Recently, Hanoi National University has developed the course "Introduction to digital technology and artificial intelligence applications" to equip students with basic knowledge of digital thinking and common tools of artificial intelligence (AI). According to the plan, full-time students of Hanoi National University from the 2025 enrollment period will study this course online. This is considered a strong step to standardize digital capacity, meet integration requirements and lead digital transformation.
A strategic move, demonstrating innovative and integrated thinkingSpeaking to reporters of the Vietnam Education Electronic Magazine, Professor, Doctor of Science Nguyen Dinh Duc - Chairman of the 2025 Council of Professors of the University of Technology, Vietnam National University, Hanoi said that in the context of digital transformation and the 4.0 industrial revolution, artificial intelligence (AI) plays an extremely important and revolutionary role in the education sector. In particular, universities are strategic pillars, playing a pioneering role in promoting the development of the AI ecosystem in Vietnam. Because this is the place to train high-quality, highly qualified human resources, meeting the requirements of rapid development in the field of artificial intelligence. The AI ecosystem cannot be strong without well-trained engineers, researchers, and experts who are updated with modern knowledge.
At the same time, universities are the places to promote scientific research, innovation and development of AI technology. Laboratories and research centers in universities need to be places to create new algorithms, deep learning models, and practical applications in fields such as medicine, education, transportation, agriculture, defense industry, etc.
Along with that, with an important role in policy making and strategic orientation for AI development for the country, scientists and experts from universities also participate in the process of consulting, criticizing, and contributing to the development of a national strategy on AI in a systematic manner, with a long-term vision, avoiding movements and fragmentation.
Therefore, universities need to become the connecting nucleus in the AI ecosystem, linking the state - enterprises - schools - research institutes, thereby promoting cooperation and synchronous development. Universities can play the role of high-tech startup incubators, hosting large forums and seminars on AI, connecting domestic and foreign expert communities.
Professor, Doctor of Science Nguyen Dinh Duc - Chairman of the Council of Professors of the University of Technology, VNU
According to Mr. Duc, making artificial intelligence (AI) a compulsory subject in the university curriculum is a strategic move, demonstrating innovative thinking, integration and anticipating global development trends. This helps improve digital capacity and new-age thinking for students because AI is no longer the exclusive domain of information technology but is penetrating into all industries, from healthcare, finance, engineering, transportation, agriculture to education and art.
Therefore, equipping all students with basic knowledge of AI, whether studying engineering, economics or social sciences, is mandatory so that they do not fall behind and know how to apply AI to work and life. In addition, when AI becomes an official subject, it will lead to changes in program content, teaching methods and learning support technology, thereby promoting innovation in teaching and learning methods in higher education. Teaching and learning will become more intuitive and personalized thanks to AI support tools. Lecturers also need to proactively update and improve their technological capacity, thereby promoting real digital transformation in higher education.
In addition, once AI is taught widely, a community of students, scientists, and engineers with knowledge of AI in all fields will be formed, contributing to the formation of a strong academic and research AI ecosystem. This will also create a strong driving force for interdisciplinary research, applying AI to solve practical problems of the country, from the fields of economics, social sciences to smart agriculture, logistics, smart cities, to national security and defense. On the other hand, in the era of integration, global employers prioritize people with digital skills, understanding of AI, data, programming, and systems thinking, which will create a competitive advantage for Vietnamese students in the global labor market. When AI becomes a universal skill, Vietnamese students will have higher competitiveness, easily adapt and work in an international environment.
“Making AI a compulsory subject in university programs is not only an inevitable trend, but also an important lever to help Vietnamese higher education keep pace with the world, improve training quality and directly contribute to the country's development in the digital age. This is also the responsibility and vision that universities, especially Hanoi National University, as a pillar and leader in training, research and innovation of the whole country, are pioneering in undertaking,” said Mr. Duc.
Student researching and studying at the Institute of Artificial Intelligence, University of Technology, VNU
Agreeing with the above viewpoint, Associate Professor, Dr. Nguyen Anh Tuan - Head of the Department of Training and Student Affairs, Hanoi National University, said that AI is fundamentally changing many areas in society and education is no exception. In the context of digital transformation and the 4.0 industrial revolution, AI is not only a new technology, but also a catalyst for promoting innovation in teaching and learning methods, personalizing learning and optimizing education management. Universities play a key role in developing the national AI ecosystem, with three pillars including training high-quality human resources; research and technology development; knowledge transfer.
According to Mr. Tuan, Hanoi National University is a multidisciplinary university center with strengths in interdisciplinary training between technology, data science and social and humanities fields. Promote AI application research associated with practical problems in Vietnam, from healthcare, education, urban management, to smart agriculture. Build an innovative startup ecosystem in the field of AI, while closely cooperating with businesses and research institutes at home and abroad.
The development of the course “Introduction to Digital Technology and Artificial Intelligence Applications” for all students from the 2025-2026 academic year is a clear demonstration of that strategic direction. Because AI is not just the business of engineers, but needs to become a part of the thinking and digital citizenship capacity of all university students. At the same time, this is also a strategic and urgent step, not only for higher education but also for the future development of the Vietnamese workforce in the digital age.
Assoc.Prof.Dr. Nguyen Anh Tuan - Head of Training and Student Affairs Department, Vietnam National University, Hanoi
Sharing more about AI, Mr. Tuan said that this is no longer a narrow field of expertise, but is becoming a fundamental ability that students in all professions need to approach. From fields such as economics, medicine, law, journalism to social sciences, AI is changing the way people approach knowledge, solve problems and make decisions.
Implementing a compulsory course on AI will help shape students’ digital thinking, which is emphasized in both the National Strategy on Digital Transformation and the digital citizenship competency framework issued by the government. Students are not only users/applicators of technology, but also need to know how to think critically, understand the positive aspects and risks of AI, thereby becoming responsible digital citizens.
In addition, this is also an opportunity for universities to innovate teaching methods, enhance flexible learning, personalized learning through digital platforms, and promote the connection between training - research - practical application.
Mr. Tuan emphasized: “The goal of Hanoi National University is not to train AI experts in one semester, but to equip students with cognitive foundations, digital thinking and skills to use popular AI tools in learning, research and future work. With this approach, AI is no longer a skill of the future, but also a capacity of the present, contributing to renewing the higher education ecosystem and promoting a modern, inclusive learning society.”
It is expected that the popularization of AI will help Vietnam develop high-quality human resources.
According to Mr. Nguyen Dinh Duc, to effectively implement AI as a compulsory subject, universities need to carefully prepare programs, staff, infrastructure and support from businesses and the state.
First, it is necessary to build a systematic program with clear output standards. AI needs to be designed as a fundamental, interdisciplinary subject, focusing on core concepts such as machine learning, deep learning, data processing, intelligent algorithms, and ethics in AI. Each field of study can have its own AI content orientation, for example: AI in engineering, AI in economics, AI in medicine, etc. In addition, output standards need to be specific, practical, linked to the output standards of the training program, to the actual requirements of the labor market and international standards.
Second, the team of lecturers and experts is strong enough. To teach AI effectively, lecturers need to have good background knowledge, research experience and practical application ability. It is necessary to organize retraining and advanced training programs, invite experts from businesses, research institutes and connect with international lecturers.
Third, about technology infrastructure and learning resources. AI requires strong computing infrastructure, specialized software, and data-computing labs. Therefore, there needs to be open, updated learning resources, along with digital lectures, sample AI models, and practice platforms for students to self-study.
Fourth, on connecting with practice and businesses. The program should be linked to real-world projects, encouraging students to apply AI to business and social issues. At the same time, schools can invite businesses to participate in program development, student assessment, research funding, and direct recruitment.
Mr. Duc also hopes that the widespread and systematic training of AI in universities will not only change the quality of education, but also change the situation of human resource development in Vietnam in the new era, from passive to active, from processing to innovation, from consumption to technology leadership.
"Popularizing AI in education is both a vision and a national strategic opportunity. Therefore, we need to act early, persistently and consistently so as not to miss the golden moment in the fourth industrial revolution," Mr. Duc emphasized.
Meanwhile, Mr. Nguyen Anh Tuan said that the fact that universities are simultaneously focusing on training in artificial intelligence (AI), especially making AI a compulsory subject, is a very positive and hopeful signal for the development of Vietnam's higher education system and the national economy.
First, this will help create a generation of students with a solid foundation in AI. Not everyone may be an AI engineer, but every graduate will be able to understand, use, collaborate, and make decisions in an AI environment. This is a fundamental competency in the context of the ongoing comprehensive digitalization.
Along with that, AI will no longer be the “private playground” of a few technology experts, but will become common knowledge and skills for all professions: from doctors using AI in diagnostic imaging, teachers using AI to personalize teaching, to journalists, lawyers, and administrators making decisions based on data. This is the foundation for Vietnam to form a digital economy and a knowledge economy. In addition, if AI becomes a part of students’ thinking, it will better meet the needs of the labor market while jobs increasingly require workers to “know how to collaborate with AI tools”. Therefore, workers not only need expertise, but also digital thinking, digital ethics, and the ability to intelligently interact with technology.
In the long term, the simultaneous training of AI is also an opportunity to narrow the digital gap between industries, training areas, and between Vietnam and the world. If we implement it systematically and early, this will not only be a "technology race" but also a "capability transformation" at the national level.
“I hope that popularizing AI education in universities will not only create workers who know how to use technology, but also a generation of confident, responsible and creative digital citizens, capable of leading Vietnam into the knowledge economy proactively and with its own identity,” said Mr. Tuan.
Related news:
Information Management at VNU-USSH - a major that leads the future in the digital economy
Message for the digital generation MESSAGE 4 DIGIGEN 2025: a creative, modern and inspiring academic playground
