Ministry of Education and Training latest information about university councils

A notable point of the draft revised law on higher education announced by the Ministry of Education and Training on October 10 is the proposal not to establish school councils in public institutions. The law is expected to be passed from January 1, 2026.

The Ministry of Education and Training organized a seminar to contribute ideas to perfect the draft law amending and supplementing a number of articles of the Education Law and the Law on University Education (amended).

Photo: Ha Anh

On the afternoon of October 10, the Ministry of Education and Training held a discussion to contribute ideas to complete the draft law amending and supplementing a number of articles of the Education Law and the Law on University Education (amended). Attending were about 80 delegates who are leaders of the Department of Education and Training and educational institutions in Ho Chi Minh City.

Speaking at the seminar, Deputy Minister of Education and Training Nguyen Van Phuc said that the Ministry was assigned by the National Assembly Standing Committee to preside over the drafting of the two above-mentioned draft laws to be submitted to the National Assembly for approval at the October 2025 session. During the drafting process, the Ministry has closely coordinated with ministries, branches and localities; organized many seminars and workshops, collected opinions from experts, scientists and education managers nationwide, ensuring proper implementation of the Law on Promulgation of Legal Documents.

In particular, Deputy Minister Nguyen Van Phuc said that on August 22, 2025, the Politburo issued Resolution No. 71-NQ/TW on breakthroughs in education and training development - a document of strategic significance, demonstrating the determination to strongly innovate thinking and institutions, modernizing Vietnam's education system. On that basis, the Ministry of Education and Training has reviewed and completed two draft laws to fully institutionalize the spirit of the resolution, creating a legal corridor to promote comprehensive development of education and training.

During the discussion, Prof. Dr. Nguyen Tien Thao, Director of the Department of Higher Education (Ministry of Education and Training), presented the latest points of the draft Law on Higher Education (amended). Accordingly, the draft law consists of 46 articles, 9 chapters with 6 major policy groups approved by the Government in Resolution 191/NQ-CP, including: university education activities; organization and operation of higher education institutions; State responsibilities; quality assurance and international integration mechanisms; staff development; financial mechanisms, conditions for ensuring higher education.

Deputy Minister of Education and Training Nguyen Van Phuc speaks at the seminar

Photo: Ha Anh

Public universities: No more school councils

Professor Nguyen Tien Thao noted a notable point that the draft proposes not to establish a school board in public institutions.

Specifically, Article 16 of the draft stipulates that university directors, university principals and equivalents (collectively referred to as principals) are the legal representatives of higher education institutions, responsible for managing and operating the institution's activities in accordance with the provisions of law and the institution's organizational and operational regulations. The Prime Minister appoints the director of a national university; the direct management agency appoints the principal and vice principal of a public higher education institution.

The school board appoints the principal and vice principal of a private university; in the case of establishment under an Agreement between the Vietnamese Government and a foreign government, it shall be implemented according to the agreement between the parties.

The Government prescribes the duties, powers, standards, terms of office; authority and procedures for appointment, dismissal, transfer, and assignment of vice presidents of national universities, rectors, and vice rectors.

School board of private higher education institution

The draft Law on Higher Education (amended) also stipulates that the university council and school council (hereinafter referred to as the school council) are administrative organizations, representing relevant parties, deciding on development orientation, organizational structure, resource use and supervising the implementation of strategies and accountability of higher education institutions.

The school council operates on the principles of collective democracy and majority decision-making; is responsible before the law and relevant parties for the council's decisions; and does not directly manage or operate the university.

The school council consists of representatives of investors, leaders of higher education institutions, lecturers, students, employees and other relevant parties, ensuring representativeness, objectivity and suitability to the type of institution. The investor appoints the chairman of the council and recognizes the members of the school council.

The Minister of Education and Training prescribes the structure, criteria for school council members, duties, powers, term of office, operating mechanism and supervision of school councils of private universities.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/bo-gd-dt-thong-tin-moi-nhat-ve-hoi-dong-truong-dai-hoc-18525101017515177.htm