Circular 07/2025/TT-BGDDT joint training of Vietnamese and foreign higher education institutions

CIRCULAR

Defining the joint training of Vietnamese higher education institutions and foreign higher education institutions at bachelor’s, master’s and doctor’s levels

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Pursuant to the Law on Higher Education dated June 18, 2012 and the Law on Amending and Supplementing a Number of Articles of the Law on Higher Education dated November 19, 2018;

Pursuant to the Government’s Decree No. 37/2025/ND-CP dated February 26, 2025 defining the functions, tasks, powers and organizational structure of the Ministry of Education and Training;

Pursuant to the Government’s Decree No. 99/2019/ND-CP dated December 30, 2019, detailing and guiding the implementation of a number of articles of the Law Amending and Supplementing a Number of Articles of the Law on Higher Education;

Pursuant to the Government’s Decree No. 86/2018/ND-CP dated June 06, 2018, on foreign cooperation and investment in education, and the Government’s Decree No. 124/2024/ND-CP dated October 05, 2024, on amending and supplementing a number of articles of the Government’s Decree No. 86/2018/ND-CP dated June 06, 2018 on foreign cooperation and investment in education;

At the proposal of the Director of the Department of Higher Education;

The Minister of Education and Training promulgates the Circular defining the joint training of Vietnamese higher education institutions and foreign higher education institutions at bachelor’s, master’s and doctor’s levels.

Article 1. Scope of regulation and subjects of application

1. This Circular defines the implementation of joint training at bachelor’s, master’s and doctor’s levels that are approved by the competent authorities in accordance with the Government's regulations on foreign cooperation and investment in education between Vietnamese higher education institutions and foreign higher education institutions.

2. This Circular shall apply to Vietnamese higher education institutions, foreign higher education institutions that conduct joint training with Vietnamese higher education institutions, and relevant organizations and individuals.

Article 2. Forms of joint training

1. Direct joint training may provide a maximum of 30% of the total volume of the training program through an online training system.

2. Online joint training must ensure that over 50% of the total volume of the training program is provided through an online training system and shall only apply to the bachelor’s level.

3. Blended joint training must ensure that between over 30 and 50% of the total volume of the training program is provided through an online training system and shall only apply to the bachelor’s and master’s level.

Article 3. Enrollment

1. Enrollment quota for joint training with foreign partners are part of the total annual training quotas of Vietnamese higher education institutions and shall be determined in accordance with the current regulations of the Ministry of Education and Training.

2. Proof of satisfaction of the foreign language proficiency requirements of learners for enrollment is one of the following foreign language diplomas or certificates:

a) A certificate of foreign language proficiency granted by a unit permitted to organize foreign language proficiency assessment exams that is recognized as equivalent to the levels of the six-level Foreign Language Proficiency Framework for Vietnam in accordance with the regulations of the Ministry of Education and Training;

b) A foreign certificate of foreign language proficiency for which the exam is legally organized in Vietnam or abroad and has been recognized by the Ministry of Education and Training as equivalent to the levels of the six-level Foreign Language Proficiency Framework for Vietnam;

c) A diploma of bachelor’s level or higher in a major of foreign language granted by a Vietnamese higher education institution, which specifies the learner's foreign language proficiency according to the six-level Foreign Language Proficiency Framework for Vietnam;

d) A diploma of bachelor’s level or higher granted by a foreign higher education institution to learners who have graduated from full-time training programs abroad.

3. The Vietnamese higher education institutions shall coordinate with the foreign higher education institutions in detailing the enrollment plan, enrollment notification, enrollment methods, organization of enrollment, and recognizing successful candidates; the organization of foreign language training and fostering courses for learners to achieve the foreign language proficiency under minimum enrollment requirement before official teaching begins; and the storage, responsibility, and penalties for handling violations for collectives, units, and individuals related to the organization of enrollment and the recognition of successful candidates for each joint training program.

Article 4. Organization of teaching and learning

1. Learners shall study full-time at Vietnamese higher education institutions or at foreign higher education institutions in accordance with the study plans issued before the courses begin. The organization of online classes must comply with the regulations of the Ministry of Education and Training and of the foreign higher education institutions on the application of information technology in online training.

2. The organization of foreign language training and fostering courses for learners to achieve the foreign language proficiency under minimum enrollment requirement before official teaching begins shall be implemented for a period of maximum 12 months, counted from the time the learners are conditionally admitted but have not yet met the minimum foreign language proficiency as required by the joint training program with foreign partners.

3. Vietnamese higher education institutions shall organize or coordinate with other higher education institutions to implement the teaching of compulsory subjects for learners who are Vietnamese citizens in accordance with the regulations of the Ministry of Education and Training.

4. The teaching plan; the assignment of lecturers, supervisors for the projects, theses and dissertations, learning support staff, and management staff; the organization of course registration; organization of examination, evaluation, and recognition of subject or module completion; guidance, evaluation, and defense of projects, theses and dissertations; retention of academic results; leave of absence, shortening or extension of the study period, expulsion from school; graduation recognition, grant of diplomas; handling of violations, and other related matters during the organization of training shall be implemented in accordance with the current regulations of the diploma-granting party and the agreement between the two parties.

5. Lecturers currently teaching the corresponding training programs of the foreign higher education institutions shall assume the prime responsibility for, and organize the teaching of no less than 25% of the total volume of the joint training programs.

Article 5. Changes in programs and training institutions

1. A learner may transfer to another joint training program with a foreign partner, or another domestic training program at the same level, in the same major, or in the same field of study if he/she meets the following conditions:

a) He/she is currently studying in a joint training program with a foreign partner in the form of direct joint training;

b) He/she is not currently in the period of being disciplined in the form of warning or higher;

c) He/she is eligible for learning in the program and major he/she intends to transfer to in the same admission year; he/she ensures that he/she meets the study duration and other regulations of the diploma-granting party; and he/she is accepted by the Vietnamese higher education institution or the parties in organizing the joint training in case of sufficient training capacity.

2. The number of accumulated credits of the learner may be considered and recognized, but it shall not exceed 50% of the total volume of the training program he/she intends to transfer to or in accordance with the regulations of the foreign higher education institution granting the diploma.

Article 6. Diplomas and graduation certificates

1. The diplomas of a joint training program granted to graduates must bring full interests, same as diplomas granted to graduates of the corresponding training program in the host country.

2. The Vietnamese higher education institution shall grant a certificate of graduation of the joint training program (to be used with the diploma upon request) to graduates, which clearly states the information about the name of the joint training program, the form of joint training, the duration of training in Vietnam and abroad, the learner's foreign language proficiency under minimum enrollment requirement according to the six-level Foreign Language Proficiency Framework for Vietnam, the language used during the study, and the training level according to the Vietnamese Qualifications Framework Framework or the corresponding qualifications and diploma system of the foreign higher education institution in the host country.

Article 7. Organization of implementation

1. Vietnamese higher education institutions

a) To formulate and issue regulations on the organization and management of joint training with foreign partners in accordance with the Law on Higher Education, the Government's Decree on foreign cooperation and investment in education, this Circular, and other relevant current law regulations; ensure transparency, uniformity, and linkage with their general operation management system.

b) To organize communication and disseminate their regulations on joint training with foreign partners to learners, foreign higher education institutions, and relevant individuals and organizations.

c) To implement a plan for internal supervision, inspection, and examination of their joint training with foreign partners; to implement the reporting regime and update information on the joint training with foreign partners into the Higher Education Management Information System (HEM-IS) in accordance with current regulations.

d) To support the recognition of diplomas for learners as requested and to implement measures to ensure the interests of learners and related parties.

2. National universities and regional universities

a) To direct training institutions being their member units and affiliated units to implement Clause 1 of this Article; to organize supervision, inspection, and examination of joint training with foreign partners of their member units and affiliated units within their competence.

b) To synthesize information on the joint training activities with foreign partners of their member units and affiliated units and report periodically or ad hoc at the request by the Ministry of Education and Training and the competent agencies in accordance with current regulations.

Article 8. Implementation provisions

1. This Circular takes effect on May 05, 2025 and replaces the Circular No. 38/2020/TT-BGDDT dated October 06, 2020 of the Minister of Education and Training, on providing regulations on joint training with foreign partners at bachelor’s, master’s and doctor’s levels in the form of online and blended training.

2. Joint training programs approved before the effective date of this Circular shall continue to be implemented in accordance with the published regulations until the expiration of the term stated in the decisions. Joint training programs approved or extended by the competent authorities after the effective date of this Circular shall be carried out in accordance with the Law on Higher Education, the Government's Decree on foreign cooperation and investment in education, this Circular, and other relevant current law regulations.

3. Chief of the Ministry Office, Director of the Department of Higher Education, Heads of relevant units of the Ministry of Education and Training; Directors of general universities and academies; rectors of universities, relevant organizations and individuals shall be responsible for the implementation of this Circular./.