The National Assembly passed the Law on Higher Education (amended).

National universities and regional universities offer multidisciplinary training.

The Law on Higher Education (amended) consists of 9 chapters and 46 articles, and will come into effect on January 1, 2026.

The law regulates higher education activities; the organization and operation of higher education institutions; the rights and responsibilities of organizations and individuals participating in higher education; and the responsibilities of the State in managing and developing higher education.

Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly Nguyen Thi Thanh presided over the session. Photo: Pham Thang

Higher education institutions are educational institutions belonging to the national education system, possessing legal personality, and organized and operating in accordance with the provisions of this Law and other relevant laws.

Regarding higher education institutions, the Law stipulates that these institutions include: universities, universities with the name academy, offering training in multiple disciplines at various levels of higher education; and having an organizational structure comprising functional departments, schools under faculties or equivalent units, and departments or equivalent units that are not administrative units, which the higher education institution itself decides whether or not to establish.

Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly Nguyen Thi Thanh presided over the session. Photo: Quang Khanh

At the same time, higher education institutions also include multidisciplinary universities at all levels of higher education; with an organizational structure comprising functional departments, affiliated schools, faculties, and departments. National universities and regional universities also offer multidisciplinary training at all levels of higher education; their organizational structure includes functional departments, member universities, member research institutes, affiliated schools, directly subordinate units, faculties, and departments. Furthermore, higher education institutions established under agreements between the Government of Vietnam and foreign governments have organizational structures and operations in accordance with the agreement; in cases where the agreement does not specify, the provisions of this Law and other relevant laws shall apply.

The law stipulates that the conditions, procedures, and authority for establishing and operating public higher education institutions, permitting the establishment and operation of private higher education institutions; revoking decisions on establishment, permission for establishment and operation; suspending operations, suspending student enrollment; merging, dividing, separating, dissolving, and renaming higher education institutions shall be carried out in accordance with the provisions of the Education Law.

The naming of higher education institutions; the conditions, procedures, and authority for recognizing national universities, regional universities, and universities shall be carried out in accordance with the regulations of the Government.

The National Assembly voted to pass the amended Law on Higher Education with a ratio of 411 out of 440 attending deputies voting in favor. Photo: Pham Thang

Regarding the autonomy of higher education institutions, the Law stipulates that they have the autonomy to determine the number of students to be enrolled, choose admission methods, organize training, establish training partnerships, and award degrees when meeting quality assurance conditions, except for teacher training, national defense, and security programs. They are also entitled to organize scientific research, technological development, and innovation activities; legally utilize and exploit assets, resources, intellectual property; and engage in international cooperation. Furthermore, they are responsible for managing revenue, expenditure, and distribution of financial results; managing assets; investing in development; and mobilizing legal resources from domestic and foreign organizations and individuals, except for higher education institutions under the Ministry of National Defense and the Ministry of Public Security.

The state and educational institutions work together to foster the development of higher education.

Earlier, Minister of Education and Training Nguyen Kim Son reported on the explanation, acceptance, revision, and completion of the draft Law on Higher Education (amended).

Regarding the necessity and scope of amendments to the Law on Higher Education, and the alignment of the draft's content with the Party's policies and guidelines, the majority of National Assembly deputies agreed with the draft law's content on its necessity and the objectives and perspectives for a comprehensive amendment of the Law on Higher Education, in line with the Party and State's policies and guidelines. This is especially true for the Politburo's resolutions on breakthroughs in the development of education and training in science and technology, innovation, digital transformation, and international integration.

Minister of Education and Training Nguyen Kim Son presents a report on the explanation, acceptance, revision, and completion of the draft Law on Higher Education (amended). Photo: Pham Thang

Regarding university autonomy coupled with accountability, the Government has incorporated feedback on university autonomy and fully institutionalized its policies, ensuring full and comprehensive autonomy for higher education institutions regardless of their level of financial autonomy. The perspective has shifted from "autonomy means self-reliance" to a mechanism where the State and higher education institutions jointly care for the development of higher education.

Regarding the regional university model, the Government recognizes that regional universities were established in accordance with the Party and Government's policies and have proven effective, enjoying prestigious rankings among educational institutions in Asia and the world.

The government has incorporated revisions and redesigned the system to improve the internal governance of each regional university and clarify the strategic coordination function of regional universities.

The government is also conducting a comprehensive review of the organizational model of regional universities, assessing the current level of decentralization and decentralization, and reviewing and reducing intermediate steps as directed by Resolution 71-NQ/TW of the Politburo.

Delegates at the VQK_4392 session — Delegates attending the session. Photo: Quang Khánh

Regarding advanced postgraduate training in the health sector, Minister Nguyen Kim Son clarified that the training of resident and specialist doctors is postgraduate training aimed at producing skilled doctors to work in hospitals, and does not fall under the master's or doctoral levels as an academic training qualification.

The Ministry of Education and Training and the Ministry of Health have reached a high level of consensus on the general principles stipulated in the draft law. Advanced postgraduate training programs in the health sector leading to residency and specialist doctor degrees will be guided, organized, and managed by the Ministry of Health. This formalizes the work that the Ministry of Health has been doing for some time now.

Source: https://daibieunhandan.vn/quoc-hoi-thong-qua-luat-giao-duc-dai-hoc-sua-doi-10399942.html