DECISION

APPROVING PLAN FOR IMPLEMENTATION OF NATIONAL QUALIFICATIONS REFERENCE FRAMEWORK FOR VOCATIONAL EDUCATION LEVELS DURING THE 2021 – 2025 PERIOD

THE PRIME MINISTER

Pursuant to the Law on Government Organization dated June 19, 2015; the Law on Amending and Supplementing certain Articles of the Law on Government Organization and the Law on Local Government Organization dated November 22, 2019;

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

Pursuant to the Government's Decree No. 15/2019/ND-CP dated February 1, 2019, delineating certain articles and measures for implementation of the Law on Vocational Education;

Pursuant to the Prime Minister’s Decision No. 1981/QD-TTg dated October 18, 2016 on approval of the structural Framework of national education system;

Pursuant to the (to the Prime Minister’s Decision No. 1982/QD-TTg dated October 18, 2016, approving the National Qualifications Reference Framework of Vietnam;

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HEREBY DECIDES

Article 1. The Plan for implementation of the National Qualifications Reference Framework for vocational education levels during the 2021 – 2025 period shall be annexed hereto.

Article 2. This Decision shall enter into force as from the signature date.

Article 3. Ministers, Heads of Ministry-level agencies, Heads of Governmental bodies, Presidents of People’s Committees of centrally-affiliated cities and provinces, vocational education institutions, other relevant organizations and individuals shall be responsible for implementing this Decision.

PP. PRIME MINISTER
DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER




Vu Duc Dam

PLAN

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In order to implement the Prime Minister’s Decision No. 1982/QD-TTg dated October 18, 2016 on implementation of the National Qualifications Reference Framework of Vietnam for vocational education levels, the Prime Minister hereby promulgates the Implementation Plan as follows:

I. OBJECTIVES AND REQUIREMENTS

1. Objectives

Implement Vietnam's National Qualifications Reference Framework for vocational education levels by concretizing professional contents and activities to be brought into service to classify and standardize minimum learning capacity, workload, diplomas and certificates to ensure relevance to vocational education levels; build effective connections between human resource quality requirements and vocational training levels in terms of graduation standards; control educational quality and diversify vocational education training programs; build relationships with national qualification frameworks of other countries via regional and international qualifications reference frameworks, implement mutual recognition of qualifications, and improve the competitiveness of human resources; formulate a mechanism for transfer between training levels, build a learning and lifelong learning society.

2. Requirements

a) Determine specific contents and objectives so that ministries, ministerial-level agencies, Governmental agencies, People's Committees of provinces and centrally-affiliated cities (hereinafter referred to as ministries, local and central authorities) focus on directing and leading the implementation of the Vietnam’s National Qualifications Reference Framework for vocational education levels in a uniform and effective manner, ensuring compliance with the provisions of the Law on Vocational Education, the Law on Education and other legislative regulations.

b) Ensure consistency in the awareness and responsibility of state regulatory authorities, socio-political organizations, vocational education institutions, businesses and professional associations involved in the implementation of the Vietnam’s National Qualifications Reference Framework for vocational education levels.

c) Create a uniform legal framework for implementation of Vietnam's National Qualifications Reference Framework for vocational education levels to ensure accredited and compatible educational systems and transfer approaches between training levels to facilitate integration and recognition of qualifications, diplomas and certificates amongst participating countries.

II. MAIN TASKS AND MEASURES

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a) Develop and complete regulatory documents, instruction manuals on graduation standards and minimum credit-based amount of learning for vocational education levels. This task is scheduled for 3^rd Quarter 2021 – 4^th Quarter 2022.

b) Develop and issue a series of directive documents and instruction manuals to guide vocational education institutions to review and revise their structure, content and approach for provision of training programs in conformity with graduation standards and regulations of the Law on Vocational Education with a view to meet employer’s demands. This task is scheduled for 3^rd Quarter 2021 – 2^nd Quarter 2022.

c) Conduct researches to improve regulations on quality assurance of vocational education qualifications, including the quality of distance and online training programs, and revise vocational education quality accreditation criteria and standards. This task is scheduled for 4^th Quarter 2021 – 4^th Quarter 2023.

d) Research into building the relationship between occupational competency standards, national vocational skill standards and training levels according to the national qualifications framework. This task is scheduled for 1^st Quarter 2022 – 4^th Quarter 2022.

dd) Conduct researches into development and issuance of regulations on digital distribution and management of qualifications, diplomas and certificates. This task is scheduled for 1^st Quarter 2022 – 3^rd Quarter 2023.

2. Formulating, updating and developing vocational training programs according to Vietnam’s National Qualifications Reference Framework

a) Continue to guide and develop graduation standards for trades and occupations at all vocational education levels to ensure compliance with the Law on Vocational Education and instructions. This task is scheduled for 3^rd Quarter 2021 – 3^rd Quarter 2025.

b) Provide capacity building training for vocational education administrators and educators to develop and implement training programs for specific trades and occupations according to graduation standards. This task must be completed according to the annual plan.

c) Provide instructions on how to revise the structure, content and approach for provision of training programs, and how to delineate modules, subjects, courses, syllabuses and training plans on the basis of the training curriculums that are updated and developed in conformance to the provisions of the Law on Vocational Education and guidelines with the aim of meeting practical requirements. This task is scheduled for 1^st Quarter 2022 – 4^th Quarter 2023.

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3. Carrying out activities and requirements involved in the process of referencing Vietnam’s National Qualifications Framework (applicable to vocational education levels) against the ASEAN Qualifications Reference Framework and other national ones.

a) Prepare a report on the process of referencing of Vietnam’s National Qualifications Reference Framework for vocational education levels against the ASEAN Qualifications Reference Framework. This task should be completed in Quarter IV 2023.

b) Cooperate in participation in regional activities in the process of referencing against ASEAN Qualifications Reference Framework according to the annual plan.

c) Implement the mutual recognition of qualifications and skills between Vietnam and countries around the world, especially ASEAN countries. This task is scheduled for 4^th Quarter 2021 – 4^th Quarter 2025.

4. Promoting communication, business sector participation and international cooperation in the implementation of Vietnam’s National Qualifications Reference Framework for vocational education levels.

a) Plan and communicate the implementation of Vietnam’s National Qualifications Reference Framework under the decentralized authority over state management of vocational education. This task should be completed according to the annual plan.

b) Strengthen the participation of businesses, professional associations and socio-professional organizations in the process of implementing Vietnam’s National Qualifications Reference Framework. This task should be completed according to the annual plan.

c) Enhance and strengthen effective cooperation with international and foreign organizations, especially those in the ASEAN region, in the implementation of Vietnam’s National Qualifications Reference Framework, and mutually reference and recognize qualifications and skills. This task should be completed according to the annual plan.

5. Inspecting, supervising and evaluating the implementation of Vietnam’s National Qualifications Reference Framework for vocational education levels

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III. FUNDING

1. The central government’s budget shall provide funding for tasks and measures carried out by central authorities and shall be included in the annual state budget estimates represented to the National Assembly to seek its approval.

2. Vocational education institutions shall use lawful funding sources as prescribed by law to perform their assigned tasks.

3. Other funding sources prescribed by law may be needed.

IV. IMPLEMENTATION

1. Ministry of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs

a) Take charge of and cooperate with relevant authorities in carrying out the tasks and measures specified in Clause 2, Section II of this Plan.

b) Take charge of cooperating with relevant ministries, central and local authorities and interested parties in carrying out the tasks and measures specified in clause 1, 3, 4 and 5, Section II of this Plan.

c) Submit periodic reports to the Government and the Prime Minister on the implementation of the Plan and recommendations about necessary measures to ensure the implementation of the Plan in a synchronous and effective manner.

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2. The Ministry of Education and Training shall preside over and cooperate with ministries, central and local authorities in monitoring, expediting, examining and supervising the implementation of the Plan for pedagogical colleges. Liaise with the Ministry of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs to prepare a report on the process of referencing of Vietnam’s National Qualifications Reference Framework for vocational education levels against ASEAN Qualifications Reference Framework.

3. The Ministry of Finance shall take charge of, and cooperate with the Ministry of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs in, allocating, providing instructions about, examining and supervising the spending of funds for the implementation of Vietnam’s National Qualifications Reference Framework for vocational education levels in accordance with law currently in force.

4. Ministers, Heads of Ministry-level agencies, Heads of Governmental bodies, and Presidents of People’s Committees of centrally-affiliated cities and provinces, shall be responsible for liaising with the Ministry of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs in directing, examining, expediting and making resources available for implementation of the Prime Minister’s Plan with respect to the tasks respectively assigned to ministries, local and central authorities.

5. Trade associations, enterprises, socio-professional organizations and related parties shall, based on their functions and tasks, participate in the implementation of Vietnam’s National Qualifications Reference Framework for vocational education levels according to the directives and recommendations of central and local authorities assigned to lead or take charge of the implementation thereof.

6. In the course of implementation of this Plan, if any amendment or supplement to contents of this Plan and relevant regulations is required for facilitation of the implementation of the Plan, ministries, central and local authorities and agencies should act on their own initiative in recommending such amendment or supplement to the Ministry of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs for its submission thereof to the Prime Minister to seek his/her decision./.