Publication of the Reference Report between the Vietnamese National Qualifications Framework and the ASEAN Reference Framework.

On the morning of December 19th, the Ministry of Education and Training held a ceremony to announce the Reference Report between the Vietnam National Qualifications Framework (VQF) and the ASEAN Reference Framework (AQRF).

Students conduct practical experiments on controlling robotic arms at the Robotics Laboratory, Ho Chi Minh City University of Industry. (Photo credit: Thanh Vu/TTXVN)

Speaking at the announcement ceremony, Deputy Minister of Education and Training Nguyen Van Phuc affirmed: This event marks a significant step forward and is clear evidence of Vietnam's deep integration into the global education system. The event is even more important given that Resolution 71/NQ-TW of the Politburo on breakthroughs in education and training development clearly affirms the policy of promoting deep international cooperation and integration. In particular, the Politburo emphasized strengthening the application of international standards in the national education system in accordance with Vietnam's conditions; promoting negotiations and signing agreements on educational cooperation; and actively participating in international quality assurance organizations.

“Resolution 71 also sets very ambitious goals: By 2030, we aim for at least 8 Vietnamese higher education institutions to be among the top 200 universities in Asia and at least 1 institution among the top 100 in the world in certain fields. The vision for 2045 is for Vietnam to have a modern, high-quality education system, ranking among the top 20 countries in the world. With these strategic goals, the recognition of Vietnam's education quality by regional and international organizations is the most important ‘key’ to reaching global standards,” Deputy Minister Nguyen Van Phuc emphasized.

The process of developing and defending this Reference Report was systematically initiated by Vietnam in 2020 by a decision of the Prime Minister , demonstrating a strong commitment to improving the quality of human resources and increasing transparency in the national education system. On October 24, 2025, at the 15th Session of the ASEAN Qualifications Framework Reference Committee, Vietnam's Report was officially adopted with unanimous agreement, receiving 100% of the votes from member states.

With this result, Vietnam becomes the 5th country out of 11 ASEAN nations to have its reference report approved by the AQRF, following the success of Thailand, Indonesia, the Philippines, and Malaysia.

On December 1, 2025, the Ministry of Education and Training signed Decision No. 3319/QD-BGDĐT officially promulgating the Reference Report. The unanimous adoption of the Report by 10 ASEAN countries lays a solid foundation for the recognition of the value of diplomas and certificates issued by Vietnamese educational institutions. This significantly contributes to enhancing the transparency, comparability, and competitiveness of Vietnam's human resources; and opens up many opportunities for learners to study, work, and move within the ASEAN region as well as in the global labor market.

To effectively implement and sustainably maintain these results, Deputy Minister Nguyen Van Phuc requested the Department of Higher Education to take the lead and coordinate with relevant units to research the necessity and feasibility of establishing a National Committee on Qualifications Management and International Reference, in line with international practices, to act as the focal point for permanent communication with the AQRF Secretariat and coordinate national qualifications data.

In addition, units under the Ministry of Education and Training need to work closely with relevant ministries and sectors; regularly update the activities of the Regional Reference Committee, monitor the progress of the criteria, and actively promote the signing of Recognition Agreements (MRAs) with countries to realize the benefits of the Reference Report.

Mr. Dang Van Huan, Deputy Director of the Department of Higher Education (Ministry of Education and Training), stated: This reference report describes the implementation of the Vietnam National Qualifications Framework, providing information on Vietnam's education system, the conditions for ensuring the quality of vocational and higher education, and comparing Vietnam's education standards with ASEAN standards. This facilitates mutual recognition of qualifications, promotes lifelong learning, recognizes extracurricular learning, and enhances the recognition and improvement of educational quality.

This reference report is not only a policy-level commitment but also opens up practical opportunities for Vietnamese learners and workers to gain recognition of their qualifications, enhance their mobility, and improve their competitiveness in the ASEAN regional labor market. In the context of ASEAN strengthening human resource connectivity, promoting the movement of skilled labor, and mutual recognition of qualifications, referencing the National Qualifications Framework with the ASEAN Qualifications Reference Framework is crucial for the sustainable development of education and training in Vietnam.

Mr. Dang Van Huan also shared: This is a stepping stone for Vietnam to move towards referencing the European Qualifications Framework (EQF). If the AQRF is the gateway to the region, then the EQF will be the bridge connecting Vietnamese human resources to the most demanding and high-level markets globally, aiming towards participation in international qualification recognition conventions such as the Tokyo Convention 2011, the UNESCO Global Convention, also known as the Paris Convention 2016.

Source: https://baotintuc.vn/giao-duc/cong-bo-bao-cao-tham-chieu-khung-trinh-do-quoc-gia-viet-nam-voi-khung-tham-chieu-asean-20251219133309314.htm