Failed the entrance exam, still studied first and became the valedictorian of the master's degree

Van Lang University admits that students who do not meet the entrance requirements are allowed to study the master's program in advance - Photo: TRAN HUYNH

After Tuoi Tre Online published the article "Valedictorian of Van Lang University's master's degree only studied for 10 months?", many students continued to complain and said that the school's explanation was not convincing and violated regulations.

Students take 5 postgraduate training courses before being admitted.

Through verification and research by Tuoi Tre Online reporters, Pham Thanh Danh (accounting student, class 12, 2023, Van Lang University) graduated with a good degree in accounting in 2007 from Ho Chi Minh City University of Economics.

On February 11, 2023, the President of Van Lang University signed a decision to recognize admission for students who passed the third master's entrance exam in 2022. According to the list of recognized admissions attached to the above decision, there is the name of student Pham Thanh Danh (born in 1985), majoring in accounting.

Meanwhile, student Pham Thanh Danh enrolled in course 12 in 2023 but defended his master's thesis in accounting at 12:30 on December 15, 2023 with students of course 11.

According to the students, information from the Graduate School of Van Lang University has decided to establish a project evaluation council to change the date to May 25, 2024 and the defense date to June 1, 2024 for student Danh and other students, while they defended on December 15, 2023.

Previously, on July 1, 2022, Mr. Pham Thanh Danh submitted an application to the Institute of Postgraduate Training and the Faculty of Accounting and Auditing of Van Lang University to "register for postgraduate training" in subjects of the postgraduate training program in accounting.

In this application, Mr. Danh registered to study 5 courses with a total of 16 credits, including: philosophy, scientific research methods, data analysis in accounting, accounting theory and corporate finance.

At the same time, students commit to fully participating in registered courses and strictly complying with the school's rules and regulations.

This application was approved by the Graduate School and the School of Professional Management. Mr. Danh was then admitted to the master's program with the accounting students of the 11th course.

"The school misunderstood the content of the circular, the fault does not lie with the students"

Further explaining the reason why this student was allowed to study some modules of the master's training program in advance before being admitted, the leader of Van Lang University said that he had applied the regulations in Clause 2, Article 4 of Circular 23/2021/TT-BGDDT on pre-studying the master's training program.

"In fact, Pham Thanh Danh registered for the 11th course of accounting master's program but was not recognized as admitted because he did not meet the English entrance requirement. However, the school considered the student's application and agreed to let him study some master's program modules with the students of the 11th course in advance. This student enrolled in the program first, and was not recognized as admitted until February 11, 2023 when he met the foreign language requirement," the school representative admitted.

Through verification, Mr. Pham Thanh Danh was granted a level 4 foreign language certificate by Van Lang University on October 15, 2022.

According to the leader of Van Lang University, the school is explaining the above incident at the request of the Ministry of Education and Training and waiting for the ministry's direction to handle this case.

"Actually, this is not the student's fault. This is because the school misunderstood the wording in Circular 23.

The school believes that all university graduates with good or above grades from any school can register for a master's program in advance. We do not think that the pre-registration must be from the same training institution," he said.

Meanwhile, the leader of the Graduate Training Institute said that the school's accounting and auditing department has developed a master's training project in accounting and will start enrolling students from 2021.

At the same time, this person also admitted to having confused the content of Circular 23: "Circular 23 was issued at the end of August 2021 and took effect from October 15, 2021, including completely new provisions. We understand that people who have graduated from university with a good degree or higher are eligible to register for a master's program in advance.

I think a university student can register for a few master's courses in advance, and a person who has graduated from university and is working is also qualified to study postgraduate.

Violation of master's training regulations

However, according to experts, regulations on pre-studying a master's program are clearly stated in Circular 23.

Accordingly, students studying a university training program (or equivalent level or higher), with a cumulative average grade of good or higher and other conditions prescribed by the training institution, can register to study in advance some modules of the master's training program at the same training institution. The number of recognized credits shall not exceed 15 credits.

"Thus, student Pham Thanh Danh, who graduated from Ho Chi Minh City University of Economics in 2007, is not eligible to register in advance for the master's program at Van Lang University in 2022. In fact, the school allowed this student to register in advance for 16 credits, which is also contrary to the provisions of Circular 23.

What is more important is that the school's allowing students who failed the entrance exam to register for a master's program in advance is a serious violation of the training regulations of the Ministry of Education and Training," said the head of the postgraduate training department of a university in Ho Chi Minh City.

Source: https://tuoitre.vn/rot-xet-tuyen-dau-vao-van-duoc-hoc-truoc-roi-tro-thanh-thu-khoa-thac-si-20240821130059189.htm