Portal
Type: Decree
Responsible Agency: Ministry of Education and Sports
Issuing Date: 2015-06-05
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Contents
sArticle 4.Government Policies on Higher Education
Article 5.Principles for Operation of Higher Education Work
Article 6.Scope of Application of this Decree
CHAPTER 2: Higher Education System
Article 7.Higher Education Structure
Article 8.Qualification of Higher Education, Use and Comparison of Education
Article 9.Duties of Higher Educational Institutions
Article 10. Higher Educational Institutions
Article 11. Forms of Incorporation of Higher educational institution
Article 12. Classification of Higher Educational Institutions
Article 14. Conditions for Temporary and Permanent Dissolution of Higher Educational Institutions
CHAPTER 3: Teaching-Learning Organization
Article 16. Conditions for Teaching-Learning Organization in Fields of Study
Article 18. Study Period and Educational Calendar of Higher Educational Institution
Article 19. Curriculum, Textbooks, Materials and Language for Teaching-Learning
Article 20. Teaching-Learning Forms
Article 21. Teaching-Learning Facilities
Article 22. Teaching-Learning Management
Article 23. Teaching-Learning Assessment-Evaluation
CHAPTER 4: Scientific-Technology Research and Technical Services
Article 25. Scientific and Technology Research
Article 28. Responsibilities of Higher Educational Institutions on Quality Assurance
Article 29. Principles, Contents and Methods for Quality Assurance
CHAPTER 6: Teachers and Personnel of Higher Educational Institutions
Article 31. Full-time and Invited Teacher
sArticle 32. Technical Position and Title of Teachers
Article 33. Scope of Rights and Duties of Teachers
Article 34. Policies towards Teachers
Article 35. Teacher Development
CHAPTER 7: Management of Students
Article 37. Organization and Management
Article 38. Rights, Duties and Obligations of Students
Article 39. Policies towards Students
CHAPTER 8: Investment in Higher Education Development
Article 42. Private Investment
CHAPTER 9: Finance and Assets of Higher Educational Institutions
Article 45. Financial Position of Higher Educational Institutions
Article 46. Financial and Asset Management
Article 47. Inspection and Audit
CHAPTER 10: Local and Foreign Cooperation
Article 49. Foreign Cooperation and International Organization
CHAPTER 11: Organization and Management of Higher Education
Article 50. State Management on Higher Education Development
Article 51. The National Higher Education Council
Article 52. Organizational Structure and Personnel of Higher Educational Institutions
Article 53. Autonomy of Higher Educational Institutions
Article 54. Prohibitions for Teachers and Personne
Article 55. Prohibitions for Students
Lao People’s Democratic Republic
Peace Independence Democracy Unity Prosperity
The Government No. 177/GOV
Vientiane Capital, 5 June 2015
DECREE
On
Higher Education
- Pursuant to the Law on the Government of the Lao PDR (amended) No. 02/NA, dated 06 May 2003;
- Pursuant to the Law on Education No. 04/NA, dated 03 July 2007;
- Pursuant to the Request Letter of the Ministry of Education and Sports No. 0402/MoES.HE.015, dated 20 April 2015.
The Government hereby issues a Decree:
General Provisions
This Decree defines principles, regulations regarding the organization and management of higher education in the Lao PDR so that the structure of teaching-learning, scientific research and technical service of public and private higher educational institutions are mutual, can ensure quality and high effectiveness, serve the demand in developing technicians, specialists, researchers, scientists with knowledge and capabilities, moral ethics, readiness in contribution to the national socio-economic development and regional and international integration.
Higher education refers to an educational level that follows the secondary or equivalent education level, with its teaching-learning structure ranging from an associate degree level to a doctoral education based upon normal, continuing or integrated educational program based on the lifelong learning policy.
Terms used in this Decision have the following meanings:
- Higher educational institutions refer to educational institutions with teaching-learning programs based on technical fields of study which range from an associate degree level and over;
- Higher educational programs refer to teaching-learning programs with several fields of study which range from an associate degree level and over;
- Technical council refers to an organization that acts as a technical consultant in a management-administration mechanism of higher educational institutions;
- Board of directors refers to an organization that acts as an administrative consultant in a management-administration mechanism of higher educational institutions;
- Teacher refers to a person who teaches, transmits knowledge, trains students in a higher educational institution;
- Personnel in higher educational institutions refers to a person who manages, administers, monitors, serves and facilitates the operations at the higher educational institutions;
- Students refer to learners who are studying or conducting researches in higher educational institutions;
- Autonomy refers to an independence, self-government and having rights as stipulated in laws and regulations.
Article 4.Government Policies on Higher Education
The government promotes all Lao citizens to access higher education based on actual knowledge and conditions of learners in compliance with the lifelong learning policy by supporting the study in higher education field and grant study allowance to students with outstanding performance, target groups, poor citizens, women, ethnic groups and vulnerable people.
The government promotes and allows local and foreign individuals, legal entities or organizations, labor units to contribute to the higher educational development.
Article 5.Principles for Operation of Higher Education Work
Operation of higher education work shall comply with following principles:
- Ensuring that the development of higher education is quality and in accordance with human resource demand plan and the National Socio-Economic Development Plan;
- Ensuring that the teaching-learning structure is in compliance with 3 characteristics and 5 pillars of national education;
- Ensuring continuing and integrated education based on the lifelong learning policy;
- Ensuring that target groups, poor people, women, ethnic groups and vulnerable people have access to school in good faith.
Article 6.Scope of Application of this Decree
This Decree applies to individuals, legal entities, public and private organizations that operate local and foreign higher educational institutions in the Lao PDR.
Higher Education System
Article 7.Higher Education Structure
Higher education is a part of the national education system as set out in the Law on Education which consists of the following educational levels:
- Associate degree level: is an initial technical study level of higher education to develop technicians, specialists. Those who complete the associate degree level can continue their studies at a bachelor degree level;
- Bachelor degree: is a higher technical study with a field of study in sectors of natural-social science, politics-governance, national defense-public security and other fields based upon the need in socio-economic development from time to time;
- Master degree: is a technical study that follows the bachelor degree level which provides in-depth research in a field of study of any sector;
- Doctoral degree: is the highest technical study level which provides in-depth scientific research in a specific subject.
Moreover, the post-undergraduate level is an in-depth study in a specific sector and field of study: level 1 and level 2 specialists in a specific sector.
Article 8.Qualification of Higher Education, Use and Comparison of Education
- Qualification of higher education refers to a certification of success in higher education which is stipulated in the higher education complements in Article 7 of this Decree, which shall be written on a certificate or diploma of students who complete the following programs:
- For those who complete an associate degree level shall receive an associate degree which is equivalent to a higher vocational diploma;
- For those who complete a bachelor degree level shall receive a bachelor degree;
- For those who complete a master degree level shall receive a master degree;
- For those who complete a doctoral level shall receive a doctoral degree abbreviated as Ph.D.; Dr.Sc.; Dr.Med.;… or written as set out by international institutions;
- For those who complete an education based on post-undergraduate, specialist, post-graduate and post-doctoral programs shall receive a certificate of knowledge and qualification level based on subject matters and periods required to complete each program;
- The use of educational qualification abbreviation: for those who complete an education based on a higher educational program are entitled to use an abbreviation of such completed program in Lao or English language, as set out by each program to be added in front of his/her name or surname on a voluntary basis;
- Honorary doctor is an education qualification that is honorably given to a person with outstanding performance in socio-economic development by a higher educational institution with a status as a domestic or international university or equivalent. The “honorary” degree is not an education degree which shows the completion of any educational level and does not have any effect on the salary policy;
- Students who complete higher educational level from overseas shall be recognized, certified and compared to educational qualification based on higher education level of the Lao PDR issued by the Ministry of Education and Sports.
The Minister of Education and Sports stipulates regulations regarding the recognition, certification, comparison, continuation and integration between domestic and international educational degree.
Article 9.Duties of Higher Educational Institutions
Higher educational institutions have following duties:
- To set out a teaching-learning structure and training;
- To research and disseminate successful result of scientific research;
- To provide technical services to societies;
- To protect and promote the national arts and cultures and, in the meantime, to accept global good and advanced cultures;
- To cooperate with regional and international educational institutions and organizations;
- To perform other duties based on demands of local development and demands of sectors and in accordance with laws, regulations and assignments from superior organizations.
Article 10. Higher Educational Institutions
Higher educational institutions are classified as following:
- College is a higher educational institution which is incorporated based upon demands in development of technical specialists or fields of study at central, local and community levels, having main duties to provide teaching-learning of associate degree program based on the national education system as approved by the Ministry of Education and Sports. The college can be incorporated within a university which is integrated university;
- Institute refers to a higher educational institution which is incorporated based upon demands of sectors, having an equivalent as or higher status than a college; which can provide an associate degree program; continuing or integrated bachelor degree and normal bachelor degree programs approved by the Ministry of Education and Sports; acts as a short-term training institute; conducts a scientific research, survey, information management and provide technical service of one or more sectors based on duties, roles set out in a regulation for institute incorporation;
- Academy refers to a higher educational institution which is incorporated based upon demands of a specific sector such as national defense-public security or other specific sectors; having its status equivalent to or higher than a college; which can provide an associate degree program; continuing or integrated bachelor degree and normal bachelor degree programs approved by relevant authorities and the Ministry of Education and Sports; provides a short-term training on a specific field; conducts a scientific research, survey, information management and provide technical service of its sector based on duties, roles set out in regulations of the government or relevant authorities;
- University and university-equivalent institution (national level) refer to the highest educational institutions of the national education system, which are incorporated based on demands in the national socio-economic development, having roles and duties in providing teaching-learning of higher technical programs ranging from associate degree to doctoral degree and having capacity to conduct scientific-technology research, provide technical services and information regarding scientific research to societies. The university has visions, strategies and development plan to be an integrated university or an outstanding university in a specific field of study or scientific and technology research.
Article 11. Forms of Incorporation of Higher educational institution
The incorporation of higher educational institutions shall be in the following forms:
- State institutions: refer to the institutions invested, incorporated and developed by the government by assigning the state authority at central or local level to manage it directly, comprehensively based on roles and duties set out in laws and regulations;
- State and community or association institutions: refer to the institutions jointly invested, incorporated and developed by the government and community or association, having a state authority for technical management, and the community or associate in charge of management-administration of the institutions based on roles and duties set out in laws and regulations.
- Local and international private institutions: refer to the institutions directly invested by a local or a foreign investor, having the government to encourage, support and manage in a technical aspect. An individual or legal entity investor has rights and duties to manage and administer the institutions based on roles, duties permitted by relevant authorities and in accordance with laws and regulations.
- Foreign or international organization’s institutions: refer to higher educational institutions invested by the public, private sector, international organization or foreign educational institution managed by relevant government and authorities in accordance with laws and regulations and in accordance with a bilateral or a multilateral agreement.
Article 12. Classification of Higher Educational Institutions
Higher educational institutions in the Lao PDR are classified based on governance system, topography and specific feature of each sector as follows:
- Type 1: national and international higher educational institutions
- National higher educational institutions: refer to the institutions incorporated by the government based on policies, human resource development plan and the national socio-economic development plan; having wide range of teaching-learning programs, technical varieties and scientific research; having personnel with qualified education level, appropriate infrastructure that can serve numbers of students, having capability in providing technical services comprehensively and being technically self-government.
- International higher educational institutions: refer the institutions incorporated based on any form set out in Article 11 of this Decree which can provide teaching-learning programs, scientific research and international service, meet the policy of the government, integrate into regional and international organizations.
- Type 2: regional higher educational institution (region-area)
Higher educational institutions at regional level refer to the institutions incorporated by the government to meet the needs of human resource development which are to develop specialists to serve the socio-economic development of each part of the country to be consistent with specific features and actual needs of such region-area to be provided with higher education services.
- Type 3: provincial or community higher educational institutions
Provincial or community higher educational institutions refer to the institutions incorporated by authorities at central level cooperating with local or community administrative authorities with roles and duties to provide appropriate teaching-learning programs and scientific research to be consistent with specific features and actual needs of such province or community.
- Type 4: specific higher educational institutions for each field
Specific higher educational institutions for each field refer to the institutions incorporated by relevant sectors to meet the needs of development of specialists in a specific field at central or local levels; having roles and duties to provide teaching-learning programs and scientific research that provide an in-depth knowledge on a specific field in order to serve the development of relevant sectors.
The Minister of Education and Sports is assigned to coordinate with relevant authorities at central and local levels to set out detailed regulations on management-administration, standards and conditions of each type of higher educational institutions.
Article 13. Principles and Conditions for Incorporation, Expansion, Merger and Separation of Higher Educational Institutions
- Overall principles
The incorporation, expansion, merger and separation of higher educational institutions shall comply with following principles:
- Meeting the needs of human resource development plan and the national socio-economic development plan from time to time;
- Creating conditions and giving opportunities for Lao citizens to access higher education on an equal and fair basis;
- Ensuring the varieties of technical complements and fields of study that go deeply in a specific sector.
- Having visions, short-term and long-term qualitative development plan; ensuring sustainability and appropriate investment.
- Conditions:
The incorporation, expansion, merger and separation of higher educational institutions shall comply with following conditions:
- Overall conditions:
- Meeting the needs based on the national socio-economic development plan, sector development plan and the needs of local development;
- Being ready in terms of educational personnel and appropriate number of students;
- Being ready to invest in infrastructure; equipment, technique and budget for appropriate management and administration.
- Specific conditions:
The incorporation of higher educational institutions in the form provided in clause 3, 4 of Article 11 and in any type set out in Article 12 herein. In addition to the overall conditions in clause (a) above, the following specific conditions must be complied:
- Having a detailed infrastructure plan with a warranty letter for investment issued by relevant state authorities;
- Having a letter of guarantee; and
- Completing construction and procurement of equipment basically within five years after receiving an official permit for incorporation from the government or relevant state authorities.
The Minister of Education and Sports is assigned to stipulate detailed regulations on conditions for incorporation, expansion, merger and separation of higher educational institutions.
Article 14. Conditions for Temporary and Permanent Dissolution of Higher Educational Institutions
All types of higher educational institutions may be temporarily or permanently dissolved based on the following cases:
- Violating policies, laws and regulations;
- Operating not in accordance with roles and purposes of the institutions;
- Not improving or developing quality in accordance with instructions of relevant authorities;
- Having an application for temporary or permanent dissolution from individuals, legal entities or organizations with reasons;
- Being claimed by individuals or organizations or having complaints from societies with reasons of social shortcomings.
Article 15. Permission for Incorporation, Expansion, Merger, Separation, Temporary and permanent Dissolution of Higher Educational Institutions
The incorporation, expansion, merger, separation, temporary and permanent dissolution of higher educational institutions shall comply with following:
- The Prime Minister permits the incorporation, expansion of campus, merger, separation and permanent dissolution of type 1 higher educational institutions (national and international) based upon the request of the Ministry of Education and Sports and relevant authorities;
- The Minister of Education and Sports permits the incorporation, expansion of campus, merger, separation and permanent dissolution of type 2, 3 and 4 higher educational institutions (regional, provincial or community level and specific for each sector) based on the request of relevant organizations and sectors; has a right to issue an order to temporarily close or dissolve all forms and types of higher educational institutions based on each case set out in Article 14 herein and upon request of relevant authorities.
The Minister of Education and Sports is assigned to set out detailed regulations, procedures for submission of required documents for incorporation, expansion, merger, separation, temporary and permanent dissolution of all forms and types of higher educational institutions.
Teaching-Learning Organization
Article 16. Conditions for Teaching-Learning Organization in Fields of Study
All forms and types of higher educational institutions can organize a teaching-learning program in a specific field of study or going in depth in a specific sector at levels of associate degree, bachelor degree, master degree, doctoral degree and post graduates with following conditions:
- Meeting the needs in specialists development in a specific field for macro and micro (local) socio-economic development;
- Having educational personnel, teachers, scientists with educational and qualification level which is appropriate with each teaching-learning program level or research to ensure high quality;
- Having infrastructure, classrooms, laboratories, libraries, equipment and textbooks serving teaching-learning at a basic level;
- Having teaching programs in accordance with the national standard curriculum and ensuring knowledge for continuing or integrated education for students;
- Having an overall plan regarding the teaching programs in a specific sector approved and accredited by the Ministry of Education and Sports upon request of higher educational institutions and relevant authorities.
A chancellor of a university or head of an institution with an equivalent status as a university (national institution) has a right to provide teaching-learning programs regarding any specific field of study as set out in an overall plan approved by the Ministry of Education and Sports.
- Student admission plan:
- Student admission plan of all forms and types of higher educational institutions shall be stipulated based on the needs in the socio-economic development from time to time and in accordance with human resource development plan at central and local level; shall meet the capability conditions of teachers, infrastructure and equipment conditions approved by relevant authorities and the Ministry of Education and Sports;
- Each higher educational institution is in charge of setting out an admission plan for each study year based on the human resource development plan at central, local level and based on actual capacity of the institution; in charge of student admission based on conditions and quality standard of its institution;
- In case that a higher educational institution admits more students than designated plan or not consistent with announcement, it shall be examined-inspected in accordance with laws and regulations;
- Method for student selection can be done in three forms:
- Quota based on a macro selection plan in accordance with a result for completion of secondary education or equivalent level (a grade for completion, accumulated GPA of each study year and qualification);
- Conducting an examination to select students based on scores of the exam;
- Conducting a mixed method between examination and selection based on result of secondary education or equivalent level (a + b).
- Higher educational institutions may use its own method for student selection, exercise rights and perform duties to admit students as assigned by the Ministry of Education and Sports and relevant authorities in a fair and transparent manners.
- Registration: admitted students based on selection result by one of three methods above shall receive a notice from relevant higher educational institution to be registered as students based on given period of each study year.
The Minister of Education and Sports approves overall plan for student admission of all forms and types of higher educational institutions countrywide, and set out detailed regulations regarding methods and documents for student selection and admission.
Article 18. Study Period and Educational Calendar of Higher Educational Institution
- Study period: the study period of higher educational institutions shall comply with the national curriculum standard as follows:
- Associate degree level: normal program shall last for two years or over; the continuing program shall last for one year and a half or over;
- Bachelor degree: normal program shall last for four years or over; the continuing program shall last from two years or over;
- Learning deeply on a specific field shall last for one year or over;
- Level 1 specialist shall last for two years or over;
- Level 2 specialist shall last for three years or over;
- Master degree shall last for two years or over;
- Doctoral degree shall last for three years or over.
- Educational calendar
- The study year for year one students at associate degree level and bachelor degree (freshman) shall commence on the 15th of October.
- The study year for year two students at associate degree level and bachelor degree shall commence on the 1st of October.
- The post-undergraduate level shall comply with teaching-learning plan and scientific research plan of programs or projects which are approved to be used and conducted by the higher educational institutions.
Article 19. Curriculum, Textbooks, Materials and Language for Teaching-Learning
- Higher educational programs:
- The development of all-level program of higher education shall comply with the national higher educational program standard stipulated by the Ministry of Education and Sports;
- The creation of subject maters of programs shall be based on the national educational qualification by stipulating knowledge, capability, the use and internship into a subject for each educational level;
- The Minister of Education and Sports approves all-level higher educational programs upon request of higher educational institutions and relevant authorities;
- Teaching-Learning Textbooks and Materials
- Teaching-learning textbooks and materials used at higher educational institutions must contain standard regarding amount of knowledge-capability serving teaching-learning program of a specific field, serving teacher’s and students’ objectives at each level;
- All-level higher educational institutions must have their own libraries, books, materials, scientific-technical textbooks at a basic level or electronic book for general study and scientific research of teachers and students;
- A chancellor, a head or a director of higher educational institutions have duties to select and approve the use of textbooks, teaching-learning materials which are the works for research, compiled or written by staff, teacher and scientist upon request of relevant faculties or scientists and approved by the technical council of the higher education institutions;
- Higher educational institutions must ensure all right reserved for the use of teaching-learning textbooks and materials as set out in the Law on Intellectual Property and their regulations.
- Language for learning-teaching
Language for learning-teaching at higher educational institutions must be Lao language. The foreign languages can be used for the study of foreign languages; applied for the instruction in international programs or programs with cooperation with foreign educational institutions and can be used for scientific research in research projects approved by the Ministry of Education and Sports and relevant authorities at central and local levels.
Article 20. Teaching-Learning Forms
The teaching-learning of higher educational institutions can be conducted based on the following forms:
- Formal: normal program, continuing or integrated program;
- Non-formal: long-distance study via all kinds of media or others;
- An open learning which involves with practical action or internship at socio-economic sector, creates conditions and opportunity for lifelong learning.
Article 21. Teaching-Learning Facilities
All forms and types of higher educational institutions must provide teaching-learning facilities in order to effectively and qualitatively achieve expected result of each program; ensure the compliance with overall principles and conditions set out in Article 13 and 16 of this Decree.
Article 22. Teaching-Learning Management
Teaching-learning management of higher educational institutions shall comply with the following:
- To fully manage it based on a teaching-learning plan of each study year (having a daily, weekly and monthly schedules; semester and study year plan);
- To manage it based on performing hours of each program per study year or credit (semester/weekly/hourly) or module;
- To conduct a quality assurance, inspection-assessment of teaching-learning;
- To strictly comply with regulations that governs teachers-students of the institutions.
Each form of higher educational institutions has its own teaching-learning management regulations approved and promulgated by the Ministry of Education and Sports and relevant authorities.
Article 23. Teaching-Learning Assessment-Evaluation
All forms and types of higher educational institutions conduct a teaching-learning assessment-evaluation based on overall principles as follows:
- To assess and evaluate teaching-learning in on a normal basis by way of inspection, examination such as: completing subject, semester, study year or program or by way of thesis writing or project report… as set out in an educational program of each level.
- To use a grade system as a unit for knowledge assessment or use a score system as set out in the national educational program standard;
- To strictly comply with an education assessment and evaluation plan of its institution.
The Minister of Education and Sports stipulates details regarding a unit for knowledge assessment in a grade and a score system for mutual use countrywide.
Issuance of diploma of higher educational institutions for students who complete an education at all level shall comply with following principles and conditions:
- Overall principles:
- Students who complete educational program at all level are entitled to receive diploma issued by higher educational institutions that provide such program;
- A chancellor, a head of institution, a director or an authorized person has a right to sign off and grant diplomas to students who graduate from its institution on a correct, fair and transparent basis.
- Overall conditions:
- Students to be qualified to receive diplomas must fully complete educational programs, have performance and exam score or thesis defense in a passing level and must have good qualification;
- A list of graduated students who are entitled to obtain diplomas must be approved, registered at the Ministry of Education and Sports and relevant authorities.
- Format of Diploma:
- Higher educational institutions at all level can design their own diploma format with specific feature (with cover and sheet mentioning details) with symbols or specific codes as evidence for verification in case of falsification.
- The Ministry of Education and Sports stipulates overall format regarding contents of diploma of higher educational program at all level.
- Honorary doctor diploma:
Higher educational institutions having status as university or equivalent can issue and grant an honorary doctor diploma to a person who meets all conditions of the institution with approval of such institution council and agreement of relevant authorities.
Relevant higher educational institutions are assigned to set out regulations, conditions and standards for granting honorary doctor diploma.
- Withdrawal, revocation, falsification and purchase of diploma:
- Individuals who misconduct or offend higher educational institutions, violate professional ethics or laws and regulations as set out in the diploma shall be prosecuted in accordance with laws and regulations depending on severity of each case. Such prosecution includes: suspension or withdrawal or revocation of diploma that such individuals are entitled to it.
- Individuals who falsify and purchase-sell higher educational diploma at all level from local or foreign person shall be sanctioned in accordance with laws and regulations based on severity of each case.
Scientific-Technology Research and Technical Services
Article 25. Scientific and Technology Research
- Objectives
- To promote the conduct of scientific and technology research to enhance capability of personnel, teachers, students and scientific researchers of higher educational institutions;
- To promote innovation of teachers, students, scientific researchers and innovators in order to contribute to socio-economic development and national defense-public security.
- Contents of scientific and technology research
- To conduct a basic scientific research, natural, social, scientific research and transmission of technologies to serve the socio-economic development such as: industry, agriculture-forestry, environment, service, economy, politic-governance, education, sport, public health, environment, national defense-public security and other sectors.
- To research, promote, enhance folk wisdom and result of scientific research to be national, local, community and individual’s intellectual property.
- Scope of rights and duties for scientific and technology research of higher educational institution:
- To create strategic plans and short-term and long-term scientific-technology research in accordance with the national and local socio-economic development plan;
- To be in charge of organizing and conducting scientific-technology research in accordance with its roles and responsibilities;
- To create and expand scientific research venue to be ready such as: laboratory, testing center, testing station, library, equipment and other facilities.
- To be in charge of and to involve with review and selection of subjects for scientific research, consultancy, implementation of cooperation agreement for scientific-technology research in its scope of responsibilities; to conduct a research based on scientific subjects in accordance with necessity and priority;
- To ensure and protect-manage copy rights, scientific-technology benefits and intellectual properties of institutions;
- To find financing resources to be used in scientific-technology research with more effectiveness for collective benefits of the nation.
- State responsibilities on scientific and technology research
- The government stipulates overall strategies and investment plan in each period for scientific and technology research;
- The Ministry of Education and Sports coordinates with the Ministry of Science and Technology and relevant authorities to create regulations, principles and plans which are priority for scientific-technology research of higher educational institutions.
- Financial resources for scientific and technology research
Higher educational institutions which are ready to conduct a scientific and technology research can obtain funds from various financial resources such as: state budget based on priority plan (national, local and institutional levels); funds; projects; supports from domestic or foreign organizations, international organizations, services from individuals or association.
- Management of scientific and technology research:
Each higher educational institution has duties and responsibilities to manage the scientific and technology research by itself in accordance with rights and roles, by having organizational mechanism and regulations for effective monitoring, inspection and assessment in consistence with the Law on Science and Technology and other relevant laws.
All forms, types and levels of higher educational institutions have duties to provide technical services to societies in a form and method based on scope of rights and roles; are entitled to receive consideration from providing technical services and to manage-use technical incomes in accordance with laws and regulations.
Quality Assurance
All forms and types of higher educational institutions must have organizational mechanism and internal quality assurance network, which is an organization with technical independence under the direct supervision of management committee of higher educational institutions, to be in charge of education quality assurance within the institutions.
All forms and types of higher educational institutions must comply with conditions and standards for higher education quality assurance stipulated by the Ministry of Education and Sports.
Article 28. Responsibilities of Higher Educational Institutions on Quality Assurance
High educational institutions have the following duties:
- To create an internal quality assurance system, to inspect and assess their quality based on standards stipulated by the Ministry of Education and Sports;
- To create and submit information, documents and report on quality assurance to state authorities in relevant sectors upon request;
- To be in charge of and to accept inspection and evaluation of external quality assurance organization on such higher educational institutions;
- To plan, set out period and registration for conducting procedures for quality assurance within the higher educational institutions;
- To disseminate and disclose information regarding quality assurance evaluation result conducted based on conditions and standards stipulated by the Ministry of Education and Sports to public via various media;
- To use and enhance quality assurance evaluation result;
- To claim or pursue any legal act against state organization, individuals or association that slander or criticize, distort the fact regarding quality assurance of higher educational institutions.
Article 29. Principles, Contents and Methods for Quality Assurance
Principles, contents and methods for quality assurance of all forms and types of higher educational institutions must comply with conditions and standards regarding higher education quality assurance stipulated by the Ministry of Education and Sports.
Teachers and Personnel of Higher Educational Institutions
Teachers refer to persons who teach and convey knowledge to students by way of various instructions, are those who have good attribute, good health, are professionally qualified, have knowledge and educational qualification in accordance with conditions, curriculum standard and professional standard issued by each higher educational institution;
The Minister of Education and Sports is assigned to set out detailed standards and conditions on attribute, qualification, profession, health and other special conditions of teachers at higher educational institution at each level.
Article 31. Full-time and Invited Teachers
- Full-time teachers: are civil servants who conduct an instruction on a regular basis at higher educational institutions; number of full-time teachers is normally:
- All types of state higher educational institutions shall have full-time teachers in the minimum number equivalent to two third (2-3) of total teachers of such institutions;
- Higher educational institutions incorporated based on form 3 and 4 of Article 11 and all types of Article 12 herein shall have full-time teachers in the minimum number equivalent to half (1/2) of total teachers of the institutions;
- Invited teachers: are external persons (not positioned at the institutions) who are invited to teach-convey knowledge to students by way of various instructions stipulated in a program by the institutions. The invited teachers are people who have knowledge-capability, experience and lessons on relevant field of study. Those external persons can be scientists, businesspeople, politicians-governors or specialists in a sector of national defense-public security and other sectors which can be Lao or foreigners based on the demand of the institutions and approval of relevant authorities.
Article 32. Technical Position and Title of Teachers
Teachers of all forms, types and levels of higher educational institutions are entitled to request for technical positions and title of teachers based on relevant conditions and regulations. In general, teachers shall be appointed as follows:
- Technical position of full-time teachers:
- Professor (abbreviated as Prof.) and associate professor (abbreviated as Assoc. Prof.) are appointed by the Prime Minister upon request of the Minister of Education and Sports with approval of the national higher education council;
- Teachers and teacher assistant (abbreviated as TA) are appointed by the Minister of Education and Sports upon request of the council of relevant universities or higher educational institutions.
Technical position at professor, associate professor, teacher and teacher assistant levels are entitled to receive position allowance as set out by the government.
- Technical position of invited teachers
Invited teachers who have outstanding performance in teaching at any or several higher educational institutions, having research, writing, compiling works, translation of documents, textbooks serving teaching-learning and scientific research to contribute to education development which is socio-economic development, have a right to request for special teacher position based on conditions and actual performances:
- Emeritus professor refers to an emeritus position appointed and granted to a specific person who is a professor or an associate professor; is a person who has plenty of good performances and merits in pedagogical profession, is a person who retires, is an senior expert or specialist and others.
Emeritus professor is appointed by the Prime Minister upon request of the Minister of Education and Sports with approval of the national higher educational council, of which that the appointed professor may retain it “for eternity”.
- Honorary professor refers to a position of a teacher who is appointed with such position for honor and award for such professor with outstanding performance with an institution. Honorary professor is appointed by a chancellor of a university or head of relevant institution with approval of the university or institution council;
- Adjunct professor refers to a teacher position which is appointed and granted in a special case to an invited teacher who is a specialist in a particular field or a special speaker of a higher educational institution with equivalent status to a university. The adjunct professor is appointed by a chancellor of a university or head of relevant institution with approval of the university or institution council.
The technical position of emeritus professor, honorary professor and adjunct professor in general do not have any position allowance.
The Minister of Education and Sports is assigned to set out standards, conditions and methods for consideration of appointment, dismissal or removal of all types of teachers.
- Title of teachers: teachers of all forms, types and levels of higher educational institutions may request for teacher title based on the Decree of the Government on Teacher Civil Servant.
Article 33. Scope of Rights and Duties of Teachers
Teachers of higher educational institutions shall perform their rights and duties in accordance with the Law on Education and the Decree on Teacher Civil Servant No. 177/GOV, dated 05 April 2012.
Article 34. Policies towards Teachers
Teachers of higher educational institutions are entitled to obtain policies in accordance with laws and regulations and specific regulations issued by each higher educational institution.
Article 35. Teacher Development
All level of higher educational institutions must have their own teacher development plan to continuously enhance technical knowledge and capability, pedagogy, information, foreign languages, political theories and others of teachers to be able to teach, conduct a scientific research, provide technical services, to integrate with regional and international organizations on an effective basis.
Personnel who performs duties at all forms and types of higher educational institutions must be suitable in terms of quantity, have specific knowledge fitting with profession, have knowledge and attribute in accordance with conditions, standards set out by such higher educational institutions. Employees of state higher educational institutions must be duly allocated, recruited, selected in accordance with laws and regulations on civil servants of the Lao PDR.
Management of Students
Article 37. Organization and Management
Each higher educational institution shall organize and manage its students on a systematic basis in order to manage, take care of students in accordance with regulations of the institution and state laws regarding daily operation, activities in classroom, at dormitory, extracurricular activities, physical activities, cultural, social, political activities and activities of mass organizations at such institution.
Article 38. Rights, Duties and Obligations of Students
Students of higher educational institutions have rights, duties and obligations in accordance with Law on Education and regulations on management of students of the Ministry of Education and Sports.
Article 39. Policies towards Students
Students who are studying at all forms and levels of higher educational institutions are entitled to receive policies in accordance with the Law on Education, regulations stipulated by the Ministry of Education and Sports and higher educational institutions.
Investment in Higher Education Development
The government promotes investment in development of all levels, forms and types of higher educational institutions as stipulated in Article 10, 11 and 12 of this Decree based on the national socio-economic development plan from time to time.
The state invests in higher educational development on a systematic basis, having focused priority and in accordance with the needs in the national socio-economic development plan from time to time. In such plan, the state has a duty to directly invest in the construction of infrastructure, buildings, equipment, vehicles, teaching-learning media, facilities and the training, development of teachers and personnel of higher educational institutions based on forms and types that are necessary.
Article 42. Private Investment
Private investment refers to a direct investment of local and foreign individuals, legal entities and private sector to incorporate higher educational institutions by complying with the Law on Investment Promotion, other relevant laws and regulations of the Lao PDR and comply with education promotion policies of the government from time to time.
The state promotes joint investment between public and private sectors, communities and local or foreign individuals or association in development of higher education such as: development of infrastructure, equipment and technology, human resource development, service provision and scientific research in accordance with relevant policies, laws and regulations.
Finance and Assets of Higher Educational Institutions
- State higher educational institutions have main sources of income as follows:
- State budget: based on an annual budgetary plan, grant aid; domestic or offshore loans;
- Tuition fee, registration fee and official fee for issuance of diplomas for graduated students;
- Technical service provision: scientific research, consultancy, training, experiment-test, production, development and use of technologies, rental fees and others in accordance with relevant laws and regulations.
- Services provided by local or foreign individuals, legal entities, associations or organizations.
- Private higher educational institutions have main sources of income as follows:
- Assets, capital or loan of business operators;
- Tuition fee, registration fee and official fee for issuance of diplomas for graduated students;
- Technical service provision: scientific research, consultancy, training, experiment-test, production, development and use of technologies, rental fees and others in accordance with relevant laws and regulations;
- Other sources of income in accordance with laws.
Article 45. Financial Position of Higher Educational Institutions
Type 1 and 2 state higher educational institutions have a financial position as level 1 budget unit in accordance with the Law on State Budget. Other higher educational institutions are based on the delegation of management level between organizations at central and local level.
Article 46. Financial and Asset Management
Financial and asset management of all types of state higher educational institutions must comply with relevant laws and regulations.
Article 47. Inspection and Audit
All forms and types of higher educational institutions must be inspected and audited on a yearly basis in accordance with the Law on State Budget, the Law on State Audit, relevant laws and regulations.
Local and Foreign Cooperation
All types of higher educational institutions may technically cooperate with educational institutions, public and private organizations, business sector and production unit as stipulated in roles of the institution and in accordance with relevant laws and regulations.
Article 49. Foreign Cooperation and International Organization
Higher educational institutions may technically cooperate with foreign educational institutions and international organizations in accordance with policies, laws and regulations based on approval of the government or relevant authorities.
Organization and Management of Higher Education
Article 50. State Management on Higher Education Development
- The government:
- To set out strategies and policies on higher education development in accordance with the national socio-economic development plan from time to time; to ensure continuation and sustainability to serve the development of higher level experts-specialists for development of all sectors such as: economic, socio-cultural, political-governance, national defense-public security, scientific-technology and other sectors on a complete basis;
- To invest in infrastructure construction and human resource development of higher educational institutions, technical sector which is priority; to create conditions for quality and effective development of higher education; to be able to integrate with regional and international organizations.
- To support private sectors and domestic and foreign non-profit organizations to invest in development of higher education for preferred or priority sectors which are consistent with policies, laws and regulations.
- To implement policies complimenting individuals, legal entities, associations and organizations with outstanding performances in contributing to higher education development and to apply measures against violators who breach policies, laws and regulations on a strict basis.
- The Ministry of Education and Sports:
- The Ministry of Education and Sports is a state management authority at central level on the performance of work of all forms and types of higher educational institutions; to create tools, mechanism and legislations to monitor, inspect and assess performance of policies, strategic plans for higher education development of the government.
- To directly and comprehensively manage higher educational measures under the supervision of education sector including private sectors, domestic and foreign organizations based on roles and assignment of the government.
- To technically manage all forms and types of higher educational institutions under the supervision based on a vertical chain of command of the ministry, ministry-equivalent bodies and local administrative authorities.
- To set up a management mechanism of higher educational institutions at university level based on the program implementation such as: chain of command of higher education manages associate degree program and chain of command of vocational education manages vocational program.
- Ministries, ministry-equivalent bodies and local administrative authorities have duties to manage higher educational institutions under their supervision based on roles in the delegation of management level of the government and assignments of relevant authorities.
Article 51. The National Higher Education Council
- Roles and duties:
The national higher education council is a non-stationed organization, having its roles as secretariat for the government regarding technical operation of higher educational institutions; having rights to consider, approve and propose to the government to decide on an important work of higher education as follows:
- To create, expand and dissolve national and international higher educational institutions.
- To appoint teachers at professor and associate professor level.
- Too approve subjects for national scientific research of higher educational institutions.
- Organizational structure:
The national higher education council has following organizational structure:
- Presiding committees include a chairman and a vice chairman;
- Standing committees include a chairman, a vice chairman and certain numbers of committees;
- Committees of other divisions as necessary;
- The office of the national higher education council (secretary) is an organization unit with its status equivalent to center or institution under the supervision of department, having its office at the Ministry of Education and Sports.
- Personnel Structure
The national higher education council has total members no more than 21 people, with details as follows:
- A chairman and a vice chairman (2 persons);
- 7 standing committees (including a chairman and a vice chairman);
- 14 committees (selected from higher educational institutions and senior experts);
- The office of the national higher education council (secretary) has a head, a deputy head and some staff as appropriate.
- Appointment and Stipulation of Regulations
- Appointment:
- A chairman, a vice chairman and committees of the national higher education council are appointed by the Prime Minister upon request of the Minister of Education and Sports;
- A head of office of the national higher education council (as a secretary head) is a civil servant, having an administrative position equivalent to a deputy director general of department, appointed by the Minister of Education and Sports;
- A deputy head of office of the national higher education council (as a secretary deputy head) is a civil servant, having an administrative position equivalent to a division head of a department, appointed by the Minister of Education and Sports;
- Committees of divisions are appointed by the chairman of the national higher education council;
- Stipulation of Regulations: A chairman of the council is in charge of stipulating regulations for operation of the national higher education council.
Article 52. Organizational Structure and Personnel of Higher Educational Institutions
- Universities and institutions with equivalent status as university:
- Organizational structure includes:
- A university or an institution council;
- An office of a chancellor or an office of an institution includes: some offices with equivalent status to government department for university or some government departments as appropriate for institutions with status equivalent to university. In that, there is an office, a division, a sector and a unit;
- Board of directors and technical council;
- Faculties which include: departments, divisions, units, subject units;
- Instructions, colleges, centers, central libraries, schools, hospitals and other service units under supervision of universities or institutions must comply with regulations of the Ministry of Education and Sports or relevant authorities.
- Personnel Structure includes:
- A chairman, a vice chairman and appropriate numbers of committees;
- A chancellor or a head of institution and a vice chancellor or a deputy head of institution with total 4 to 5 positions;
- A dean or a director general of department and a vice dean or a deputy director general of department with not more than 3 positions in total;
- An office head and a vice office head with appropriate number of positions;
- A head and a deputy head of subject department with appropriate number of positions;
- A division head and a vice division head with appropriate number of positions;
- A sector head;
- A unit head, a subject unit head;
- A director and deputy director or a head and a deputy head of institution, college, center, central library, school, hospital and other organization.
- Appointment:
- The prime minister appoints a chancellor of a university or a head of institution, a vice chancellor or a deputy head of an institution and a dean/a director general of department and other equivalent positions upon request of the Minister of Education and Sports or relevant authorities;
- The Minister of Education and Sports or ministries or relevant ministry-equivalent bodies appoint: a university or a higher educational institution council; administrative positions such as: a vice dean/a deputy director general of department; head of subject department or an office head and other equivalent administrative positions upon request of a chancellor of a university or a head of an institution;
- A chancellor of a university or a head of an institution appoints administrative positions ranging from a deputy head of office and equivalent positions, a head and a deputy head of division, a deputy head of subject department, a unit head, a subject unit head and other equivalent organizational units under the organizational structure and supervision of such university or institution.
- Collage, Academy, College-equivalent Institution
The Minister of Education and Sports, ministries, ministry-equivalent bodies and relevant local administrative authorities stipulate organizational structures, roles, duties, rights and appointment of administrative positions of higher educational institutions with equivalent status to a college, an academy, all forms and types of college-equivalent institutions as provided in Article 11 and 12 of this Decree based on roles, rights, duties and responsibilities set out in the Law on the Government of the Lao PDR and the Law on Local Administration.
Article 53. Autonomy of Higher Educational Institutions
All forms and types of higher educational institutions shall obtain an autonomy based on following principles and conditions:
- Principles: subject to an agreement of the government or relevant authorities in accordance with policies, applicable laws and regulations.
- Conditions: (1) they must be higher educational institutions with a status as a university or equivalent, and having technical excellence; (2) must be ready in terms of administration-management and (3) must be certified and ranked in terms of quality assurance.
The Minister of Education and Sports is assigned to set out detailed standards, conditions and regulations regarding autonomy of higher educational institutions.
Prohibitions
Article 54. Prohibitions for Teachers and Personnel
Prohibitions for teachers and personnel of higher educational institutions are stipulated in the Law on Education, applicable laws and regulations.
Article 55. Prohibitions for Students
In addition to prohibitions provided in the Law on Education, students shall comply with applicable laws and regulations.
Final Provisions
The Ministry of Education and Sports, ministries, ministry-equivalent bodies, local administrative authorities, public and private higher educational institutions and relevant parties shall acknowledge, disseminate and strictly implement this Decree.
This Decree is effective from the date of signature and fifteen days after posting in the Lao Official Gazette.
Any regulations and provisions that conflict with this Decree shall be cancelled.
The Government of the Lao PDR
The Prime Minister
[Signature and seal]
Thongsing THAMMAVONG
Download English:Decree On Higher Education No. 177/Gov, dated 05 June 2015
Download Lao:Decree On Higher Education No. 177/Gov, dated 05 June 2015
List Measures Related to Legal Documents
| Name | Description | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Approval requirement for establishment, expansion, merger, temporary or permanent dissolution of higher education institutes | Approval for the establishment, expansion, merger, temporary or permanent dissolution of higher education institutes must be obtained from the Prime Minister. | Active |
| Curriculum approval requirement for higher education institutes | The curriculum for the associates degree offered by a higher education institute must be approved by Ministry of Education and Sport. | Active |
| Lao language requirement for higher education institutes | The language of teaching in higher education institutes must be Lao language. Foreign language curriculum may be taught as language course or if foreign language is used for research projects in accordance with the approval of the Ministry of Education and Sport. | Active |
| Requirements for the establishment a higher education institute | Any applicantion to establish a higher education institute must satisfy the following criteria: 1. The plan must meet the demand of the nation; 2. The institute must be easily accessible; 3. The applicant must have sufficient financial resources; and 4. Buildings for the institute must be constructed within 5 years from the date of approval. | Active |