Circular No. 34/2017/TT-BLDTBXH on recognizing vocational education certificates issued by foreign educational institutions

CIRCULAR

Regulations on Recognition of Vocational Education Certificates Issued by Foreign Educational Institutions

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 Decision No. 1981/QĐ-TTg dated October 18, 2016 of the Government approving the Framework Structure of the National Education System;

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 recognition of vocational education certificates issued by foreign educational institutions.

PART I

GENERAL PROVISIONS

Article 1. Scope of Regulation and Applicability

Article 1. This Circular stipulates the recognition of equivalence for vocational education certificates of Vietnamese citizens issued by foreign educational institutions compared to vocational education levels in Vietnam (primary, intermediate, college).

Article 2. This Circular does not apply to certificates of study results issued by foreign educational institutions to students upon completion of part of the training program.

Article 2. Vocational Education Certificates

Vocational education certificates (hereinafter referred to collectively as certificates) include:

1. College graduation diploma (level 5 of the National Qualification Framework of Vietnam). In English, it is called Advanced Diploma.

2. Intermediate college graduation diploma (level 4 of the National Qualification Framework of Vietnam). In English, it is called Diploma.

3. Primary vocational certificates I, II, and III (corresponding to levels 1, 2, and 3 of the National Qualification Framework of Vietnam). In English, they are respectively called Certificate I, Certificate II, Certificate III.

Article 3. Recognition of Equivalence of Certificates Issued by Foreign Educational Institutions

Vocational education certificates issued by foreign educational institutions to learners shall be recognized equivalent to Vietnamese vocational education certificates in the following cases:

1. Certificates issued by foreign educational institutions within the scope of application of agreements on equivalence of certificates or mutual recognition of certificates or international treaties related to certificates that the Socialist Republic of Vietnam has signed or joined.

2. Certificates issued by foreign educational institutions legally operating in Vietnam, conducting vocational education activities according to regulations set forth in the certificate of registration for vocational education activities issued by competent Vietnamese vocational education authorities.

3. For those who have been issued certificates not falling under Clause 1 and Clause 2 of this Article, but the certificates are issued by foreign educational institutions legally operating abroad where their training programs have been recognized and permitted to issue certificates by quality assurance agencies or organizations of that country, and must comply with the following principles:

a) Ensuring equivalence of admission requirements for intermediate and college levels;

b) Compatibility with the exit standards of the corresponding training program;

c) Compatibility regarding the duration of study calculated in terms of academic years or accumulated credit hours at the end of the course.

Chapter II

RESPONSIBILITIES IN THE RECOGNITION OF EQUIVALENCE FOR CERTIFICATES

Article 4. Responsibilities of the General Department of Vocational Education

1. Publicize and update on the General Department of Vocational Education's electronic information website regarding:

a) Foreign vocational education institutions legally operating in Vietnam, international cooperation programs of Vietnamese vocational education institutions issuing foreign diplomas and certificates;

b) Agreements on equivalence of diplomas and certificates or mutual recognition of diplomas and certificates, international treaties related to diplomas and certificates that the Socialist Republic of Vietnam has signed or joined.

2. Determine equivalence between diplomas and certificates issued by foreign vocational education institutions for Vietnamese individuals compared to diplomas and certificates at various levels of Vietnamese vocational education.

3. Provide information to organizations and individuals when requested to verify foreign vocational education institutions as a basis for relevant parties to determine the legality of diplomas and certificates issued by such institutions.

4. Decide not to recognize equivalence of diplomas and certificates issued by foreign vocational education institutions operating illegally in Vietnam and abroad.

Article 5. Rights and responsibilities of individuals holding diplomas and certificates from foreign vocational education institutions

1. Individuals holding diplomas and certificates as specified in Article 3 of this Circular are not required to go through the procedure for recognizing equivalence of diplomas and certificates.

2. Individuals recognized for equivalence of diplomas and certificates in vocational education are exempted from content already studied when pursuing sequential vocational education levels, as determined by the head of the vocational education institution.

3. Individuals holding diplomas and certificates from foreign educational institutions have the responsibility to collect and provide evidence as stipulated in Clause 3, Article 3 of this Circular only upon lawful request from relevant parties.

Article 6. Effectiveness

1. This Circular takes effect from February 12, 2018.

2. Ministries, ministerial-level agencies, government agencies, provincial People's Committees, political-social organizations, the General Department of Vocational Education, provincial Departments of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs, secondary vocational schools, colleges, higher education institutions registered for college-level vocational education activities, and other relevant agencies, organizations, and individuals are responsible for implementing this Circular./.