Vietnam considers work experience for university transfer credits

Vietnam's Ministry of Education and Training is drafting new regulations that could significantly broaden opportunities for students pursuing inter-university transfers. The proposed guidelines aim to allow for the recognition of a wider range of prior learning and experience, potentially streamlining the pathway from vocational training to higher education.

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The draft circular on inter-university transfers between vocational secondary schools, intermediate schools, colleges, and universities has broadened the scope of recognizing learning outcomes.

Under the draft circular, educational institutions may consider recognizing not only previously completed coursework, modules, or credits but also national vocational skills certificates, professional qualifications, and relevant work experience. This move is intended to prevent students from having to repeat content they have already mastered or that meets equivalent learning outcomes.

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Students do not have to re-learn content that has already been assessed as meeting the learning outcomes or equivalent competencies.

Educational institutions will be responsible for recognizing accumulated results, credits, modules, or competencies, provided they meet equivalent learning outcomes, unless specific laws dictate otherwise. However, the draft introduces limits to maintain educational quality and the value of degrees. For students transferring within the same field, recognized learning cannot exceed 50% of the minimum credit requirements for the new program. This limit drops to 35% for transfers between different fields and 25% for transfers between different disciplines.

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The training and transfer mechanism needs to be reviewed and adjusted to better meet the diverse learning needs of today.

Furthermore, students must complete at least 40% of their program's credits at the institution granting the degree, unless specific integrated programs or transfer agreements specify otherwise. For STEM fields and other national key industries, institutions can use national skills certificates, professional qualifications, or work experience as a basis for admission, credit recognition, or determining supplementary coursework. Officials emphasized that while these changes facilitate learning, they must be accompanied by rigorous assurance of learning outcomes, educational quality, and accountability.

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The draft creates the most favorable conditions for learners at all levels of vocational and higher education. However, expanding learning opportunities must go hand in hand with ensuring learning outcomes, training quality, and degree value.