on the conditions stipulated in this Circular within their respective authority, appoint civil servants to participate in the examination for promotion to occupational titles and be responsible for the standards and conditions of civil servants participating in the examination for promotion to occupational titles.

2. Civil servants teaching in public higher education institutions who participate in the examination for promotion to occupational titles organized before December 31, 2018, are not required to have a certificate of training according to the standard occupational title. Within 12 months from the date of announcing the examination results, the competent authority managing and using civil servants must have the responsibility to appoint civil servants who have participated in the examination for promotion to occupational titles of teaching staff in public higher education institutions to attend a training course to complete the standards of the occupational title they are applying for. In cases where civil servants are appointed to attend a training course to complete the standards of the occupational title they are applying for but do not participate in the course or fail to meet the requirements of the course, the competent authority will not appoint them to the occupational title they won in the examination for promotion and will not retain the results of the examination they participated in.

Article 15. Effective Date

1. This Circular takes effect from September 5, 2017.

2. Decision No. 44/1999/QĐ-BGD&ĐT dated December 29, 1999 of the Minister of Education and Training on the issuance of regulations on the content and form of the examination for promotion from lecturer to associate professor in universities and colleges ceases to be effective from the date this Circular takes effect.

During implementation, if there are any difficulties, please reflect them to the Ministry of Education and Training for consideration and resolution./.