Circular No. 35/2021/TT-BLDTBXH stipulates criteria and procedures for evaluating and recognizing high-quality vocational college schools.

CIRCULAR

Regulations on criteria and procedures for evaluating and recognizing high-quality vocational colleges

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

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

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;

Based on the proposal of the Director General of the General Department of Vocational Education;

The Minister of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs issues this Circular to stipulate criteria and procedures for evaluating and recognizing high-quality vocational colleges.

PART I
GENERAL PROVISIONS

Article 1. Scope of Regulation

This Circular stipulates criteria and procedures for evaluating and recognizing high-quality vocational colleges.

Article 2. Applicability

1. This Circular applies to vocational colleges under public, private, and foreign-invested forms (hereinafter referred to as "schools").

2. This Circular does not apply to teacher training colleges.

Article 3. Explanation of Terms

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

1. Teacher: Lecturer teaching subjects, modules of intermediate and higher vocational education programs; excluding teachers teaching general subjects and high school cultural subjects.

2. Enterprise: Business, agency, organization, cooperative leasing or employing workers according to agreement.

Chapter II
CRITERIA AND STANDARDS FOR HIGH-QUALITY VOCATIONAL COLLEGES

Article 4. Evaluation Criteria and Points

1. Criteria for high-quality vocational colleges

a) Criterion 1 - Scale of Training;

b) Criterion 2 - Teachers' Qualifications;

c) Criterion 3 - Linkage with Enterprises in Training and Post-Training Employment;

d) Criterion 4 - School Management;

đ) Criterion 5 - Students' and Graduates' Qualifications after Training.

2. Each criterion has multiple standards. A standard that meets the requirements scores 4 points, while a non-compliant standard scores 0 points. The total score for all five criteria is a maximum of 100 points.

3. Compliance with standards is determined as follows:

a) For standards specified in Clause 3 of Article 6; Clauses 1, 2, 3, and 4 of Article 7; Clause 4 of Article 8; Clauses 3, 4, and 6 of Article 9 and Clause 1 of Article 10, the school must meet the requirements at the time of evaluation;

b) For other remaining standards, the school must meet the requirements over a period of three years, including the year of evaluation and two consecutive years prior to the year of evaluation.

Article 5. Recognition of High-Quality Vocational Colleges

A vocational college is recognized as a high-quality vocational college when it meets the following requirements:

1. Meeting the quality assurance standards for vocational education institutions.

2. The total score for the criteria of high-quality vocational colleges reaches 80 points or more. Each criterion's score must be at least 60% of its maximum possible points.

Article 6. Criterion 1 - Scale of Training

1. Standard 1: Minimum scale of training for 2,000 students in intermediate and higher vocational programs (calculated based on equivalent student numbers), including at least 1,000 students in higher vocational programs. For schools in the cultural and artistic fields, the number is 500 students.

2. Standard 2: At the end of the training program, the dropout rate of intermediate and higher vocational students should not exceed 20% of the total enrollment.

3. Standard 3: Having a high-quality training program or one recognized as equivalent to international or ASEAN standards.

Article 7. Criterion 2 - Teachers' Qualifications

1. Standard 1: 100% of teachers have computer skills meeting the basic level of information technology proficiency or equivalent as stipulated in Circular No. 03/2014/TT-BTTTT dated March 11, 2014, issued by the Ministry of Information and Communications regarding the standard for information technology proficiency or equivalent.

2. Standard 2: At least 50% of teachers have foreign language proficiency at Level 3 as stipulated in Circular No. 01/2014/TT-BGDĐT dated January 24, 2014, issued by the Ministry of Education and Training regarding the six-level framework for foreign language proficiency in Vietnam or equivalent.

3. Standard 3: 100% of teachers hold bachelor's degrees or equivalents suitable for their teaching fields.

4. Standard 4: At least 70% of the teaching staff possess vocational skill certificates for practical teaching at the higher vocational level or equivalent qualifications.

5. Standard 5: Annually, at least 50% of the teaching staff undergo training to update new technologies in their teaching fields, with a minimum training duration of 80 hours.

Article 8. Criterion 3 - Linkage with enterprises in training and post-training employment

1. Standard 1: Annually, the school provides at least 4 (four) courses or classes for enterprise employees' training and development, which are assessed by both enterprises and employees to be of quality and effectiveness.

2. Standard 2: Annually, the school engages in cooperation activities with foreign schools or international organizations to enhance the quality of training.

3. Standard 3: The practical training time at enterprises accounts for at least 20% of the total course duration; there are activities linking with enterprises to produce and supply products and services.

4. Standard 4: Training equipment meets the advanced technological standards applied in enterprises and satisfies the requirements for implementing the training program.

5. Standard 5: Annually, the school collaborates with enterprises to implement at least 1 (one) research topic on applied science or technology transfer.

6. Standard 6: Within 12 months from graduation, at least 80% of the total number of secondary and college graduates are employed in jobs relevant to their trained fields.

Article 9. Criterion 4 - School Governance

1. Standard 1: The school has a modern educational environment that is integrated according to green criteria, including essential conditions for persons with disabilities; safe, healthy, friendly, and measures to prevent school violence.

2. Standard 2: The school establishes and operates a quality assurance system that is evaluated by students, teachers, staff, leadership, and management as effective. The principal is recognized by the community and enterprises for leading the school closely with programs for economic and social development at the local level (district/county), ensuring the provision of high-quality skilled labor; strategic guidance for the school's internationalization process and reforming partnership relationships in the job market.

3. Standard 3: School activities are digitalized, connected, shared, and interactive; school management and operation are based on data and digital technologies. The school’s website is presented in at least two languages: Vietnamese and English, containing all contents including: commitment to training quality and actual training quality; conditions for ensuring training quality; financial income and expenditure.

4. Standard 4: The school has an online training management system and ensures conditions for online training for at least 30% of subjects or modules in the trained fields.

5. Standard 5: The school effectively implements support activities to promote the development of individual capabilities and ensure the rights of students, teachers, staff, and managers. The school has effective support activities for persons with disabilities or serving the community.

6. Standard 6: Practical areas ensure sufficient conditions according to current regulations on infrastructure and teaching equipment for training; they are arranged in three levels: ensuring basic skill training, specialized skill training, and applying learned skills in real working conditions.

7. Standard 7: Annually, at least 1 (one) scientific article or work by teachers, staff, or managers is published in scientific journals that are rated or equivalent publications.

Article 10. Criterion 5 - Student Competence After Training

1. Standard 1: Within a three-year period, including the evaluation year, the school has students who win awards at international, regional, or national competitions initiated, organized by the vocational education sector, or are recognized as outstanding or exemplary at the provincial, ministerial, or national level, or have research projects recognized at the provincial, ministerial, or national level.

2. Standard 2: Annually, for each program, the school conducts surveys of at least 2 (two) enterprises employing graduates within 12 months of graduation; at least 80% of surveyed enterprises affirm that the skills of graduates from secondary vocational and college programs meet job requirements.

3. Standard 3: Graduates possess basic knowledge and skills effectively utilizing energy and resources and protecting the environment.

4. Standard 4: Annually, at least 1 (one) startup idea or project of students is supported with investment funds or connected to businesses or venture capital funds.

Chapter III
PROCEDURE FOR EVALUATION AND RECOGNITION OF COLLEGES OF HIGH QUALITY

Article 11. Procedure for Evaluation and Recognition of Colleges of High Quality

1. Establishing the evaluation team and conducting on-site evaluations at the school.

2. Reviewing the evaluation results and recognizing colleges of high quality.

Article 12. Establishment of the Evaluation Team

1. Based on the annual plan for evaluating colleges of high quality, the Director of the General Department of Vocational Education decides to establish the evaluation team to conduct on-site evaluations at the school.

2. The evaluation team consists of the team leader, secretary, and other members, including from 3 (three) to 5 (five) members who are vocational education quality assessors or managers, experts in vocational education, or experts related to the training programs.

3. In any of the following cases, individuals shall not be allowed to join the evaluation team:

a) Previously or currently working or studying at the evaluated school;

b) Contributing capital, purchasing shares, or entering into economic contracts or consulting contracts with the evaluated school;

c) Having parents, spouse, children, siblings, or foster parents, foster children, daughters-in-law, sons-in-law who are working or studying at the evaluated school;

d) Engaging in actions violating laws related to the evaluation and recognition of colleges of high quality.

4. Prohibited behaviors for members of the evaluation team:

a) Colluding or coordinating with the evaluated school to distort the evaluation results;

b) Receiving or accepting gifts of stocks, money, or other assets from the evaluated school;

c) Disclosing information about the evaluated school obtained during on-site evaluations, except when authorized in writing by the school or otherwise provided by law.

Article 13. Duties of the Evaluation Team

1. Developing the team's activity plan and assigning specific tasks to each member of the evaluation team.

2. Studying information and documents of the evaluated college.

3. Conducting surveys and on-site evaluations at the school and preparing a report on the evaluation results. If the evaluated school has branch campuses or training facilities, during the on-site evaluation period, at least 2 (two) members of the evaluation team must visit all branch campuses or training facilities.

4. Meeting with the school regarding the draft evaluation result report.

5. Reporting the evaluation results of the school and explaining relevant contents upon request of the General Department of Vocational Education.

Article 14. Duties of the team leader, secretary, and other members of the evaluation team

1. Comply with legal regulations and bear legal responsibility for the assigned tasks.

2. The team leader manages the activities of the team; is responsible for reporting the evaluation results. The team leader signs all documents, plans, minutes, and reports of the team.

3. The team secretary assists the team leader in implementing activities and preparing reports; performs other tasks assigned by the team leader and bears responsibility for the outcomes of those tasks.

4. Other members of the team perform tasks assigned by the team leader and bear responsibility for the outcomes of those tasks.

5. The team leader, team secretary, and other members of the team have the responsibility to keep confidential information related to the work content, evaluation results before announcing them to the school.

Article 15. The team conducts on-site evaluations at the school

1. Meet with representatives of the school to announce the team's work program at the school.

2. Work with units within the school to collect, check, and verify the school's information and evidence.

3. Meet with, interview, and exchange with representatives of management staff, teachers, students, and enterprises using random sampling methods to collect and check the school's information and evidence.

4. Summarize the information and evidence collected during the on-site evaluation according to each standard and criterion, assess the level of achievement of the college under each standard and criterion of high-quality colleges.

5. Draft the report on the evaluation results. The draft report must be approved by at least 2/3 of the team members.

6. Meet with the school regarding the draft report on the evaluation results.

Article 16. The evaluation team meets with the school regarding the draft report on the evaluation results

1. The evaluation team meets with the school to discuss the draft report on the evaluation results on the last day of the on-site evaluation. Participants include: the evaluation team, the principal, and other representatives of the school.

2. Content of the meeting regarding the draft report on the evaluation results

a) The evaluation team presents the full draft report on the evaluation results of the school;

b) The evaluation team and the school discuss the contents of the draft report on the evaluation results.

3. Prepare minutes of the meeting between the evaluation team and the school confirming the work process at the school; confirming all information and evidence provided by the school to the team; opinions of the school and the team exchanged during the meeting.

Article 17. Reviewing the Evaluation Results of the School

1. The Vocational Education General Department organizes a review before considering and deciding to recognize the school as a high-quality college.

2. The review of the school's evaluation results is carried out by the Review Board as stipulated in Article 18 of this Circular.

Article 18. The Review Board for Evaluating the School

1. The Review Board for Evaluating the School (hereinafter referred to as the Board) is established by the Director of the Vocational Education General Department. The Board consists of 9 (nine) members, including: The Chairman of the Board is a leader of the Vocational Education General Department; The Secretary of the Board is a representative of a unit under the Vocational Education General Department with functions and responsibilities for evaluating and recognizing high-quality colleges; Members of the Board are representatives of some units under the Vocational Education General Department; management staff, education quality assessment experts, or representatives of other relevant units.

2. Duties of the Council

a) Review the evaluation results of the school;

b) Report the review results to the Director of the Vocational Education General Department.

3. The Board operates based on the principle of centralization, democracy, and collective discussion of issues within its mandate. Decisions of the Board must be approved by at least 2/3 of the Board members.

Article 19. Recognition of High-Quality Colleges

1. Based on the report of the Appraisal Council's results, the Director of the General Department of Vocational Education shall consider and decide to recognize high-quality colleges.

2. The decision recognizing high-quality colleges shall be publicly announced on the electronic information website of the General Department of Vocational Education.

Chapter IV
IMPLEMENTING PROVISIONS

Article 20. Implementation

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

a) Approving the plan for evaluating and recognizing high-quality colleges;

b) Allocating funds from the state budget or other legitimate sources for the evaluation and recognition of high-quality colleges according to the plan.

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

a) Implementing and guiding the implementation of this Circular;

b) Preparing the annual plan for evaluating and recognizing high-quality colleges to submit to the Ministry of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs for approval and notification to colleges and relevant agencies for coordination and implementation;

c) Organizing training and capacity building for colleges and members of the evaluation team on evaluating and recognizing high-quality colleges; enhancing the skills of college principals in managing schools to meet the requirements for leaders of high-quality colleges;

d) Organizing the evaluation and recognition of high-quality colleges; inspecting and handling complaints from colleges regarding the evaluation results;

đ) Proposing competent authorities to support investment, place orders, assign training tasks, and scientific research; supporting promotion and enhancing the image of high-quality colleges;

e) Proposing competent authorities to provide funding to invest in and enhance training capabilities for colleges that meet the criteria for vocational education institution quality assessment to strive for recognition as high-quality colleges;

g) Inspecting and auditing the implementation of regulations on evaluating and recognizing high-quality colleges;

h) Considering and revoking the decision recognizing high-quality colleges in either of the following two cases: the college does not meet the quality assessment criteria for vocational education institutions; the self-assessment of the college does not meet the requirements stipulated in Clause 2, Article 5 of this Circular;

i) Annually compiling and reporting to the Minister of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs on the situation of evaluating and recognizing high-quality colleges.

3. Colleges evaluated according to the criteria for high-quality colleges shall be responsible for:

a) Providing complete files, information, and materials for the evaluation team to conduct on-site surveys at the college;

b) Assigning a leader and a dedicated staff member to coordinate with the evaluation team. Arranging units to work with the evaluation team;

c) Publicly discussing and exchanging views with the evaluation team on the draft report of the college evaluation results according to the high-quality college criteria;

d) Developing and implementing an action plan to address existing issues to maintain and improve the quality of vocational education.

Article 21. Effective Date

This Circular takes effect from February 15, 2022./.