With the philosophy of “humanistic digital transformation” - considering people as the center of all technological innovation, the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Vietnam National University, Hanoi is pioneering in contributing to the process of creating a new development model, where technology serves for people and by people.
Hanoi Moi Newspaper reporter had an interview with Professor, Dr. Hoang Anh Tuan, Principal of the school about the orientation and commitment in promoting breakthrough innovation and digital transformation on three pillars: Thinking - Institutions - Human resources.
Professor, Dr. Hoang Anh Tuan - Rector of the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, VNU
- You often emphasize that digital transformation is not just a story of technology. Can you share more about this point of view?- We are living in an unprecedented context, when digital technology, artificial intelligence, and big data are developing at an incredible speed, deeply impacting all aspects of life. Digital transformation has become a key strategy of the country, industries, organizations, and even individuals in society. However, there is a truth that we need to clearly recognize: Digital transformation is not just a story of technology.
If we only focus on infrastructure, digital platforms, and algorithms, we can create a modern, technologically advanced society, but we are prone to a crisis of trust, an imbalance of values, and an ever-growing digital divide. Because the core of digital transformation is not technology, but people - human thinking, behavior, institutions, and culture.
Digital transformation must answer fundamental questions: Who does technology serve? Who benefits from these innovations? What human values need to be protected and promoted?
- So what is the role of social sciences and humanities in digital transformation strategy, sir?To address the core issues above, social sciences and humanities play a key role.
Social sciences and humanities help us understand people, their behavior and social dynamics; help predict the impact of technology on social structures, culture and ethics; thereby guiding technology to serve a better life, instead of letting technology dominate people.
In the process of promoting innovation and national digital transformation, social sciences and humanities cannot stand aside, and certainly cannot be just “followers”. On the contrary, social sciences and humanities must be the guiding force, orienting thinking, contributing scientific foundations to institutions, and developing human resources to help digital society become inclusive, sustainable, and humane.
Therefore, the role of social sciences and humanities in promoting innovation and digital transformation with three pillars: thinking - institutions - human resources, is extremely important, not only for the strategy of the education sector but also for the future development of the country.
Technology can accelerate development, but it is thinking, institutions and human resources with humanistic values that determine the success of national digital transformation.
- So is thinking the most important starting point in the digital transformation process, sir?- To successfully transform digitally, the first thing is to change the mindset. That is an important turning point for an organization or a country to be able to break through in the digital era. And the mindset we are talking about today is not just technical or technological mindset, but humanistic mindset in digital transformation.
For many years, we often assume: Technology leads change. But reality is showing the opposite: The success or failure of technology depends on whether technology solves human problems, respects people or not. Many digital transformation projects fail not because of a lack of technology foundation, but because they cannot change behavior, cannot create consensus and trust of users.
Innovation in thinking in social sciences and humanities therefore needs to aim at four core points:
The first,Shift from passive thinking to thinking about creating a digital future. Social sciences and humanities should not only analyze and criticize, but also participate in co-creating innovative models, digital products, and digital services aimed at improving the quality of life of the community.
Monday,develop responsible data thinking. We need to understand data not only as an economic resource, but also as a personal value, a right of every citizen in the digital environment.
Tuesday,Apply human-centered design thinking. Technology must adapt to people, not force people to adapt to technology. This requires a deep understanding of psychology, behavior, and culture - areas that are strengths of the social sciences and humanities.
Wednesday, maintain ethical thinking in the face of the explosive growth of artificial intelligence and automation. Technology needs to go hand in hand with responsibility, transparency and social norms to avoid unintended consequences such as algorithmic bias, data exploitation or increased inequality.
When thinking is changed towards digital humanities, social sciences and humanities can become the core force to help technology develop for people, towards an inclusive digital society, respecting human rights and promoting individual creativity.
Teaching books on artificial intelligence applications compiled by school lecturers
- How do you evaluate the relationship between technology and institutions in the digital transformation process?- Innovation and digital transformation can only truly create sustainable change when placed within a suitable, transparent and flexible institutional framework. If thinking is the guiding lighthouse, then institutions are the governance foundation that ensures all digital transformation initiatives are deployed and spread in practice.
However, institutions cannot just follow technology. If technology changes every day but institutions still “walk” the old way, society will fall into a governance vacuum. Therefore, building institutions must put people at the center of all decisions.
There are three important issues of humane digital institutions: First, protecting people's rights and safety in the digital environment. The right to access information, the right to privacy, the right to respect for personal data, the right to be protected from technological abuse - these are core values that institutions must ensure.
Second, promote innovation and healthy competition, leaving no one behind. Policies must pave the way for all individuals - especially young people and disadvantaged groups - to benefit from technological advances and participate in innovation. Digital transformation must be inclusive, creating new opportunities rather than increasing inequality.
Third, managing the risks and social impacts of new technologies. Artificial intelligence, big data, and digital platforms can change social structures, impacting trust, ethics, and culture. Social sciences and humanities provide scientific evidence to help design appropriate institutions to balance innovation and ensure human values.
In that process, universities of social sciences and humanities, especially the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Vietnam National University, Hanoi, play a central role in critical knowledge and policy making, connecting the State - Schools - Enterprises - Society, while forecasting the social impact of technology to perfect institutions in a flexible, humane and sustainable direction.
The school proactively implements many key programs and projects to equip digital capacity and artificial intelligence (AI) capacity for both lecturers and students.
- In the three pillars of promoting innovation and digital transformation, what role does human resources play, Professor?- In the era of artificial intelligence and automation, technology can replace many jobs but cannot replace human creativity, emotions and human values. Therefore, human resource development is the most fundamental and long-term factor in national digital transformation.
However, training human resources for the digital society does not stop at the skill of using technology, but more importantly, the ability to understand - evaluate - and apply technology in a responsible, cultural manner, towards serving the community and sustainable development.
Human resources of the new era need to converge four key groups of competencies: Digital competencies and platform technology; critical thinking and complex problem solving; communication and collaboration skills in a multidisciplinary and multicultural environment; digital ethics and social responsibility in data mining and cyberspace.
- The University of Social Sciences and Humanities is considered one of the pioneers in training digital human resources with humanistic values. Could you share more about the outstanding results?- In recent years, the school has proactively implemented many key programs and projects to equip both lecturers and students with digital and artificial intelligence (AI) capabilities. One of the typical collaborations is with Meta Group (Facebook), through which we have built a digital and AI competency framework, organized training courses and workshops to improve understanding of responsible AI; and developed documents, digital lectures and a practical ecosystem to help students master new technologies. Since then, AI has been gradually integrated into formal training programs and short-term training courses.
University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Vietnam National University, Hanoi
