Thông tư số 20/2026/TT-BGDĐT

The continuous enhancement of educational quality is paramount for national development and global integration, particularly within the higher education sector. In this context, effective quality assurance mechanisms are indispensable to ensure academic excellence, institutional accountability, and responsiveness to societal needs. This Circular, issued by the Ministry of Education and Training, establishes a comprehensive regulatory framework for quality accreditation of higher education institutions in Vietnam. It delineates the foundational standards, systematic procedures, and cyclical evaluations necessary to uphold and elevate the quality of teaching, research, and community engagement. This regulatory document underscores the critical importance of a robust quality management system as a cornerstone for sustainable development in the Vietnamese higher education landscape.

Policymakers, administrators, academics, and quality assurance professionals in higher education institutions and accreditation bodies in Vietnam. Also relevant for students, employers, and international partners interested in the quality of Vietnamese higher education.

This Circular from the Ministry of Education and Training provides a comprehensive framework for quality accreditation in Vietnamese higher education. It systematically defines the scope, applicable entities (including all types of higher education institutions and quality accreditation organizations), and critical terminology essential for a common understanding of quality assurance. The document specifies that foreign-invested institutions and foreign accreditation bodies operating in Vietnam must also adhere to these standards or recognized foreign frameworks. A core aspect is the explicit purpose of these quality standards and accreditation results, emphasizing their role in guiding internal quality assurance systems, fostering transparency, enabling self-assessment, and serving as a basis for external evaluation and public accountability. The framework is structured around 15 detailed standards covering leadership, strategic management, human resources, financial and physical resources, external relations, core functions (training, scientific research, community engagement), and the overarching quality assurance system. Each standard is broken down into specific criteria for evaluation. The Circular meticulously outlines a four-step accreditation process: self-assessment, external assessment, appraisal of evaluation results, and official recognition of quality standards, to be repeated every five years. The evaluation methodology distinguishes between criteria and standards, leading to institutional ratings of "Achieved," "Conditionally Achieved" (requiring a 24-month improvement plan), or "Not Achieved." Detailed procedures for self-assessment, including forming councils and reporting, are provided, alongside rigorous guidelines for external assessment, involving independent teams and thorough appraisal processes. This robust, multi-layered approach aims to ensure continuous quality improvement, elevate academic standards, and align higher education institutions with national development goals, fostering a culture of excellence and responsibility across the sector in Vietnam.