Decision No. 76/2007/QD-BGDĐT on the procedures and cycles for evaluating the quality of higher education, college, and vocational training schools

Pursuant to …;

Issuing Regulations on the Process and Cycle of Quality Assurance Assessment for Universities, Colleges, and Vocational Secondary Schools

THE MINISTER OF EDUCATION AND TRAINING

Pursuant to Decree No. 86/2002/NĐ-CP dated November 5, 2002 of the Government stipulating the functions, tasks, powers, and organizational structure of ministries and ministerial-level agencies;

Pursuant to Decree No. 85/2003/NĐ-CP dated July 18, 2003 of the Government stipulating the functions, tasks, powers, and organizational structure of the Ministry of Education and Training;

Pursuant to Decree No. 75/2006/NĐ-CP dated August 2, 2006 of the Government detailing and guiding the implementation of certain provisions of the Education Law;

At the proposal of the Director of the Department of Testing and Quality Assurance,

DECISION:

Article 1. Issued together with this Decision Regulations on the Process and Cycle of Quality Assurance Assessment for Universities, Colleges, and Vocational Secondary Schools.

Article 2This Decision shall take effect fifteen days from the date of publication in the Official Gazette. This Decision replaces Chapter I, Chapter III, Chapter IV, Chapter V, and Chapter VI of the Interim Regulations on Quality Assurance Assessment for Universities issued together with Decision No. 38/2004/QĐ-BGD&ĐT dated December 2, 2004 of the Minister of Education and Training; and replaces Decision No. 27/2006/QĐ-BGDĐT dated June 27, 2006 of the Minister of Education and Training regarding amendments and supplements to certain articles of the Interim Regulations on Quality Assurance Assessment for Universities issued together with Decision No. 38/2004/QĐ-BGD&ĐT dated December 2, 2004 of the Minister of Education and Training.

Article 3The Director of the Office, the Director of the Department of Testing and Quality Assurance in Education, the Heads of units under the Ministry of Education and Training related to this matter; the Heads of management agencies of universities, academies, colleges, and vocational secondary schools; the Chairpersons of People's Committees of provinces and centrally governed cities; the Rectors of universities and academies; the Principals of colleges and vocational secondary schools are responsible for implementing this Decision./.

REGULATIONS

On the process and cycle of quality assurance assessment for universities,colleges and vocational secondary schools

(Issued together with Decision No.: 76/2007/QĐ-BGDĐT

dated December 20, 2007 of the Minister of Education and Training)

PART I
GENERAL PROVISIONS

Article 1. Scope of Regulation and Applicability

This document stipulates the process and cycle of quality assurance assessment for universities, colleges, and vocational secondary schools, including self-assessment; external assessment and reassessment; the National Council for Quality Assurance in Education; review of assessment results; recognition of meeting educational quality standards.

This document applies to public and private universities, academies, colleges, and vocational secondary schools (hereinafter referred to as "schools") within the national education system.

Article 2. Interpretation of Terms

In this document, the following terms shall be understood as follows:

1. "Educational quality of the school" means the fulfillment of the goals set by the school, ensuring the requirements of educational objectives as stipulated in the Education Law, and being consistent with the needs of human resource training for socio-economic development at both local and national levels.

2. "Quality assurance assessment of the school" refers to the activity of evaluating the degree to which the school meets the quality assessment standards established by the Ministry of Education and Training for each level of training.

3. "Self-assessment" is the process whereby the school examines and studies based on the quality assessment standards issued by the Ministry of Education and Training to report on the status of quality and effectiveness of training activities, scientific research, human resources, infrastructure, and other related issues, serving as a basis for the school to adjust resources and processes to meet the prescribed standards.

4. "External assessment" is the process of surveying and assessing by experts not affiliated with the school being assessed, based on the quality assessment standards issued by the Ministry of Education and Training to determine the degree to which the school meets the prescribed standards.

Article 3. Standards for evaluating school education quality

1. The standards for evaluating school education quality are the levels of requirements and conditions that schools must meet to be recognized as meeting the education quality standards.

2. The evaluation standards for school education quality apply to each object of educational quality assessment. Each standard includes several criteria. The criteria for evaluating educational quality are the levels of requirements and conditions that need to be achieved in specific aspects of each standard.

Article 4. External Evaluation Expert Team

The external evaluation expert team consists of educators, scientists, managers, and professionals in educational quality assessment who do not belong to the school being evaluated, with the task of surveying, assessing, and recommending recognition or non-recognition of the school achieving the educational quality standards.

Article 5. Purpose of School Education Quality Assessment

School education quality assessment aims to improve school education quality; confirm the level at which the school meets its set goals during specific periods; explain to competent state management agencies and society about the current educational quality status of the school; serve as a basis for students to choose schools and employers to select human resources.

Article 6. Conditions for Registering Educational Quality Assessment

To be registered for educational quality assessment, the school must have at least one graduating class of students or pupils.

Article 7. Process of School Education Quality Assessment

The process of school education quality assessment is carried out as follows:

1. The school registers for educational quality assessment with the Ministry of Education and Training, conducts self-assessment, and submits the self-assessment report to the Ministry of Education and Training.

2. The external evaluation expert team studies the self-assessment report, surveys, writes the external assessment report, sends it to the assessed school and the Ministry of Education and Training to prepare for reviewing the assessment results. In cases deemed necessary according to Article 14 of this Regulation, the Ministry of Education and Training organizes a re-evaluation of the external assessment results.

3. The National Council for Educational Quality Assessment reviews the assessment results, recommends the Minister of Education and Training to recognize or not recognize the school as achieving the educational quality standards.

4. The Minister of Education and Training issues a decision recognizing or not recognizing the school as achieving the educational quality standards.

Article 8. Cycle of Educational Quality Assessment

1. The cycle of educational quality assessment for universities, academies, and colleges is 5 years per cycle.

2. The cycle of educational quality assessment for vocational colleges is 4 years per cycle.

3. The cycle of educational quality assessment for specialized secondary schools is 3 years per cycle.

Chapter II
SELF ASSESSMENT

Article 9. Self-Assessment Board

1. The self-assessment board has at least 11 members established by the Director or Principal (hereinafter referred to collectively as the Principal).

2. The Chairman of the self-assessment board is the Principal; the Vice-Chairman is a Deputy Principal. Other members include representatives of the School Council or Management Board, Scientific and Training Council, Quality Assurance Center (department), Heads of departments, faculties, subjects, reputable lecturers, and representatives of school organizations.

3. The self-assessment board operates on the principle of democratic centralism, discussing to reach consensus.

Article 10. Functions and tasks of the Self-Assessment Council

1. The Self-Assessment Council has the function of implementing self-assessment and advising the Rector on measures to improve the quality of the school's activities.

2. The Self-Assessment Council shall perform the following tasks:

a) Disseminating policies on the implementation of self-assessment; introducing the self-assessment process, exchanging self-assessment experiences, and requiring units and individuals within the school to cooperate in its implementation;

b) Collecting information, evidence, reviewing activities, and comparing results achieved with set targets; assessing the degree of achievement, identifying strengths and weaknesses of the school; developing and implementing action plans to enhance training quality;

c) Comparing results achieved with educational quality assessment standards issued by the Ministry of Education and Training; writing and submitting self-assessment reports to the Ministry of Education and Training;

d) Publishing self-assessment reports internally within the school;

đ) Organizing and maintaining a database of the school's activities.

3. Members of the Self-Assessment Council shall perform the following tasks:

a) The Chairman of the Council is responsible for the Council’s activities, assigning specific tasks to each member; convening and chairing Council meetings; approving the self-assessment plan; directing the process of collecting information and evidence; processing, analyzing, and writing self-assessment reports; resolving issues arising during the implementation of self-assessment;

b) The Vice-Chairman of the Council shall have the duty to manage the Council when authorized by the Chairman and be responsible for the work assigned and delegated;

c) Council members shall perform tasks assigned by the Chairman and be responsible for the work entrusted.

4. Key components of the Self-Assessment Council include: the Chairman or Vice-Chairman of the Council, representatives from the center (department) ensuring educational quality, the Head of the Training Department trained in self-assessment content such as: introducing the educational quality assurance system, the inspection process and cycle, guidance on self-assessment; domestic and international self-assessment experience; techniques: document review, interviewing, observation, group discussion, survey, report writing techniques.

5. The Self-Assessment Council is permitted to hire consulting experts to assist the Council in implementing self-assessment activities. Consulting experts must hold a master's degree or higher, have in-depth knowledge of educational quality assurance and inspection, self-assessment, and necessary techniques for self-assessment.

Chapter III
EXTERNAL ASSESSMENT AND REASSESSMENT

Article 11. Implementation of external assessment

1. After completing self-assessment, the school sends a letter and self-assessment report to the Ministry of Education and Training requesting an external assessment and proposing the time for the external assessment expert team to conduct their work.

2. Within five working days from the date of receiving the school's self-assessment report, the Ministry of Education and Training will send the self-assessment report to an educational quality inspector for review within thirty days from the date the expert receives the report to assess whether the self-assessment report adequately reflects the requirements and conditions stipulated in each criterion of the educational quality assessment standards. The review result serves as the basis for the Ministry of Education and Training to decide whether to include the self-assessment report in the external assessment plan or request the school to continue improving it.

3. External assessment activities can only be carried out after the Ministry of Education and Training accepts the self-assessment report and the external assessment expert team is established according to Article 12 of this Regulation.

Article 12. Composition and criteria for members of the external evaluation expert team

1. The external evaluation expert team consists of 5 to 7 members appointed by the Minister of Education and Training, including:

a) The team leader is the Rector or Deputy Rector (or former Rector or Deputy Rector) of a university, academy, college, or vocational college corresponding to the institution being evaluated, or other equivalent positions with experience in implementing evaluation activities. The team leader is responsible for managing the team's activities.

b) The secretary and a permanent member of the external evaluation expert team are individuals knowledgeable about educational quality assurance. The secretary assists the team leader in implementing activities and preparing the team's report. The permanent member assists the secretary and the team leader in preparatory work and implementing external evaluation activities.

c) The remaining members consist of 2 to 4 experts from universities, state agencies responsible for education and training, social organizations, or employers corresponding to the field of training of the institution being evaluated. Members are responsible for carrying out tasks assigned by the team leader.

2. Criteria for members of the external evaluation expert team:

a) Possess integrity, ethics, honesty, and objectivity;

b) Hold a master's degree or higher, with at least 10 years of experience in teaching, management, and other activities within the field of education; in cases where team members are employers, they must have at least five years of business management experience;

c) Have not worked at the institution being evaluated either previously or currently;

d) Hold a certificate or certification from a specialized professional training course on external evaluation organized by the Ministry of Education and Training or by units authorized by the Ministry of Education and Training, or by foreign organizations recognized by the Ministry of Education and Training.

Article 13. Activities of the external evaluation expert team

1. Study self-evaluation reports, collect and process information and evidence related to educational quality assessment standards.

2. Conduct preliminary and formal surveys at the institution.

3. Write an external evaluation report; the draft report must be approved by at least two-thirds of the team members before being sent to the institution for comments.

4. Within fifteen working days from the date of receiving the institution's feedback or from the end of the period for responding to comments, the external evaluation expert team shall notify the institution of the opinions adopted or reserved by the team. In cases of reservation, the reasons must be clearly stated.

5. The external evaluation expert team completes the report, sends it to the institution and the Ministry of Education and Training.

6. The external evaluation expert team is responsible for keeping confidential information related to the content of the work and the results of the evaluation until the external evaluation report is officially sent to the evaluated institution and the Ministry of Education and Training.

Article 14. Re-evaluation of the results of the external evaluation expert team

1. The results of the external evaluation expert team will be re-evaluated when the following issues occur simultaneously:

a) The external evaluation results lead to the institution not meeting the expected educational quality standards;

b) The institution disagrees with the external evaluation report and submits a complaint letter to the Ministry of Education and Training.

2. If the institution agrees with the draft external evaluation report sent by the external evaluation expert team for comments and there are no changes in the external evaluation results compared to the draft report at the time of comments, the institution cannot request a re-evaluation.

3. The re-evaluation team (hereinafter referred to as the re-evaluation team) consists of 5 to 7 members appointed by the Minister of Education and Training, including representatives from the Department of Testing and Educational Quality Assurance, the Inspectorate, and relevant departments of the Ministry of Education and Training, experts, and representatives from the management agency of the evaluated institution. Members of the external evaluation expert team do not participate in the re-evaluation team.

4. The re-evaluation team is responsible for reviewing the files and working materials of the external evaluation expert team, discussing with members of the external evaluation expert team; conducting surveys at the institution, discussing with the leadership, the self-assessment council, and writing a re-evaluation report on the results of the external evaluation expert team.

5. The re-evaluation results have final conclusive value.

Article 15. Utilization of External Evaluation Results and Re-evaluation

The results of external evaluation and re-evaluation (if applicable) shall be used as the basis for the National Accreditation Council to review and recommend the Minister of Education and Training to recognize or not recognize the school as meeting educational quality standards.

Article 16. Responsibilities and Authorities of the School Subject to External Evaluation and Re-evaluation (if applicable)

1. Prepare complete files and data related to the school's activities and other necessary conditions to serve the external evaluation and re-evaluation work (if applicable).

2. Assign a school leader and a dedicated staff member to work with the external evaluation and re-evaluation expert team (if applicable).

3. Cooperate, exchange, and discuss with the external evaluation expert team regarding the findings of the self-assessment report and the survey results conducted at the school.

4. Within fifteen working days from the date of receiving the draft external evaluation report, the school has the responsibility to send a letter to the Ministry of Education and Training and the external evaluation expert team detailing any agreements or disagreements with the draft report. In case of disagreement with the draft external evaluation report, the reasons must be clearly stated along with supporting evidence. If the school does not provide feedback within the above period, it will be considered as agreeing with the draft external evaluation report, which will be one of the grounds for considering that the school has no right to request re-evaluation.

5. The school has the right to lodge complaints, file accusations, or initiate legal proceedings against state agencies with jurisdiction over decisions, conclusions, and actions of organizations and individuals implementing external evaluation and re-evaluation tasks (if applicable) when there is evidence that such decisions, conclusions, or actions are incorrect or violate the law.

Article 17. Responsibilities of the Ministry of Education and Training towards Schools Subject to External Evaluation

1. Receive and examine the school’s self-assessment report. Within five working days from the receipt of the self-assessment report, the Ministry shall assign an educational quality accreditation expert to provide feedback within thirty days. Decide whether to include the self-assessment report in the external evaluation plan or require the school to continue improving based on the feedback received.

2. Develop an external evaluation plan and decide to establish an external evaluation expert team in accordance with Article 12 of this Regulation.

3. Develop a re-evaluation plan and decide to establish a re-evaluation team in accordance with Article 14 of this Regulation.

4. Implement procedures and ensure conditions for the operation of the external evaluation expert team and the re-evaluation team; receive evaluation results and the school's opinions on the evaluation teams.

5. Within fifteen working days from the receipt of the external evaluation report, the Ministry has the responsibility to notify the external evaluation expert team in writing about the acceptance of the report or the requirement for further completion.

Chapter IV
NATIONAL EDUCATIONAL QUALITY ACCREDITATION COUNCIL

Article 18. Functions of the Council

The National Educational Quality Accreditation Council (hereinafter referred to as the Council) established by the Minister of Education and Training shall have the function of advising and reviewing the results of educational quality evaluations of schools before recommending the Minister of Education and Training to decide on recognizing or not recognizing the school as meeting educational quality standards.

Article 19. Composition of the Council

1. The Council consists of: Chairperson, three Deputy Chairpersons, and fifteen members.

2. The Chairperson of the Council is the Minister or a Vice Minister of the Ministry of Education and Training authorized by the Minister; three Deputy Chairpersons, including one permanent Deputy Chairperson who is the Director of the Department of Testing and Quality Assurance, one Deputy Chairperson who is the Head of the Higher Education and Postgraduate Department, and one Deputy Chairperson who is the Head of the Vocational Education Department.

3. Members of the Council include: three members representing the leadership of certain functional units under the Ministry of Education and Training; three members representing the leadership of ministries, sectors, People's Committees of provinces and centrally governed cities with schools; four members representing the leadership of the school; four members representing the leadership of scientific, technical, business organizations and social occupational organizations; one member representing the leadership of the Vietnam Student Union.

4. Members of the Council have a term of five years and may not participate in more than two consecutive terms. The Chairperson, Deputy Chairpersons, and members shall not participate in the Council when they no longer hold leadership positions at the agencies or organizations they represent.

5. The Department of Testing and Quality Assurance has the responsibility to assist the Council.

Article 20. Qualifications of Council Members

1. Possess good character, integrity, honesty, and objectivity;

2. Hold a master’s degree or higher; have at least ten years of experience in training work, management, and other activities within the field of education and training (representatives of the leadership of ministries, sectors, People's Committees of provinces and centrally governed cities, businesses, and social occupational organizations must have at least five years of management experience).

Article 21. Principles of Operation of the Council

1. The Council operates on the principle of democratic centralism, deciding issues within its functions through majority voting.

2. The Council convenes regular sessions twice a year and extraordinary sessions as convened by the Chairperson. Decisions of the Council only take effect when approved by at least two-thirds of the Council members.

3. Members of the Council who are representatives of the leadership of the school being evaluated for quality will not participate in Council meetings when the Council reviews the evaluation results of the school where that member works.

Article 22. Duties and Rights of the Council

1. The Council is responsible for reviewing the evaluation results and recommending the Minister of Education and Training to sign a decision recognizing or not recognizing the school as meeting educational quality standards.

2. The Council has the right to refuse to review cases that lack complete documentation or fail to fully comply with the requirements set forth in this Regulation.

Article 23. Duties of Council Members

1. The Chairperson of the Council is responsible for:

a) Assigning tasks to Deputy Chairpersons and members;

b) Convening and chairing Council sessions;

c) Approving the plan for reviewing the evaluation results of educational quality;

d) Resolving other related matters.

2. Deputy Chairpersons of the Council are accountable to the Chairperson for the assigned tasks. The permanent Deputy Chairperson is responsible for managing the Council when authorized by the Chairperson.

3. Members of the Council are responsible for carrying out and being accountable for the tasks assigned by the Chairperson.

Article 24. Working Regime of Members Examination Board

The Chairperson, Vice Chairpersons, and members shall be entitled to travel allowances and other subsidies as prescribed by the State during their participation in the Council's activities.

Chapter V
REVIEWING THE RESULTS OF EDUCATIONAL QUALITY ASSESSMENTS

Article 25. Documentation for Reviewing the Results of Educational Quality Assessments

1. If there is a re-evaluation of external assessment results, upon receipt of the report, the Testing and Quality Assurance Department shall prepare documentation for reviewing the results of educational quality assessments.

2. If there is no re-evaluation of external assessment results, the Testing and Quality Assurance Department shall send the external assessment report to an educational quality assessor for review within thirty days to assess whether the report adequately reflects the requirements and conditions stipulated in each criterion of the educational quality standards. The review result serves as the basis for the Ministry of Education and Training to prepare documentation for reviewing the results of educational quality assessments.

3. Documentation for reviewing the results of educational quality assessments includes: self-assessment reports; external assessment reports; school responses to external assessment reports; letters from the external assessment team to the school regarding acceptance or reservation of opinions; re-evaluation reports (if applicable) or reviews by educational quality assessors; summary reports of self-assessments, external assessments, and re-evaluations (if applicable); summaries of issues to be discussed.

4. The Testing and Quality Assurance Department prepares a plan for reviewing the results of educational quality assessments and sends the review documentation to Council members at least fifteen working days before the Council meeting.

Article 26. Procedures for Reviewing the Results of Educational Quality Assessments

1. The Permanent Vice Chairperson of the Council, representing the Testing and Quality Assurance Department, shall present a summary of self-assessment, external assessment, and re-evaluation results (if applicable) and issues to be focused on in discussions.

2. The Council shall discuss self-assessment, external assessment, and re-evaluation results of external assessments (if applicable), draft resolutions of the Council on reviewing the results of educational quality assessments.

3. The Council shall vote secretly to approve a resolution recommending the Minister of Education and Training recognize or not recognize the school as meeting educational quality standards; approve recommendations of the Council for the school to address deficiencies and continue improving educational quality.

Chapter VI
RECOGNITION OF MEETING EDUCATIONAL QUALITY STANDARDS

Article 27. Conditions for Recognition of Meeting Educational Quality Standards

A school shall be recognized as meeting educational quality standards if eighty percent of criteria meet the requirements.

Article 28. Certificate of Educational Quality Assessment

1. Based on the Council's national quality assessment results, the Minister of Education and Training shall issue a decision recognizing the school as meeting educational quality standards in accordance with Article 27 of this Regulation. The recognition results shall be publicly announced through mass media.

2. The Certificate of Educational Quality Assessment (Annex attached) is a document confirming that the school meets educational quality standards, valid for the duration of the quality assessment cycle as specified in Article 8 of this Regulation.

Article 29. Responsibilities of schools recognized as meeting educational quality standards

1. Schools recognized as meeting educational quality standards shall be responsible for implementing recommendations of the National Education Quality Assurance Council regarding the rectification of any existing issues (if any) and continuing to improve educational quality.

2. Schools recognized as meeting educational quality standards shall be responsible for maintaining and promoting the results of the recognized educational quality assurance, ensuring educational training quality throughout the validity period of the Educational Quality Assurance Certificate. If the quality is not maintained at the level recognized, depending on the nature and degree of violation, they may be reprimanded, warned, or have their Educational Quality Assurance Certificate revoked.

Chapter VII
IMPLEMENTATION

Article 30. Plan Implementation

1. The Ministry of Education and Training shall develop an education quality assurance plan according to the overall plan of the education sector.

2. Each school shall develop a plan to achieve educational quality standards for each phase. Each school shall establish a center (or department) for quality assurance to coordinate with specialized departments within the school to implement the school's plan.

Article 31. Funding for Activities

1. The activities of school education quality assurance shall be organized and implemented using state funds and other support from organizations and individuals both domestically and internationally in accordance with current regulations of the State Budget Law and related regulations. The funds for school education quality assurance activities shall be used for administrative expenses, conferences, seminars, travel expenses; training and professional development: self-assessment, external assessment, reassessment of external assessment results, quality improvement; activities of the National Education Quality Assurance Council and other activities related to education quality assurance. Annually, the Ministry of Education and Training shall prepare a budget from state funds for these activities.

2. Annually, public schools shall prepare a budget from the state budget, private schools shall prepare a budget from school funds to cover costs for self-assessment, quality improvement, payment for external assessment contracts, and other activities related to ensuring and assessing educational quality.

3. Schools are permitted to accept lawful sponsorships from organizations and individuals both domestically and internationally to serve activities related to ensuring and assessing educational quality.

Chapter VIII
INSPECTION, AUDIT, COMPLAINTS, REPORTING, REWARD AND VIOLATION HANDLING

Article 32. Inspection and Audit

1. Activities of education quality assurance shall be subject to professional inspection and audit by competent authorities with jurisdiction and in accordance with the provisions of the law.

2. The Ministry of Education and Training shall periodically organize inspections and audits of the implementation of regulations on education quality assurance at schools and relevant units.

Article 33. Complaints and Reporting

Organizations and individuals have the right to complain and report issues related to education quality assurance and are responsible under the law for the contents of their complaints and reports.

Article 34. Rewards and Handling of Violations

1. Educational institutions that comply well with the regulations on educational quality assessment shall be rewarded in accordance with the provisions of the law.

2. When negative practices related to educational quality assessment are discovered, depending on the severity of the violation, individuals and organizations involved shall be handled in accordance with the provisions of the law.

3. An educational institution that has been issued a certificate of educational quality assessment but subsequently is found to have committed violations shall be subject to handling ranging from reprimand to revocation of the certificate of educational quality assessment, depending on the nature and severity of the violations./.