Article 1.- To establish the State Council on Academic Titles, to be placed directly under the Government, to consider and award the academic titles of Professor and Associate Professor to scientific and educational workers.

Article 2.- The State Council on Academic Titles has the following tasks and powers:

1. To consider, recognize and issue certificates of academic titles of Professor and Associate Professor to scientific and educational workers of all disciplines.

2. To strip the academic titles of Professor and Associate Professor from those who have been recognized but who have been discovered to be unqualified.

a) The members of the State Council on Academic Titles shall be appointed by the Prime Minister. They include :

- The President of the Council who is the Minister of Education and Training;

- The Vice President who is a Vice Minister of Science, Technology and Environment;

- The General Secretary of the Council;

- The members who are Professors or Associate Professors representing various disciplines.

b) The Standing Committee of the Council is composed of the President, the Vice President and the General Secretary.

c) The General Secretary of the Council is a full-time member. The other members are all part-timers and receive part-time allowances.

d) The term of the Council is five years.

Article 4.- The State Council on Academic Titles shall conduct its consideration, recognition and award of Professor and Associate Professor certificates according to the Regulation for Consideration and Recognition of Academic Titles issued by the Prime Minister.

Article 5.- Assisting the State Council on Academic Titles are the Secretariat and Office of the Council. The members of the Council Secretariat must be holders of Doctor or Candidate Doctor degree, or Professor or Associate Professor title.

The total number of staffs on the payroll of the Office and Secretariat of the Council shall not exceed 15. They are placed under the direct management of the Council President.

Article 6.- The State Council on Academic Titles has its own seal and bank accounts. Its operating budget shall be allocated from the State budget through the budget of the Ministry of Education and Training.

The head office of the Council is located at the headquarters of the Ministry of Education and Training.

Article 7.- This Decree takes effect from the date of its signing. It replaces Decree No.153-HDBT on the 25th of September 1989, on the consideration and recognition of State academic degrees and titles. The consideration and recognition of academic degrees is now assigned to the Ministry of Education and Training.

The Ministers, the Heads of the agencies at ministerial level, the Heads of the agencies attached to the Government, the Presidents of the People's Committees of the provinces and cities directly under the Central Government, and the members of the State Council on Academic Titles, shall have to implement this Decree.

On behalf of the Government

The Prime Minister