"AI has infiltrated schools very quickly and had a huge impact," said Professor Hoang Anh Tuan, Rector of the University of Social Sciences and Humanities.
Artificial intelligence (AI)
It is infiltrating and strongly impacting all aspects of social life, especially the field of education and training. In an interview with a reporter from One World Magazine on the sidelines...
Workshop "Developing Artificial Intelligence Capabilities for Learners"Professor Hoang Anh Tuan, Rector of the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, shared many heartfelt and insightful views on the development of AI in the field of education and schools.
It can be said that the emergence and widespread use of AI has impacted every aspect of social life. How has AI infiltrated and impacted teaching and learning in universities? And in your opinion, what are the current challenges?
Professor Hoang Anh Tuan:It can be said that the emergence and widespread use of AI has impacted every aspect of social life and every aspect of work, with varying degrees of influence depending on the field. In teaching and learning at universities, AI has infiltrated very quickly and had a significant impact. Currently, the use of AI by students is unavoidable. Surveys have shown that university students today are very proactive and flexible in using this tool.
The current issue is not whether to use it or not, to allow it or not. As soon as ChatGPT was launched, the Ministry of Education and Training organized a seminar. From that moment, we agreed that the story of AI and school issues will continue to intertwine for a long time and will become increasingly complex. This is unavoidable in education.
We see a reality that students have been, are, and will continue to use AI for various types of work and study at different levels. Generally, the frequency of use will increase, and students' AI skills will also improve. This necessitates that organizations, management, and evaluation of training adapt. This adaptation must begin with the mindset and awareness of educators in general, especially teachers.
The University of Social Sciences and Humanities, VNU Hanoi, in collaboration with Meta Group, is organizing a completely free course on GEN AI for lecturers and students.
With the current widespread use of AI, teachers certainly cannot avoid using it as well. So, in this situation, how should teachers adapt, sir?
Professor Hoang Anh TuanTeachers and lecturers need to be trained, updated, and guided to understand, recognize, use, and master AI. This is partly to serve their own work, and partly to adapt to the needs of students. If students use AI that the teacher doesn't know or isn't proficient in, the students can surpass the teachers in terms of the tool.
Students using AI to search for information, assist in analyzing data, and help discover ideas is perfectly fine. While the downsides may be discussed, this trend is irreversible. The best approach is to adapt.
Up to this point, the use of AI has been positive, with few worrying downsides. However, to avoid AI dominating academic work, assessment methods must be flexible and no longer resemble those of the past.
So, in your opinion, how should educational institutions, from primary to university, restructure their curricula and assessment methods to integrate AI in a responsible and effective way?
Professor Hoang Anh Tuan:Similar to the general digital competency framework, artificial intelligence competency has several levels in the higher education environment:
Basic level: There is a comprehensive AI course covering topics such as format, usage, technical means, civic ethics, and the history of AI.
A more important level (infiltration): The issue is that throughout the entire curriculum, schools must integrate digital skills and artificial intelligence into all subjects. For example, even classical subjects like Sino-Vietnamese studies can use AI to assist in character recognition, the restoration of ancient texts, or the search for multiple meanings of a word. I believe that 100% of the fields of social sciences and humanities can be compatible with and apply AI to enhance professional effectiveness.
Regarding assessment, to adapt to the increasing use of AI in learning, assessment and teaching methods must naturally change to avoid becoming overly reliant on AI. For example, instead of relying solely on essay assignments (which can be highly AI-driven), instructors should enhance activities such as discussions, exchanges, and seminars in the classroom. In this case, AI cannot speak on behalf of the student; instead, the ability to convey information, answer questions, and engage in dialogue must be demonstrated by the individual.
A classic but highly effective form of assessment today is the oral examination. Oral examinations are a very simple way to assess students' abilities, genuine learning, and knowledge.
Faculty and staff of the University of Social Sciences and Humanities are equipped with the necessary knowledge and skills to apply generative artificial intelligence to teaching and scientific research.
What are his views on solutions to address the core problems of AI in education?
Professor Hoang Anh Tuan:Technically, the accuracy, processing speed, and depth of AI will only improve. However, among the many core issues of AI usage, I believe that establishing standards, regulations, and criteria for AI use is crucial.
Specifically, ethics and social responsibility remain core issues that we must focus on addressing. The issue of management and application likely still requires tackling institutional challenges in using AI in a way that is grounded, humane, responsible, and in accordance with established standards.
To avoid falling behind, what specific policies do schools need to implement to invest in AI infrastructure and build a clear ethical framework for the use of AI in schools?
Professor Hoang Anh Tuan:Currently, the application of AI in various work fields is becoming highly personalized. Each person can use it with just one device.
From an organizational perspective, the issue comes back to institutionalizing the responsibilities of all parties involved. The school needs to clarify the extent to which its staff and specialists use AI in administrative work. AI can draft documents, but public service ethics, professionalism, and expertise must still be monitored. It's unacceptable to completely delegate everything to AI.
| "AI can draft documents, but public service ethics and professionalism must still be monitored. We cannot 'delegate everything' to AI," said Professor Hoang Anh Tuan, Rector of the University of Social Sciences and Humanities. |
For example, schools are developing and adjusting regulations regarding the application of artificial intelligence in all work processes to avoid tragedies or problems. Stories of suicides following AI-guided advice have occurred worldwide, highlighting the urgent need for ethical, responsible, and legal solutions.
At the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, how are students applying AI to their learning process, sir?
Professor Hoang Anh Tuan:The use varies and is not uniform, but primarily students use it to generate ideas and solve problems. Even faculty members have used some specialized AI software in research, teaching, and design. The figures show a significant increase in work efficiency.
We always recommend using AI responsibly and adhering to all regulations. For example, when using AI for analysis, students must vet and take personal professional responsibility for the accuracy of the data and ideas. Some journals even require public attribution regarding the use and application of AI in data processing.
As the leader of a university, what strong message would you like to send to educational authorities, parents, and especially students themselves, regarding how they should leverage AI to maximize their learning and creative potential in the future?
Professor Hoang Anh Tuan:If we're going to call it a message, here's my perspective.
First, we need to clearly understand that education cannot turn its back on AI, but neither can it become dependent on, enslaved by, fanatically devoted to, or deify AI. Ultimately, humans remain the subjects of societal development.
Secondly, in terms of institutional aspects, there needs to be a general regulatory framework, and those regulations should be specified for each area of work. This institutionalization is very beneficial and even protects users in terms of safety and legal liability.
Experts discussed at the workshop "Developing Artificial Intelligence Capabilities for Learners" held at the University of Social Sciences and Humanities on October 28, 2025.For students: AI needs to be used in a very scientific and intelligent way. Intelligence means using AI as a supporting tool, not replacing human intelligence. Mastery lies in the ability and capacity to control artificial intelligence.
Responsibility and ethics are related to integrity. Students cannot simply use AI products to replace their own intellectual activity. There must be a clear statement regarding the reference to AI.
| "Education cannot turn its back on AI, but it also cannot become dependent on it," said Professor Hoang Anh Tuan, Rector of the University of Social Sciences and Humanities. |
For teachers and lecturers: There also needs to be standards and criteria, in which responsibility and ethics must be placed at the forefront.
For parents: Parents are stakeholders in this process. As a parent myself, I believe it's necessary to thoroughly understand the process to gain a relatively objective and insightful perspective. This will not only provide peace of mind but also help support children in their studies, avoiding unnecessary biases and skepticism. Parents should support the school's responsible and ethical use of AI.
Thank you for sharing these valuable insights!
