International diplomas not recognized: Vocational colleges are now advertising themselves as 'academies'.

On December 15th, the London College of Design and Fashion held a press conference to respond to the controversy surrounding the fact that many former students were not having their bachelor's degree transfer credits from Liverpool John Moores University (UK) recognized.

During the meeting, the issue of a vocational college advertising itself as an "academy," causing confusion for students, was also raised. Explaining this, Ms. Ha Thi Hang, the school's CEO and Vice Principal, affirmed that from its inception, the school was established by the London Fashion Academy of the UK. The school's name – London Academy of Design and Fashion – is also the Vietnamese translation provided by the investor.

Ms. Hang asserted that the use of this name is "clear and transparent," and that she is not exploiting the word "academy" to attract students.

London College of Design and Fashion. *Photo: Thuy Nga*

Specifically, the school follows the British curriculum. After graduating from college with an HND (Higher National Diploma - the 5th level in the UK, equivalent to the first two years of some bachelor's programs), students can transfer to the 6th level, equivalent to the final year of a bachelor's degree in the UK, if they meet the requirements of the receiving institution.

This differs from the Vietnamese college program, so using the name "college" would create a discrepancy with the school's training program, making it difficult for the school to convey its message to students.

"Using this word (academy) helps students easily visualize the pathway after completing the college program, allowing them to participate in transfer programs abroad," a school representative said.

However, many students reported that they enrolled without knowing it was a vocational college, which affected their learning goals, as in Vietnam, "academy" is equivalent to "university".

Following this information, Ms. Hang also apologized for the school's name causing misunderstanding among students. "The school is reviewing its communication channels to adjust them so that there is no discrepancy with its legal name," Ms. Hang stated.

Is a college degree from the past 10 years still valid?

Regarding students' concerns that the school has not converted its training programs and vocational training operating license to a vocational education registration certificate as required by the Ministry of Education and Training since 2015, Ms. Ha Thi Hang stated that she was unaware of the need to convert the operating license. She only learned about it now, after being informed by the Ministry of Education and Training.

"Operating requires a license, I understand that. However, the law is constantly changing, so I haven't had time to update it," Ms. Hang said, also questioning why she hadn't received any reminders or warnings from the authorities during the 10 years of operation, and therefore was unaware that the school was doing something wrong.

Regarding the question of the validity of the college diplomas awarded to students during the 10 years of the school's operation before completing the necessary licensing procedures, Mr. Luong Hai Binh, the school's legal officer, stated that this is a "complex" issue and that a conclusion can only be reached after an inspection by the relevant authorities.

Previously, on December 12th, the Ministry of Education and Training announced that, in accordance with the 2014 Vocational Education Law, vocational education institutions must convert their training programs and vocational training operating licenses into certificates of registration for vocational education activities.

However, from 2015 to the present, the General Department of Vocational Education (now the Department of Vocational Education and Continuing Education, Ministry of Education and Training) has not received any application from the London College of Design and Fashion.

The Ministry of Education and Training also acknowledges that the issues at the London College of Design and Fashion are "complex, involving multiple legal entities."

Therefore, the Ministry of Education and Training continues to request relevant agencies, organizations, and individuals to report and provide more information on the training activities, joint training programs, and diploma issuance of the London College of Design and Fashion for verification and clarification.

The Ministry of Education and Training is also considering establishing a team to conduct a comprehensive inspection of the activities of the London College of Design and Fashion within the scope of the Ministry's state management.

"The Ministry will handle the case in accordance with the law, strictly deal with any violations within its authority, and at the same time ensure the legitimate rights and interests of students based on full compliance with current regulations," the Ministry of Education and Training affirmed.

Regarding the issue of unrecognized international diplomas: The Ministry of Education and Training is conducting an investigation . Concerning the recognition of diplomas and joint training programs at the London College of Design and Fashion, the Ministry of Education and Training stated that it is considering establishing a comprehensive inspection team to examine the school's operations and will take strict action if any violations are found.

The school denies 'deceiving' students about internationally recognized degrees . A representative from the London College of Design and Fashion stated that the school's initial goal was to introduce and help students have the opportunity to obtain a highly ranked university degree worldwide , but unforeseen issues arose.

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