Seminar on building a digital competency framework for students in the context of national digital transformation

Prof. Dr. Hoang Anh Tuan - Head of project coordination board

During the seminar, a report on the current status of digital competence of students (based on the survey results at the University of Social Sciences and Humanities) and the model of digital competence framework and output standards for students (expected to be applied to all universities) were presented by the research team. The research results show that students are lacking important skills and knowledge to work, study and experience in the digital environment. Students are aware of protecting personal information but have not actively participated in creating a safe and happy digital environment.

Dr. Do Van Hung presents digital competency framework

According to UNESCO, Digital Competency is the ability to access, manage, understand, combine, communicate, evaluate and create information securely and appropriately through digital technology to serve simple to complex tasks as well as start-up businesses. Digital competency is a synthesis of computer literacy, information technology literacy, information literacy and communication literacy.

Prof. Dr. Pham Quang Minh - Senior Advisor of the program

The research team proposed a Digital Competency Framework for students in the 21st century with seven skill groups, including: Operating equipment and software, Exploiting information and data, Communication and collaboration in digital environments, Creating digital content, Ensuring security and cyberspace, Digital learning and development, Using digital competencies for careers.

Dr. Nghiem Xuan Huy - Consulting expert

Digital competence is widely accepted to include knowledge and skills, but there are different perspectives on the requirement of attitudes or self-responsibility. In the scope of this study, self-responsibility is considered an integral part of digital competence and has an important impact when proposing a digital competence framework because it is necessary for a person to have the commitment and motivation to accumulate enough of this competence. Each individual's digital competence is developed based on the foundations of empathy, critical thinking, problem solving, creativity and innovation.

Dr. Pham Hai Chung - Consultant

Experts suggested that it is necessary to improve the applicability of the digital competency framework and output standards for students, calculate solutions when introducing digital competency subjects into university teaching, raise awareness of digital competency in the context of national digital transformation, etc.

Delegates attending contributed comments

Closing the discussion, Prof. Hoang Anh Tuan - Head of the Project Coordination Board sincerely thanked the experts and guests, committed to continue analyzing, researching and adjusting the digital competency framework as well as the output standards system based on the discussion content, as a theoretical basis for implementing the next steps. The project to Enhance Digital Competency for Students of the University of Social Sciences and Humanities is expected to last until 2022 with important goals including: building general and specialized courses on digital competency, publishing textbooks and handbooks on digital competency, developing models of extracurricular activities and clubs for students on digital competency. The results of this project are also expected to be replicated and applied to many universities nationwide.