Circular No. 44/2017/TT-BTTTT stipulates the recognition of foreign organizations' information technology certificates used in Vietnam to meet the standard for information technology skills.

CIRCULAR

Regulations on the recognition of foreign organizations' information technology certificates used in Vietnam to meet information technology skill standards

Pursuant to the Law on Information Technology dated June 29, 2006;

Pursuant to Decree No. 71/2007/ND-CP dated May 3, 2007 of the Government detailing and guiding the implementation of certain provisions of the Law on Information Technology regarding the information technology industry;

Pursuant to Decree No. 17/2017/NĐ-CP dated February 1, 2017 of the Government on the functions, tasks, powers, and organizational structure of the Ministry of Information and Communications;7 Decision No. 2 of 2017 by the Government on the functions, tasks, powers, and organizational structure of the Ministry of Information and Communications;

Article 1. Amending and supplementing Circular No. 09/2013/TT-BTTTT dated April 8, 2013 of the Minister of Information and Communications on the List of software and hardware, electronic products as follows:

The Minister of Information and Communications hereby promulgates this Circular on the recognition of foreign organizations' information technology certificates used in Vietnam to meet information technology skill standards.

Article 1. Scope of Regulation and Applicability

1. This Circular stipulates criteria and procedures for recognizing foreign organizations' information technology certificates used in Vietnam to meet information technology skill standards as prescribed in Circular No. 03/2014/TT-BTTTT dated March 11, 2014 of the Minister of Information and Communications on information technology skill standards (hereinafter referred to as Circular No. 03/2014/TT-BTTTT).

2. This Circular applies to foreign organizations issuing information technology certificates that request the Ministry of Information and Communications to recognize their certificates as meeting the information technology skill standards as prescribed in Circular No. 03/2014/TT-BTTTT.

3. This Circular does not apply to information technology certificates within the scope of application of agreements on equivalence of diplomas, certificates, or mutual recognition of diplomas, certificates, or international treaties related to diplomas, certificates that the Socialist Republic of Vietnam has signed or joined.

Article 2. Interpretation of Terms

1. An information technology certificate recognized as meeting basic information technology skill standards under this Circular means an information technology certificate issued by a foreign organization, which has been reviewed and recognized by the Ministry of Information and Communications as meeting the basic information technology skill standards as prescribed in Circular No. 03/2014/TT-BTTTT.

2. An information technology certificate recognized as meeting each module of advanced information technology skill standards under this Circular means an information technology certificate issued by a foreign organization, which has been reviewed and recognized by the Ministry of Information and Communications as meeting the corresponding advanced information technology skill standards as prescribed in Circular No. 03/2014/TT-BTTTT.

Article 3. Criteria for Recognizing Foreign Organizations' Information Technology Certificates Meeting Information Technology Skill Standards

1. The information technology certificate must be issued by one of the following organizations:

a) A foreign organization legally operating in the field of training, testing, and issuing information technology certificates in Vietnam;

b) A foreign organization legally operating in the field of training, testing, and issuing information technology certificates abroad and having an authorized representative to organize training, testing, and issuing certificates in Vietnam. Such authorized representative must be a business entity or organization established and legally operating in Vietnam in the field of education and training.

2. The certificate must be officially recognized in writing by at least two educational quality assurance organizations headquartered in developed countries (including G7 member countries, European Union members, Australia, and South Korea). These recognition documents must still be valid and issued no more than five years prior to the date of submission to the Ministry of Information and Communications.

3. Curriculum and syllabus framework meeting the information technology skill standards as prescribed in Circular No. 03/2014/TT-BTTTT

a) For basic information technology skill standards: the curriculum and syllabus framework must fully cover the knowledge and skills of all modules specified in Appendix No. 01 of Circular No. 03/2014/TT-BTTTT (excluding the contents referenced by the following codes: IU01.5.2.2, IU02.2.1.2, IU02.5, IU03.2.2.3, IU03.2.4, IU03.6.2, IU05.6.2.1).

b) For advanced information technology skill standards: the curriculum and syllabus framework must fully cover the knowledge and skills of each advanced module specified in Appendix No. 02 of Circular No. 03/2014/TT-BTTTT (excluding the contents referenced by the following codes: IU14.1.2.3, IU14.1.2.5).

4. Examination questions meeting the information technology skill standards as prescribed in Circular No. 03/2014/TT-BTTTT:

a) Examination questions for basic information technology skill standards must be based on the comprehensive knowledge and skills required for all six basic skill modules as specified in Clause 1, Article 2 of Circular No. 03/2014/TT-BTTTT.

b) Examination questions for advanced information technology skill standards must be based on the knowledge and skills of each advanced module as specified in Clause 2, Article 2 of Circular No. 03/2014/TT-BTTTT.

c) Examination questions must be generated from a question bank using software, encrypted to ensure high security, and automatically graded.

5. Examination software ensuring the organization of examinations:

a) Must have candidate authentication functionality.

b) Must have algorithms for randomly selecting questions from different parts of the knowledge and skills to create examination questions from the question bank.

c) The automatic grading system must function accurately, promptly display results on screen or print them out immediately after the examination ends.

6. Information technology systems ensuring the organization of examinations:

a) Must meet criteria for database security, confidentiality, and secure login to the system.

b) Must have features for logging, statistics, reporting, and automatic backup.

c) Must ensure stable operation on computers with equipment to secure the information system.

d) Must have online monitoring features to prevent cheating during examinations.

7. Examination and certification process:

a) The examination and certification process must ensure prevention of fraud.

b) There must be an electronic website providing full information about examination regulations, certification, sample examination questions, and allowing verification of the validity of issued certificates.

Article 4. Procedure for recognizing foreign organizations' information technology certification used in Vietnam to meet information technology skill standards

1. Foreign organizations or their authorized representatives in Vietnam submit two sets of application files for recognition of information technology certification meeting information technology skill standards as stipulated in Article 6 of this Circular directly or through postal services to the Ministry of Information and Communications (Department of Information Technology).

2. After receiving complete and valid files, the Ministry of Information and Communications assigns the Appraisal Board (as stipulated in Article 5 of this Circular) to study, review, appraise, and evaluate the recognition of foreign organizations' information technology certification.

3. Foreign organizations or their authorized representatives in Vietnam provide the Appraisal Board with five actual test questions taken directly from the software under the supervision of the Appraisal Board.

4. The Appraisal Board studies, reviews, appraises, and evaluates foreign organizations' issued information technology certification to meet information technology skill standards based on criteria specified in Article 3 of this Circular.

5. Foreign organizations' issued information technology certification will only be recognized when fully meeting the criteria set forth in Article 3 of this Circular.

6. The Appraisal Board reports to the Minister of Information and Communications to recognize or not recognize foreign organizations' information technology certification used in Vietnam to meet information technology skill standards.

7. In case the certification meets the conditions for recognition, the Minister of Information and Communications will consider and issue a decision regarding the recognition of foreign organizations' information technology certification used in Vietnam to meet information technology skill standards, and widely announce on the Ministry of Information and Communications' electronic portal about the recognized certification model. In case the certification does not meet the conditions for recognition, the Ministry of Information and Communications will respond in writing to the foreign organization and clearly state the reasons for non-recognition.

8. The time for reviewing and deciding on recognition shall not exceed forty-five working days from the date the Ministry of Information and Communications receives complete and valid files and test questions.

9. The decision recognizing foreign organizations' information technology certification used in Vietnam to meet information technology skill standards shall be effective for a period of three years.

10. In case there is a change in any of the following contents: program framework, course framework, examination content, certification model of foreign organizations, the Ministry of Information and Communications will re-evaluate and recognize the certification according to the procedure for recognizing foreign organizations' information technology certification used in Vietnam to meet information technology skill standards as stipulated in Clauses 1 to 9 of this Article.

Article 5. Appraisal Board

1. The Minister of Information and Communications establishes the Appraisal Board for foreign organizations' information technology certification issued to meet information technology skill standards.

2. The composition and operational regulations of the Appraisal Board are decided by the Minister of Information and Communications based on the proposal of the Department of Information Technology Director.

Article 6. Documents for requesting recognition

1. A request document for recognizing an information technology certificate that meets the standard of information technology skills issued by a foreign organization according to the Model prescribed in Appendix I and II of this Circular.

2. Documents proving compliance with the criteria specified in Article 3 of this Circular to be considered for assessment of meeting the standard of information technology skills, including:

a) Certified copies and translations of documents proving compliance with Clause 1 and 2 of Article 3 of this Circular;

b) Certified copies and translations of sample certificates issued by the foreign organization;

c) A mapping table of modules from the framework program and curriculum of the foreign organization with the standard of information technology skills prescribed in Circular 03/2014/TT-BTTTT;

d) Examination description materials;

đ) Software examination description materials; Information technology system description materials ensuring the organization of examinations;

g) Examination process and certification issuance description materials.

Article 7. Responsibilities of foreign organizations or their authorized representatives in Vietnam

1. Shall be responsible under the law for the accuracy of contents in the documents and files.

2. Shall have the responsibility to update and report immediately to the Ministry of Information and Communications when there are changes related to meeting the criteria as stipulated in Article 3 of this Circular.

3. By the latest on January 31 each year, foreign organizations or their authorized representatives in Vietnam shall compile and report to the Ministry of Information and Communications on the following contents:

a) List, characteristics, and situation of examination centers in Vietnam.

b) Aggregate data on examination organization and certificate issuance results in the previous year in Vietnam.

4. Shall be responsible for committing to ensure the quality of examination organization, assessment, and certification issuance that meet the standard of information technology skills. In case of violation, the Ministry of Information and Communications may consider revoking the recognition of the certificate.

Article 8. Implementation clause

1. This Circular takes effect from February 15, 2018.

2. The Department of Information Technology (Ministry of Information and Communications) shall take the lead and coordinate with relevant units to organize guidance on implementing this Circular.

3. The Head of the Office, the Director of the Department of Information Technology, the Heads of relevant units under the Ministry of Information and Communications, the Directors of Provincial Departments of Information and Communications, and related organizations and individuals are responsible for enforcing this Circular.

4. During implementation, if any difficulties arise, related organizations and individuals shall reflect them to the Ministry of Information and Communications for guidance, review, amendment, and supplementation./.