Circular No. 27/2018/TT-BLDTBXH on the regulations for issuing certification cards to quality inspectors in vocational education; procedures and cycles for quality inspection in vocational education

CIRCULAR

REGULATIONS ON THE RULES FOR GRADING AND ISSUING QUALITY EDUCATION AND TRAINING AUDITOR CARDS; PROCEDURES AND CYCLES FOR QUALITY AUDITS OF EDUCATION AND TRAINING

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

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 Vocational Education Law;

Pursuant to Decree No. 49/2018/NĐ-CP dated March 30, 2018 of the Government on quality audits of education and training;

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 rules for grading and issuing quality education and training auditor cards; procedures and cycles for quality audits of education and training,

PART I

GENERAL PROVISIONS

Article 1. Scope of Regulation

This Circular stipulates:

1. The rules for grading and issuing quality education and training auditor cards (hereinafter referred to as the rules) include the establishment of the Quality Education and Training Auditor Card Grading Council (hereinafter referred to as the Grading Council); notification of the organization of the quality education and training auditor card grading process (hereinafter referred to as the auditor card grading process) and those who meet the criteria to participate; form, content of the auditor card grading process; time to complete the test; announcement of scores; handling requests for re-examination; persons who meet the requirements after being graded; issuance of quality education and training auditor cards (hereinafter referred to as auditor cards) and other related contents concerning the organization of the auditor card grading process.

2. Procedures and cycles for quality audits of education and training.

Article 2. Applicability

1. This Circular applies to:

a) Vocational education centers, secondary vocational schools, colleges that have registered for vocational education activities (hereinafter referred to as vocational education institutions);

c) Quality audit organizations of education and training (hereinafter referred to as quality audit organizations);

d) Agencies, organizations, individuals related to the contents stipulated in Article 1 of this Circular.

2. This Circular does not apply to:

a) The implementation of quality audits of vocational education institutions for secondary teacher training schools, college teacher training schools, branch secondary teacher training schools, branch college teacher training schools;

b) The implementation of quality audits of training programs for groups of teacher training majors under the management authority of the Ministry of Education and Training.

Chapter II

RULES FOR GRADING AND ISSUING QUALITY EDUCATION AND TRAINING AUDITOR CARDS

Article 3. Establishment of the Quality Education and Training Auditor Card Grading Council and specialized teams

2. The Grading Council may establish specialized teams to carry out assigned tasks and powers. The number of specialized teams, the number of members, composition, functions, and tasks of the specialized teams shall be specified in detail by the Grading Council.

Article 4. Notification of the organization of the quality education and training auditor card grading process and those who meet the criteria to participate

1. The General Department of Vocational Education and Training notifies the organization of the auditor card grading process. The notification shall be posted at the workplace and published on the General Department of Vocational Education and Training's electronic information website.

2. The General Department of Vocational Education and Training receives and checks the application files and participation criteria for the auditor card grading process according to Article 13; Clause 2, 3 of Article 18 of Decree No. 49/2018/NĐ-CP dated March 30, 2018 of the Government on quality audits of education and training (hereinafter referred to as Decree No. 49/2018/NĐ-CP) and sends the list of eligible participants to the Grading Council.

3. At least five working days before the auditor card grading process, the Grading Council notifies those who meet the criteria to participate in the auditor card grading process.

Article 5. Form and Content of the Evaluation for Issuing the Quality Assurance Inspector Card for Vocational Education and Examination Time

1. The evaluation for issuing the inspector card shall be conducted through a written examination.

2. The evaluation for issuing the inspector card includes three parts: essay, multiple-choice questions, and practical work. The total score of the three parts is 100 points (on a scale of 100). Each part has one test paper with detailed answers and grading scales to serve the marking process.

3. The total time for completing the three parts is 180 minutes.

Article 6. Announcing Scores of Participants in the Evaluation for Issuing the Quality Assurance Inspector Card for Vocational Education

Within five working days from the date of completion of marking, the Evaluation Board will post the scores of participants in the evaluation for issuing the inspector card at its office premises and announce them on the electronic information page of the General Department of Vocational Education.

Article 7. Handling Requests for Re-examination

1. Within ten working days from the date of announcing the scores, the Evaluation Board will accept requests for re-examination.

2. Within five working days from the end of the period specified in Clause 1 of this Article, the Evaluation Board will handle requests for re-examination within its jurisdiction and notify the results.

Article 8. Individuals Meeting Requirements After Evaluation

After handling requests for re-examination (if any), the Evaluation Board will propose the Director-General of the General Department of Vocational Education to approve the list of individuals meeting the requirements. Those scoring 70 points or higher will be considered as meeting the requirements and will be eligible for issuance of the inspector card.

Article 9. Issuance of the Quality Assurance Inspector Card for Vocational Education

1. The issuance of the inspector card shall be carried out in accordance with Clause 4 of Article 18 of Decree No. 49/2018/NĐ-CP.

2. Individuals specified in Clause 2 of Article 25 of Decree No. 49/2018/NĐ-CP will be issued the inspector card by the Director-General of the General Department of Vocational Education upon submission of all required documents as stipulated in Points a, b, and d of Clause 2 of Article 18 of Decree No. 49/2018/NĐ-CP and they are exempted from participating in the evaluation for issuing the inspector card as prescribed in this Circular. The list of individuals receiving the inspector card will be announced on the electronic information page of the General Department of Vocational Education.

Chapter III

PROCEDURE AND CYCLE FOR QUALITY ASSURANCE OF VOCATIONAL EDUCATION

Section 1

PROCEDURE AND CYCLE FOR IMPLEMENTING QUALITY ASSURANCE OF VOCATIONAL EDUCATION

Article 10. Procedure for Quality Assurance of Vocational Education

The procedure for quality assurance of vocational education is implemented in the following steps:

1. Self-assessment of the quality of vocational education by vocational education institutions and vocational training institutions.

Vocational education institutions and vocational training institutions shall conduct self-assessment of the quality of vocational education in accordance with Section 2 of Chapter II of Circular No. 28/2017/TT-BLDTBXH dated December 15, 2017, which stipulates the quality assurance system of vocational education institutions, and Circular No. 15/2017/TT-BLDTBXH dated June 8, 2017, which stipulates criteria and standards for quality assurance of vocational education, both issued by the Minister of Labor, Invalids, and Social Affairs.

2. External assessment by the accreditation organization.

3. Recognition of external assessment results and issuance of certificates confirming compliance with quality assurance standards for vocational education.

Article 11. Cycle of Quality Assessment for Vocational Education

1. The cycle of quality assessment for vocational education is five years for vocational education institutions and training programs that meet the quality assessment standards for vocational education.

2. In cases where vocational education institutions have key fields and majors; key field and major training programs; vocational education institutions and training programs serving state management requirements must conduct quality assessments according to the provisions at point d, Clause 3, Article 65 of the Vocational Education Law No. 74/2014/QH13 dated November 27, 2014 but fail to meet the quality assessment standards for vocational education, they must re-conduct the quality assessment within three years.

Section 2

EXTERNAL ASSESSMENT BY THE QUALITY ASSESSMENT ORGANIZATION

Article 12. Steps of External Assessment

External assessment is carried out through the following steps:

1. Registering for external assessment.

2. Establishing the external assessment team.

3. Conducting on-site surveys by the external assessment team.

4. Preparing the external assessment dossier.

Article 13. Conditions for External Assessment

1. Conditions for external assessment of the quality of vocational education institutions:

a) Completing self-assessment of quality and having a report on self-assessment of quality of the vocational education institution;

b) All fields and majors of training have been granted certificates of registration for vocational education activities or have been permitted to train according to regulations by competent authorities;

c) At least 50% of the primary level training programs currently being implemented have had at least one graduating class when assessing the quality of the vocational education institution for vocational education centers;

d) At least 50% of the intermediate level training programs currently being implemented have had at least one graduating class of students when assessing the quality of the vocational education institution for intermediate-level schools;

e) At least 50% of the intermediate level training programs, and 50% of the college level training programs currently being implemented have had at least one graduating class of students when assessing the quality of the vocational education institution for college-level schools.

2. Conditions for external assessment of the quality of training programs:

a) Completing self-assessment of quality and having a report on self-assessment of quality of the training program;

b) The vocational education institution or vocational education activity organization has been granted a certificate of registration for vocational education activities by the competent authority for the fields and majors registered for quality assessment of the training program;

c) The training program has had at least one graduating class of students.

3. The quality assessment organization shall not conduct external assessment for vocational education institutions or vocational education activity organizations in which the quality assessment organization holds shares or stocks; it shall not conduct external assessment for vocational education institutions and training programs under the management authority of agencies or units with quality assessment organizations.

Article 14. Registration for External Assessment

Vocational education institutions and vocational education activity organizations meeting the conditions stipulated in Article 13 of this Circular register for external assessment with the quality assessment organization. The vocational education institution or vocational education activity organization (hereinafter referred to as the externally assessed entity) and the quality assessment organization proceed to negotiate a contract regarding the external assessment.

Article 15. Establishment of External Evaluation Teams

1. The number of members of the external evaluation team must be odd and meet the following requirements:

a) For quality assessment of vocational education institutions: The external evaluation team must have at least 5 (five) assessors;

b) For quality assessment of training programs: The external evaluation team must have 3 (three) or 5 (five) assessors.

2. The composition of the external evaluation team includes: Team leader, secretary, and other members of the team.

3. The external evaluation team must ensure:

a) For quality assessment of vocational education institutions, the external evaluation team must ensure that at least 70% of the training fields and occupations of the vocational education institution have assessors with relevant expertise;

b) For quality assessment of training programs, the external evaluation team must have at least 1 (one) assessor with relevant expertise in the training fields and occupations of the program being assessed;

c) An assessor with relevant expertise in the training fields and occupations is an assessor who has been trained in the relevant field or occupation (the training fields and occupations mentioned in this Circular are Level III Codes prescribed by the Minister of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs in the list of Level IV training fields and occupations for intermediate and higher vocational education); having at least five years of experience teaching modules or subjects in training programs within the relevant field or occupation, or having at least five years of experience in production, business, or service sectors related to the relevant field or occupation;

d) The quality assessment organization is responsible for selecting assessors with relevant expertise to join the external evaluation team based on their experience and training expertise;

đ) In cases where necessary, the quality assessment organization may mobilize experts with relevant expertise to participate in on-site surveys and provide advice to the external evaluation team. Experts participating in on-site surveys and providing advice to the external evaluation team (hereinafter referred to as experts) must meet the conditions and perform tasks and powers stipulated in Article 17 of this Circular.

4. Conditions for members of the external evaluation team are as follows:

a) Holding a valid vocational education quality assessor card;

d) Having a labor contract working for the quality assessment organization regarding participation in the external evaluation team for cases where the assessor is not a full-time employee under a labor contract or a minimum one-year contract for the quality assessment organization;

đ) Committing to agree to participate in the external evaluation team and committing not to violate any of the circumstances stipulated in Clause 5 of this Article and Article 18 of this Circular.

5. Cases where assessors are not allowed to participate in external evaluations at the evaluated institution:

a) Within a period of 05 years from the date of establishment of the external evaluation team, the assessor has worked or is currently studying at the evaluated institution;

b) Having capital contribution, shares, or during the year of conducting the external evaluation, implementing a self-assessment contract for vocational education quality with the evaluated institution;

c) Having parents, spouse, children, siblings, or blood relatives working at the evaluated institution.

6. The head of the quality assessment organization, which is a public service unit, or the general director or director of the quality assessment organization, which is a business enterprise (hereinafter referred to as the head of the quality assessment organization), issues a decision to establish the external evaluation team to conduct vocational education quality assessments. The content of the decision to establish the external evaluation team clearly states the composition of the external evaluation team, experts (if any), and the time for external evaluation.

7. Before issuing a decision to establish the external evaluation team, the quality assessment organization must seek opinions from the evaluated institution about the proposed members of the external evaluation team, experts (if any), preliminary survey time, and formal survey time of the external evaluation team.

a) After a period of 05 working days from the date of receipt of the list of proposed members of the external evaluation team and experts (if any), if the evaluated institution does not provide comments, it is considered to have agreed with the proposed list of the quality assessment organization;

b) If the evaluated institution provides evidence showing that the proposed members of the external evaluation team or experts violate any of the contents stipulated in Clauses 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6 of this Article, the evaluated institution has the right to request the quality assessment organization to change the proposed members of the external evaluation team but shall not suggest or propose individuals to join the external evaluation team.

8. In case a member of the external evaluation team cannot continue to participate in the team, the head of the quality assessment organization issues a decision to replace the member of the external evaluation team. The replacement member must fully meet the criteria of the position being replaced.

9. Within a period of 03 working days from the date of issuance of the decision to establish the external evaluation team, the decision to replace the member of the external evaluation team (if any), the quality assessment organization sends a copy of the decision via email, fax, or postal mail to the Vocational Education Training General Department and the Department of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs in the locality of the evaluated institution.

Article 16. Duties of the team leader, secretary, and other members of the external evaluation team

1. Adhere to legal regulations and bear legal responsibility for the quality assessment of vocational education when performing duties.

2. The team leader manages the activities of the external evaluation team; explains contents during the review process (if any) and is responsible for the team's reports. The team leader is responsible for assigning tasks, the practical survey plan of the external evaluation team, signing minutes and reports of the external evaluation team.

3. The secretary assists the team leader in implementing activities, compiling reports of the external evaluation team, carrying out other tasks assigned by the team leader, and bearing responsibility for the results of the assigned tasks.

4. Other members of the external evaluation team perform tasks assigned by the team leader and bear responsibility for the results of the assigned tasks.

Article 17. Conditions, duties, and authorities of experts participating in practical surveys and advising the external evaluation team

1. Conditions for experts participating in practical surveys and advising the external evaluation team are as follows:

a) Having expertise relevant to the training field or profession: Being an expert trained in the relevant training field or profession; having at least five years of experience teaching modules or subjects in the training program within the relevant field or profession, or having at least five years of experience in production, business, or services related to the relevant field or profession;

b) Having a labor contract working for the accreditation organization for participation in practical surveys and advising the external evaluation team in cases where the expert is not a full-time employee under a labor contract or a minimum one-year work contract with the accreditation organization;

c) Committing to participate in practical surveys and advising the external evaluation team and committing not to violate any of the cases stipulated in Clause 5, Article 15 and Article 18 of this Circular.

2. Duties and authorities of experts:

a) Conducting practical surveys together with the external evaluation team, advising the team on evaluating criteria and standards related to the assigned training field or profession according to their expertise; performing tasks assigned by the team leader and bearing responsibility for the results of the assigned tasks;

b) Experts may attend meetings of the external evaluation team; propose evaluations for criteria and standards related to the assigned training field or profession; have their opinions recorded in the report on the external evaluation process but do not have the right to vote on conclusions of the external evaluation team.

Article 18. Actions that members of the external evaluation team and experts participating in practical surveys and advising the external evaluation team must not undertake

1. Not providing information related to the work content and evaluation results of the external evaluation team without permission from the accreditation organization or the competent state management agency.

2. Not distorting the results of the quality assessment of vocational education.

3. In cases where members of the external evaluation team or experts violate Clause 1 or Clause 2 of this Article, they will be subject to penalties as prescribed in point b or point d, Clause 6, Article 25 of Decree No. 79/2015/NĐ-CP dated September 14, 2015 of the Government on administrative penalties in the field of vocational education.

Article 19. On-site Survey Activities of the External Evaluation Team

The on-site survey activities of the external evaluation team include:

1. Developing the work plan for the external evaluation team.

2. Studying the self-assessment report and related documents.

3. Conducting a preliminary on-site survey at the evaluated entity.

4. Conducting a formal on-site survey at the evaluated entity.

Article 20. Developing the Work Plan for the External Evaluation Team

1. The external evaluation team develops a work plan that ensures all activity contents and evaluation timeframes are covered; assigns specific tasks to each member of the external evaluation team.

2. The external evaluation team agrees with the evaluated entity and reports to the accreditation organization about the work plan of the external evaluation team at least five working days before the preliminary on-site survey.

Article 21. Studying the Self-Assessment Report and Related Documents

The external evaluation team studies the self-assessment report and related guiding documents and information, then compiles the contents needing clarification in the self-assessment report, additional information and evidence from the evaluated entity, and some relevant contents to prepare for the formal on-site survey.

Article 22. Preliminary On-Site Survey at the Evaluated Entity

1. Duration of the preliminary on-site survey: Within one working day.

2. Participants in the preliminary on-site survey: A maximum of two (2) members of the external evaluation team, including the team leader or secretary.

3. Contents of the preliminary on-site survey include: Announcing the results of studying the self-assessment report; reviewing and guiding the evaluated entity to prepare conditions for the formal on-site survey; agreeing on the detailed formal on-site survey plan of the external evaluation team at the evaluated entity.

Article 23. Formal On-Site Survey at the Evaluated Entity

1. Duration of the formal on-site survey of the external evaluation team:

a) For vocational education institution quality assessment: The minimum duration of the formal on-site survey of the external evaluation team is five (5) working days, the maximum is nine (9) working days, depending on the scale of the vocational education institution being assessed;

b) For training program quality assessment: The minimum duration of the formal on-site survey of the external evaluation team is three (3) working days, the maximum is five (5) working days, depending on the scale of the training program being assessed;

c) In cases where the evaluated entity has branch institutions/training facilities: During the formal on-site survey period of the external evaluation team, there must be at least two (2) members of the external evaluation team conducting surveys at branch institutions/training facilities.

2. Members of the external evaluation team must conduct the formal on-site survey at the evaluated entity according to the plan and ensure completion of assigned tasks. If the external evaluation team or the evaluated entity changes the formal on-site survey plan, they must notify the accreditation organization and obtain its approval before implementation.

3. Activities of the formal on-site survey of the external evaluation team:

a) Holding an internal meeting of the external evaluation team before working with the evaluated entity to review and agree on the formal on-site survey program; issues to note and related contents to the formal on-site survey;

b) Working with the Quality Self-Assessment Council, the unit responsible for writing the quality self-assessment report, and other units within the evaluated entity; surveying physical facilities; meeting, interviewing, and exchanging with representatives of management staff, teachers, students, and labor users related to collecting, checking, and confirming information and evidence from the evaluated entity;

c) Evaluating and determining the degree to which the evaluated entity meets each criterion and standard of vocational education quality assessment;

d) Drafting the external evaluation report. The draft external evaluation report must be approved by at least two-thirds of the members of the external evaluation team;

đ) Holding a final meeting of the formal on-site survey with the evaluated entity: The meeting content confirms the formal on-site survey process of the external evaluation team and all evidence provided by the evaluated entity. The meeting time is the last day of the formal on-site survey period.

Article 24. Establishment of External Evaluation Files

1. Within ten working days from the date of completion of the formal survey, the external evaluation team shall establish the external evaluation file and be responsible for submitting the entire external evaluation file to the accreditation organization.

2. The external evaluation file includes:

a) Report on the implementation process of the external evaluation including the following contents: Summary of the implementation process; work program of the external evaluation team; assignment of tasks to members of the external evaluation team; minutes of the final meeting between the external evaluation team and the evaluated institution during the formal survey period;

b) Draft report on external evaluation: carried out according to the model prescribed in Appendix 1 issued together with this Circular for vocational education institution quality accreditation; carried out according to the model prescribed in Appendix 2 issued together with this Circular for training program quality accreditation.

Section 3

RECOGNITION OF EXTERNAL EVALUATION RESULTS AND ISSUANCE OF QUALITY ACCREDITATION CERTIFICATE FOR VOCATIONAL EDUCATION

Article 25. Steps for Recognizing External Evaluation Results

Recognition of external evaluation results is implemented through the following steps:

1. Reviewing the external evaluation results.

2. Recognizing the external evaluation results and issuing the certificate of compliance with quality accreditation standards for vocational education.

3. Announcing the external evaluation results.

Article 26. Quality Accreditation Council for Vocational Education

1. The head of the accreditation organization issues a decision to establish the Quality Accreditation Council for Vocational Education (hereinafter referred to as the Accreditation Council). The Accreditation Council may use the seal of the accreditation organization when performing its duties.

2. The Accreditation Council has the responsibility to review the results of the external evaluation team; propose the person directly responsible for vocational education quality accreditation activities to issue a decision recognizing the external evaluation results and propose the head of the accreditation organization to issue the Certificate of Compliance with Quality Accreditation Standards for Vocational Education.

3. The number of members of the Accreditation Council is an odd number and there must be at least nine (9) members.

4. The composition of the Accreditation Council includes: Chairman, Vice-Chairman (if any), Secretary, and members, among which:

a) Chairman: Is the person directly responsible for vocational education quality accreditation activities of the accreditation organization;

b) Secretary: Is a full-time employee under a labor contract or a minimum one-year employment contract for the accreditation organization;

5. Principles of Operation of the Accreditation Council:

a) The Accreditation Council operates based on the principles of centralization, democracy, and collective discussion of matters within its responsibilities. In necessary cases, the accreditation organization may invite experts in related fields to provide advice when reviewing the external evaluation results. Resolutions of the Accreditation Council must be agreed upon by at least two-thirds of the members of the Council;

b) Members cannot participate in reviewing the external evaluation results of the evaluated institution where they are employed or have participated in the external evaluation team at that institution;

c) In case of replacing a member of the Accreditation Council, the head of the accreditation organization issues a decision to replace the member of the Accreditation Council.

6. Within five working days from the date of signing the decision to establish or change the members of the Accreditation Council, the accreditation organization shall send the decision to the General Department of Vocational Education and the Department of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs where the accreditation organization is headquartered for territorial management. The decision to establish or change the members of the Accreditation Council shall be published on the electronic information website of the accreditation organization.

Article 27. Steps for reviewing external evaluation results and the review period for external evaluation results

1. The review of external evaluation results shall be carried out in the following steps:

a) The accreditation organization sends the external evaluation dossier to all members of the Accreditation Council.

b) The Accreditation Council performs: Studying and examining the external evaluation dossier; providing comments or requesting the external evaluation team, experts to participate in on-site surveys and advising the external evaluation team to explain the contents of the external evaluation dossier if necessary. In case the Accreditation Council requests the external evaluation team, experts to participate in on-site surveys and advise the external evaluation team to provide explanations, the Accreditation Council must send a request for explanation in writing.

c) The Accreditation Council convenes a meeting and makes a resolution on the external evaluation results.

2. The review period for external evaluation results is 35 working days from the date of receiving the external evaluation dossier as stipulated in point a, Clause 1, Article 23 of Decree No. 49/2018/NĐ-CP.

Article 28. Completing the external evaluation report and handling cases where the evaluated entity disagrees with the external evaluation report

1. Within seven working days from the date the Accreditation Council issues a resolution on reviewing the external evaluation results, the accreditation organization completes the external evaluation report and sends it to the evaluated entity, while simultaneously posting a draft summary of the external evaluation results on the accreditation organization's electronic information website to solicit opinions. The period for posting the draft summary of the external evaluation results is within ten working days.

2. Within ten working days from the date of receiving the external evaluation report, the evaluated entity sends written feedback to the Accreditation Council detailing agreements or disagreements with the external evaluation report. If there is disagreement with the external evaluation report, specific reasons must be clearly stated along with copies of concrete evidence. If the evaluated entity does not respond within the above period, it will be considered as agreeing with the external evaluation report.

3. In case the evaluated entity or other entities disagree with the external evaluation report, the Accreditation Council studies the opinions and copies of evidence (if any), and re-examines the external evaluation results according to Article 27 of this Circular. If necessary, the Accreditation Council may dispatch one or two members of the Accreditation Council to the evaluated entity to examine and evaluate the contents lacking sufficient grounds within a maximum of two working days. The second review result is the final conclusion of the external evaluation result review activity.

Article 29. Recognizing External Evaluation Results and Issuing Certificates of Meeting Accreditation Standards for Vocational Education Quality

The accreditation organization recognizes external evaluation results according to point b, Clause 1, Article 23 of Decree No. 49/2018/NĐ-CP and issues certificates of meeting accreditation standards for vocational education quality according to Clause 2, Article 23 of Decree No. 49/2018/NĐ-CP.

Article 30. Announcing External Evaluation Results and Updating Databases on External Evaluation Results

1. The accreditation organization prepares a summary report of the external evaluation results according to the model prescribed in Appendix 3 issued together with this Circular for the accreditation of vocational education institutions, and Appendix 4 issued together with this Circular for the accreditation of training programs.

2. The accreditation organization sends copies of: the summary report of the external evaluation results, the decision recognizing the external evaluation results, and the certificate of meeting accreditation standards for vocational education quality (if applicable) according to Clause 3, Article 23 of Decree No. 49/2018/NĐ-CP.

3. Within ten working days from the date of signing the decision recognizing the external evaluation results, the accreditation organization updates the information into its database and publicly announces on its electronic information website the following contents: the summary report of the external evaluation results, the decision recognizing the external evaluation results, the certificate of meeting accreditation standards for vocational education quality (if applicable), the list of the Accreditation Council conducting the review of the external evaluation results, and other related contents.

4. The accreditation organization updates the database on external evaluation results into the national database on vocational education quality accreditation according to the requirements of the General Department of Vocational Education.

Chapter IV

IMPLEMENTING PROVISIONS

Article 31. Implementation Organization

1. The Ministry of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs shall be responsible for:

a) Approving the annual plan for issuing accreditation officer cards;

c) Allocating funds for building the examination question bank for accreditation officer card issuance and funding for organizing the accreditation officer card issuance according to the plan;

d) Inspecting and auditing the implementation of regulations on accreditation officer card issuance and the accreditation quality assessment process and cycle.

2. The General Department of Vocational Education shall be responsible for:

a) Providing professional guidance on vocational education quality accreditation so that vocational education institutions, entities engaged in vocational education activities, accreditation organizations, and relevant agencies and organizations can implement, compile, and report;

b) Building, managing, and updating the national database system on: vocational education quality accreditation, examination question bank for accreditation officer card issuance, and the accreditation officer workforce. Storing files and documents related to accreditation officer card issuance, vocational education quality accreditation;

c) Organizing the construction, review, and issuance of the examination question bank for accreditation officer card issuance;

d) Guiding the issuance of accreditation officer cards to individuals specified in Clause 2, Article 25 of Decree No. 49/2018/NĐ-CP;

đ) Organizing training and capacity building on vocational education quality accreditation;

3. Provincial People's Committees shall be responsible for:

Directing the Department of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs, functional agencies under provincial People's Committees to inspect and audit the implementation of regulations on vocational education quality accreditation in their respective jurisdictions.

4. The Department of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs shall be responsible for:

Managing, inspecting, and supervising the implementation of regulations on the quality assessment of vocational education at vocational education institutions, vocational education activity institutions, and quality assessment organizations within the jurisdiction managed by local authorities.

5. The direct management agencies of vocational education institutions and vocational education activity institutions shall be responsible for:

a) Creating favorable conditions and prioritizing investment to enable subordinate vocational education institutions and vocational education activity institutions to implement quality assessments of vocational education;

b) Directing, urging, and inspecting the implementation of regulations on quality assessments of vocational education under their management authority;

c) Coordinating with the General Department of Vocational Education in the quality assessment activities of subordinate vocational education institutions and vocational education activity institutions.

6. Vocational education institutions and vocational education activity institutions shall be responsible for:

a) Developing and implementing plans for quality assessments of vocational education in accordance with this Circular. Reporting to the General Department of Vocational Education, the Department of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs, and the direct management agency about the results of quality assessments of vocational education;

b) Providing complete files, information, and documents and performing tasks during the quality assessment process of vocational education;

c) Developing and organizing the implementation of action plans to address areas needing improvement to maintain and enhance the quality of vocational education.

7. Quality assessment organizations shall be responsible for:

a) Managing assessors and experts participating in on-site surveys and consulting for external evaluation teams during their work for the quality assessment organization in accordance with regulations;

b) Being subject to inspection, supervision, and related requirements of the General Department of Vocational Education and other competent authorities;

c) Publicizing on the electronic information website of the quality assessment organization the content and budget for external evaluation activities, recognition of external evaluation results, and issuance of certificates of compliance with quality assessment standards for vocational education so that vocational education institutions and vocational education activity institutions can base their selection of quality assessment organizations and relevant parties can monitor;

d) Building databases to serve quality assessment activities and ensuring the electronic information website publishes external evaluation results and updates databases according to regulations, ensuring convenient access;

đ) Implementing other provisions within the responsibility of quality assessment organizations as prescribed.

Article 32. Effectiveness

1. This Circular shall take effect from February 15, 2019.

2. The following documents shall cease to be effective from the date this Circular comes into force:

a) Decision No. 07/2008/QD-BLDTBXH dated March 25, 2008, issued by the Minister of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs, promulgating regulations on quality assessors for vocational training;

b) Circular No. 42/2011/TT-BLDTBXH dated December 29, 2011, issued by the Minister of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs, stipulating procedures for implementing quality assessments of vocational training.

3. During the implementation process, if there are difficulties, please reflect them to the Ministry of Labor, Invalids, and Social Affairs for guidance./.