Circular No. 26/2013/TT-BGDDT dated July 15, 2013 of the Ministry of Education and Training amending and supplementing some Articles of the Regulations on order of and procedures for recognizing diplomas granted to Vietnamese by foreign educational institutions attached with the Decision No. 77/2007/QD-BGDDT dated December 20, 2007 of the Ministry of Education and Training

THE MINISTRY OF EDUCATION AND TRAINING

Circular No. 26/2013/TT-BGDDT dated July 15, 2013 of the Ministry of Education and Training amending and supplementing some Articles of the Regulations on order of and procedures for recognizing diplomas granted to Vietnamese by foreign educational institutions attached with the Decision No. 77/2007/QD-BGDDT dated December 20, 2007 of the Ministry of Education and Training

Pursuant to the Decree No. 36/2012/ND-CP dated April 18, 2012 of the Government defining the functions, tasks and organizational structures of ministries and ministerial-level agencies;

Pursuant to the Decree No. 32/2008/ND-CP dated March 19, 2008 of the Government defining the functions, tasks, powers and organizational structure of the Ministry of Education and Training;

Pursuant to the Decree No. 75/2006/ND-CP dated August 02, 2006 of the Government detailing and guiding the implementation of some articles of the Education Law; the Decree No. 31/2011/ND-CP dated May 11, 2011 of the Government amending and supplementing some articles of the, Government s Decree No. 75/2006/ ND-CP of August 2, 2006, detailing and guiding some articles of the Education Law; the Decree No. 07/2013/ND-CP, dated January 09, 2013 of the Government on amending point b Clause 13 Article 1 of the Decree No. 31/2011/ND-CP dated May 11, 2011 of the Government amending and supplementing some articles of the, Government s Decree No. 75/2006/ ND-CP of August 2, 2006, detailing and guiding some articles of the Education Law;

At the proposal of Director of the Education Quality Examination and Accreditation Bureau,

The Minister of Education and Training issues the Circular amending and supplementing some articles of Regulation on orders of and procedures for recognizing diplomas granted to Vietnamese by foreign educational institutions promulgated together with the decision no. 77/2007/QD-BGDDT dated December 20, 2007, of the Minister of Education and Training,

Article 1.To amend and supplement some articles of regulation on orders of and procedures for recognizing diplomas granted to Vietnamese by foreign educational institutions promulgated together with the Decision No. 77/2007/QD-BGDDT dated December 20, 2007, of the Minister of Education and Training, as follows:

1. To amend and supplement point b Clause 2 Article 5 as follows:

"b) After receiving full and valid dossier, the Education Quality Examination and Accreditation Bureau (the Ministry of Education and Training) shall issue a receipt to the applicant (Form No. 2); if the dossier is sent by post, the date on postmark is used as the date of receipt of the dossier. Within 30 working days, on the basis of regulation on enrollment, training program, system of diplomas of countries where grant diplomas, the Education Quality Examination and Accreditation Bureau shall coordinate with concerned units in considering and recognizing diplomas to be suitable with one of diplomas of Vietnam specified in Clause 2 Article 1 of the Decision No. 77/2007/QD-BGDDT dated December 20, 2007 of the Minister of Education and Training (Form No. 4).

- If diplomas that are requested for recognition are not suitable with one of diplomas of Vietnam, the Education Quality Examination and Accreditation Bureau shall give a written reply to the applicant for supplying additional information and recognition of actual value of diplomas in the educational system of countries where grant diplomas.

- If diplomas are not eligible for recognition, the Education Quality Examination and Accreditation Bureau shall give a written reply to the applicant which clearly states reason of refusal.”

2. To amend and supplement Clause 2, Clause 3 Article 6 and supplement Clause 4 Article 6 as follows:

“2. Apart from the documents specified in Clause 1 of this Article, the diploma holder (from study abroad) shall enclose the dossier with documents proving time of studying abroad, including the following relevant documents: certification of the Vietnamese diplomatic mission in the host country; certification of the foreign educational institution where he/she has studied; a copy of the passport stamped with the date of entry or exit; and a document of registering in system of electronic database on managing of Vietnamese students studying abroad of the Ministry of Education and Training.

3. In necessary case, it is required to appraise the extent of meeting regulation on training program enrolment, the diploma holder should enclose dossier with relevant documents such as: certificates of foreign languages, relevant diplomas and certificates.

4. Dossier specified in Clause 1, Clause 2 and Clause 3 this Article must be status quo, not be erased, be damaged by elements of weather, climates, or any other reason."

3. To supplement Article 7a to the Article 7 as follows:

“Article 7a.Charge for diplomas recognition

 The person requesting for diplomas recognition must pay charge as prescribed by the Ministry of Finance.”

4. To amend and supplement clause 1, Article 8 as follows:

 “1. The International Cooperation Department (the Ministry of Education and Training) shall regularly update information and publicize on the Education and Training Ministry’ s website agreements on equivalence of diplomas or mutual recognition of diplomas or diploma-related treaties to which the Socialist Republic of Vietnam is a contracting party. The Foreign-Involved Training Bureau (the Ministry of Education and Training) shall regularly update information and publicize on the Education and Training Ministry’ s website foreign educational institutions operating legally in Vietnam and being licensed for training and training linkage.

5. To amend and supplement clause 3 Article 8 as follows:

“3. The relevant units under the Ministry of Education and Training shall, within the ambit of their assigned state management functions and tasks, coordinate with the Education Quality Examination and Accreditation Bureau in considering and recognizing educational diplomas granted to Vietnamese by foreign educational institutions.”

6. To amend and supplement Article 9 as follows:

“Article 9. Education Institutions

1. Education and Training Institutions shall recognize diplomas granted by foreign educational institutions according to regulations.

Before December 25 annually, Education and Training Institutions shall report on diploma recognition work to the Education Quality Examination and Accreditation Bureau (the Ministry of Education and Training).

 2. Educational institutions for university and professional intermediate shall regularly update information and publicize on their websites list of students finished program on training linkage with foreign parties and being granted diplomas."

7. To amend model application for diplomas recognition (Form 1).

Article 2.This Circular takes effect on August 30, 2013.

Article 3.The Chief of Office, the director of the Education Quality Examination and Accreditation Bureau, heads of relevant units under the Ministry of Education and Training, directors of provincial/municipal Education and Training Services, Directors of universities and institutions; principals of universities, colleges, professional intermediate schools, and concerned organizations and individuals shall implement this Circular.

For the Minister of Education and Training

Deputy Minister

Bui Van Ga

* Forms are not translated herein.