Portal
Type: Decision
Responsible Agency: Ministry of Education and Sports
Issuing Date: 2011-11-03
Click here to see the measures contained in this document
Contents
Article 2.Name of Curriculum Standards
Article 3.Scope of Application
Article 4.Organizing Learning and Teaching Using the Credit-Based System
Article 5.Educational Qualifications
Article 6.Permission to Teach Curricula
Article 7.Issuance of Certificates
Chapter II:Creation of Curricula and Conditions for Teaching
Article 8.Creation of Curricula
Article 9.Conditions for Opening a Curriculum
Article 10.Stages in Obtaining Permission to Use a Curriculum
Article 11.Setting up a Curriculum
Article 12.Curricular Evaluation
Chapter III:Organization of Learning and Teaching
Article 14.Formats for the Organization of Learning and Teaching
Chapter IV:Specification of Credits and Enrolment
Article 15.Principles for the Calculation of Credits
Article 16.Credit Specification
Chapter V:Criteria for Teachers and Enrollees
Article 18.Criteria for Teachers
Article 19.Criteria for Enrollees
Chapter VI:Student Assessment and Graduation
Article 20.Principles for Student Assessment
Lao People’s Democratic Republic
Peace Independence Democracy Unity Prosperity
Ministry of Education and Sports
No.: 4128 /ED.HE/2011
Vientiane Capital, dated: 03 November 2011
Decision
on the National Curriculum Standards for Master’s Degrees
Pursuant to: Law 04/NA, dated 3 July (07) 2007, on Education of the Lao People’s Democratic Republic;
Pursuant to: Decree 282/PM, dated 7 September 2011, on the Organization and Operations of the Ministry of Education and Sports; and
Pursuant to: The request of the Department of Higher Education;
The Minister of Education hereby issues a Decision:
General Provisions
This Decision defines the regulations, principles, and measures for the management of curricular and reference documentation for higher education institutes in their creation and development of curricula for master’s degrees so as to achieve nationwide uniformity.
Article 2.Name of Curriculum Standards
These standards shall be referred to as the “National Curriculum Standards for Master’s Degrees”.
Article 3.Scope of Application
The National Curriculum Standards for Master’s Degrees shall be used in the research and creation of National Curricula at higher education institutes wishing to open courses at this level.
Article 4.Organizing Learning and Teaching Using the Credit-Based System
4.1Programs for master’s degrees at higher education institutes must be taught according to a credit-based system.
4.2In the event that learning and teaching is established according to a system of hours and modules, the learning results shall be calculated according to a credit-based system.
Article 5.Educational Qualifications
Persons completing a curriculum at master’s degree level in a given branch shall receive a master’s degree certificate of ... in the branch of … stating “Master’s Degree of … in of …”.
Article 6.Permission to Teach Curricula
Higher level institutes wishing to open a master’s degree program must receive permission from the Ministry of Education and Sports (MoES) and if wishing to close the learning and teaching of an existing program, they must also receive permission from the MoES.
Article 7.Issuance of Certificates
Higher education institutes shall have the right to issue Certificates for Master’s Degrees for a program for which they have received permission from the MoES in accordance with all conditions and stages specified in the curriculum.
Creation of Curricula and Conditions for Teaching
Article 8.Creation of Curricula
The creation of curricula for master’s degrees by a State and private higher education institutes must be structured as follows:
- Name of curriculum: (Lao and English);
- Name of certificate: (Lao and English);
- Responsible unit;
- Philosophy and aims of the curriculum;
4.1Philosophy
Specification of background and reasoning for creating the curriculum, importance and vision of the curriculum, demand from society and the labor market, and the skills of its students after having completed it; and
4.2Aims
Specification of methods and student training in accordance with the three characteristics and five pillars of education and the skills of its students after having completed it;
- Specification of the time teaching commences;
- Expectations of plan for what students are to receive;
- Criteria for enrollees;
- Student selection methods;
- Organization of learning and teaching;
- Duration of curriculum;
- Content and structure of curriculum:
-Specification of credits used in the curriculum;
-Classification of subjects into each subject area (fundamental scientific subject areas, specialized fundamental subject areas, specialized subject areas, and optional subjects);
-Learning and teaching plans for each area of study and for each year; and
-Brief content of subject(s);
- Enrolment;
- Criteria for assessment and evaluation of study results and graduation;
- Teachers: (full-time and guest teachers);
- The location of the building(s), library/ies, laboratory/ies, and learning and teaching equipment and materials; and
- Budget.
Article 9.Conditions for Opening a Curriculum
The opening of a continuing bachelor’s degree curriculum by a higher level institute must take place as follows:
9.1 It must be consistent with the policies of the Party and government, the three characteristics and five pillars of education, national socio-economic development, and the scientific, technological, and environmental growth trends of the region and the world.
9.2 It must be aimed at catering to the needs of human resource development in various sectors, the socio-economic structure, and the labor market.
9.3The buildings and locations, learning and teaching materials and equipment, library/ies, laboratory/ies, personnel, teachers, and budget must all be ready beforehand.
9.4The institute must have taught a bachelor’s degree in a related field with two generations of students having graduated.
9.5 In order to ensure the quality of the learning and teaching, the higher education institute may invite external guest teachers to teach but these must not comprise more than a third (33%) of all the teachers teaching a given curriculum.
Article 10.Stages in Obtaining Permission to Use a Curriculum
Requesting permission to open a master’s degree curriculum by a higher education institute shall take place as follows:
10.1The request for the opening of the curriculum must involve the submission of various documents in accordance with Articles 8 and 9 and there must be a feasibility study.
10.2For the creation of a curriculum in a certain branch which overlaps with some other curriculum or course at the same institute, there must be a feasibility study and an explanation in order to request permission from the MoES.
10.3Institutes which have already received permission to open the teaching of several curricula must request permission for the opening of a new curriculum or the alteration of an existing one, submitting a feasibility study and the criteria to be used for student assessment and evaluation.
Article 11.Setting up a Curriculum
11.1A higher education institute shall not have the right to set up the learning and teaching of a master’s degree curriculum before receiving permission for its use from the MoES.
11.2In the event that Institute B wishes to teach a curriculum for which permission has been received for its use by Institute A and issue its own certificates, it must request permission from Institute A and the MoES.
11.3In the event that a curriculum is the property of a given institute and permission has already been granted for its use and the institute wishes for it to be taught at another institute and certificates issued by itself, permission must be granted from the MoES.
Article 12.Curricular Evaluation
Curricula for which permission has been granted by the MoES, after having been run and studied for 1-2 generations of students, it must be evaluated and revised in accordance with the Regulations on Evaluations of the meeting of the MoES National Curriculum Standards.
Organization of Learning and Teaching
The organization of the learning and teaching of continuing bachelor’s degrees at higher education institutes is set at 2 years or 2 academic years or more according to the branch of study. One academic year shall be divided into two semesters, each lasting five months (twenty weeks) and shall entail sixteen weeks of study.
Article 14.Formats for the Organization of Learning and Teaching
1.Format 1:shall comprise education emphasizing scientific research, the writing of a thesis, and the performance of various activities related to the topic of research.
2.Format 2:shall comprise theoretical education, include mandatory and optional subject areas, and involve the writing of a thesis.
3.Format 3:shall comprise theoretical education, involve mandatory and optional subject areas, and the writing of the student’s thesis by themselves.
Specification of Credits and Enrolment
Article 15.Principles for the Calculation of Credits
15.1Theoretical subjects which take up one hour of presentations and lectures weekly, adding up to no less than sixteen hours per semester, shall be attributed one credit.
15.2Practical subjects which take up two to three hours weekly, adding up to thirty-two to forty-eight hours per semester, shall be attributed one credit.
15.3Work experience and internships which take up three to six hours weekly, adding up to no less than thirty-two to forty-eight hours per semester, shall be attributed one credit.
Article 16.Credit Specification
Master’s degrees have three formats for learning and teaching and comprise the following subject types and number of credits:
16.12-year curricula
1. Format 1: Students must earn between 36 and 52 credits.
-The thesis shall be worth 36 credits or more.
-The study of necessary subjects and the participation in other activities shall not earn credits within the curriculum.
2. Format 2: Students must earn between 36 and 52 credits.
-The thesis shall be worth 12-18 credits.
-Mandatory subject areas shall be worth 20-30 credits.
-Optional subjects shall be worth 4 credits.
3. Format 3: Students must accumulate 40-52 credits overall.
-The writing of their own thesis by themselves shall be worth 10-14 credits.
-Mandatory subjects shall be worth 26-34 credits.
-Optional subjects shall be worth 4 credits.
16.23-year curricula:
1. Format 1: Students must accumulate between 54 and 78 credits.
-The thesis shall be worth 54 credits or more.
-The study of additional necessary subjects and the participation in other specialized activities shall not earn credits within the curriculum.
2. Format 2: Students must earn between 54 and 78 credits.
-The thesis shall be worth 14-20 credits.
-Mandatory subject areas shall be worth 36-54 credits.
-Optional subjects shall be worth 4 credits.
3. Format 3: Students must accumulate 60-78 credits overall.
-The writing of their own thesis by themselves shall be worth 14-20 credits.
-Mandatory subjects shall be worth 40-52 credits.
-Optional subjects shall be worth 6 credits.
Applicants shall be examined and/or selected according to study topics and the enrolment of researchers shall be as specified by the institute.
Criteria for Teachers and Enrollees
Article 18.Criteria for Teachers
18.1Teachers: shall have a specialized area of study related to the subject they are to teach and possess a doctoral level qualification of with two or more years’ experience.
18.2Consulting teachers: shall have a specialized area of study related to the research paper, possess a doctoral level qualification with three years’ experience or more or hold a master’s degree with honors and hold the position of associate professor or higher and there must be at least two of these.
18.3Thesis inspectors: shall have a specialized area of study related to the research paper, possess a doctoral level qualification with two years’ experience or more or hold a master’s degree with honors and hold the position of associate professor or higher and there must be two or more of these.
18.4Thesis committee members: shall have a specialized area of study related to the research paper, possess a doctoral level qualification with two years’ experience or more or hold a master’s degree with honors and hold the position of associate professor or higher and the thesis committee must consist of three to five members.
18.5Other criteria specified by the institute itself shall also be met.
Article 19.Criteria for Enrollees
Enrollees to a master’s degree curriculum in a given branch of study must meet the following conditions:
19.1Format 1: Students must have graduated with a bachelor’s degree in the same field of study, have achieved good results, possess the fundamental skills or knowledge, and be ready to write a thesis.
19.2Formats 2 & 3: Students must have graduated with a bachelor’s degree in the same field of study in which they intend to further their studies, have achieved good results at bachelor’s degree level or have achieved two or more year’s experience.
19.3Those who have graduated with a bachelor’s degree in a similar field of study and wish to enroll in Format 2 or 3 must study the fundamental subjects necessary for the branch of study in which they intend to enroll and the credits earned from this shall not count towards their curriculum.
19.4Students shall also comply with any other specifications issued by the institute.
Student Assessment and Graduation
Article 20.Principles for Student Assessment
The student assessment for each subject shall be conducted according to the following scoring system:
|
Grade |
Meaning |
Grade-point equivalent |
||
|
Lao symbol |
English symbol |
Lao |
English |
|
|
¡ |
A |
ດີເລີດ |
Excellent |
4.0 |
|
¢+ |
B+ |
ດີຫລາຍ |
Very Good |
3.5 |
|
¢ |
B |
ດີ |
Good |
3.0 |
|
£+ |
C+ |
ດີພໍໃຊ້ |
Fairly Good |
2.5 |
|
£ |
C |
ພໍໃຊ້ໄດ້ |
Fair |
2.0 |
|
¤+ |
D+ |
ອ່ອນ |
Poor |
1.5 |
|
¤ |
D |
ອ່ອນຫລາຍ |
Very Poor |
1.0 |
|
ª |
F |
ຕົກ |
Fail |
0 |
Those graduating from a two-year master’s degree must have accumulated the number of credits specified in the curriculum, have achieved a grade point average (GPA) of 3.00 or more, and be of good character.
Final Provisions
22.1Macro-Level
For the Department of Higher Education to study and issue additional specifications concerning the implementation of the curricula in practice in order to ensure quality and correctness; and
22.2Micro-level
For the higher education institute to improve, adjust, and create their own curricula along with evaluation and assessment specifications so that they are correct and consistent with this Decision.
The relevant offices and departments of the MoES and institutes shall acknowledge and implement this Decision in accordance with their respective duties and responsibilities.
This Decision is effective from the date of signature. Any decisions that conflict with this Decision shall be canceled.
Minister of Education and Sports
To be delivered to:
1. Government’s Office 1 copy
2. Ministries 1 copy each
3. Department of Higher Education 3 copies
4. Departments under the MoES 1 copy each
5. Universities 1 copy each
6. State and private sector higher education institutes 1 copy each
7. PESSs 1 copy each
8. To be kept 3 copies
Annexes
National Curricula for Master’s Degrees
Definitions:
-Curricular standards: shall refer to the quality standards specified for a curriculum in order that it may achieve its learning and teaching objectives and aims.
-A master’s degree curriculum: shall refer to teaching and learning of a student in a specialized subject which leads on from bachelor’s degree level.
-A credit: shall refer to a volumetric unit of learning and teaching for each subject [in a curriculum].
-Specialized subjects: shall refer to the main group of subjects of a given area of specialization.
-Optional subjects: shall refer to subjects which enhance knowledge and skills in a specialized subject.
-A senior teacher: shall refer to a person who is responsible for work experience and leading [students] through the writing of their thesis.
-A consulting teacher: shall refer to a person who instructs and leads in the writing of thesis to graduate.
-A thesis inspector: shall refer to a person who checks the accuracy and quality of a thesis to graduate.
-A full-time or internal teacher: shall refer to a teacher who teachers under the authority of their institute.
-A guest or external teacher: shall refer to a teacher who has been invited [to teach] by another institute.
Contents
Topic Page
|
1. Chapter I |
General Provisions |
1 |
|
2. Chapter II |
Creation of Curricula and Conditions for Teaching |
2 |
|
3. Chapter III |
Organization of Learning and Teaching |
4 |
|
4. Chapter IV |
Specification of Credits and Enrolment |
5 |
|
5. Chapter V |
Criteria for Teachers and Enrollees |
6 |
|
6. Chapter VI |
Student Assessment and Graduation |
7 |
|
7. Chapter VII |
Final Provisions |
8 |
|
8. Chapter VIII |
Annexes |
9 |
Download English:Decision on the National Curriculum Standards for Master’s Degrees No. 4128/ED.HE/2011, dated 03 November 2011
Download Lao:Decision on the National Curriculum Standards for Master’s Degrees No. 4128/ED.HE/2011, dated 03 November 2011
List Measures Related to Legal Documents
| Name | Description | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Master's degree curriculum approval requirement | The curriculum for the master's degree must be approved by the Ministry of Education and Sport. | Active |