GO-GN Asia Pacific 2025 Workshop: An Update on the Open Movement in Vietnam from a Research and Practice Perspective

The workshop was organized by the University of Melbourne, the Hewlett Foundation, the Open University, the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, and the Vietnam Association for Scientific and Technological Information. What made the workshop significant beyond a typical scientific event was its approach to Open Education, not just as a technical solution, but as a developmental discourse linked to academic philosophy, pedagogical innovation, and shaping the future of universities.

Professor Hoang Anh Tuan - Rector of USSH - emphasized the university's mission of "pioneering in knowledge and social innovation." Photo: Do ​​Minh Ha Tuan Dr. Truong Ngoc Tuong Vi – Head of GO-GN Pacific Hub Coordination, Lecturer at the University of Melbourne. Photo: Do ​​Minh Ha Tuan Dr. Tran Van Tung - President of the Vietnam Association for Scientific and Technological Information (VASTI). Photo: Do ​​Minh Ha Tuan

From the morning session, the workshop positioned the OER movement as a strategic component of the knowledge ecosystem in the digital age. Updates on OER policy in Vietnam, presented by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Do Van Hung, showed that the national legal system has begun to form initial guiding frameworks; however, at this point, the gap between policy and implementation practice remains significant. Compared to the UNESCO framework guidelines of 2019, the issue lies not only in the consistency of policy, but also in the ability to translate OER principles into sustainable practices in educational institutions, where lecturers, students, and administrators interact daily with learning materials, learning, and research. This continuous connection between the macro and micro levels formed the overarching analytical thread throughout the entire workshop program. A highlight of the in-depth reports was the speakers' approach to Open Educational Resources (OER) using a systems thinking approach. Instead of viewing OER as a collection of documents, many presentations pointed out that the sustainable development of the Open Educational Resources movement depends on a digital structure and operational model. Presentations on access platforms, initiatives to build an open educational resource ecosystem at the Hue University of Tourism, and blockchain solutions for managing open educational resources opened up new approaches where technology not only plays a supporting role but also redesigns how knowledge is created, verified, shared, and reused. This shows that Vietnam is making significant strides: gradually shifting from simply receiving OER to proactively developing indigenous technological solutions to serve domestic needs and connect internationally.

Scientists speaking at the conference.

In the field of university pedagogy, the workshop devoted significant time to discussing the potential of turning Open Educational Resources (OER) into a catalyst for innovation in teaching and learning methods. Presentations from RMIT University, the Hue University of Tourism, and other domestic universities emphasized that open educational resources only truly fulfill their role when integrated into new pedagogical practices, where lecturers act as authors, editors, and knowledge creators, not only using but also enriching the shared knowledge base. In the context of the rapidly spreading artificial intelligence, some presentations showed that AI can support the design of open educational resources, automate technical steps, personalize learning materials, and expand the creative potential of both teachers and learners. However, the application of AI to OER also raises new questions about ethics, quality assurance, and open licensing mechanisms – factors requiring serious research in the future.
One of the most in-depth aspects of the workshop took place during the orientation session, where participating groups conducted a SWOT analysis of the Open Educational Resources (OER) movement in Vietnam. The open discussion method, based on academic dialogue and research evidence, allowed for the clear identification of inherent strengths such as the growing interest from universities and support from international organizations; while also clarifying persistent challenges related to infrastructure, academic habits, copyright mechanisms, and public awareness. The analysis of risks and opportunities also helped reshape the strategy: if Vietnam wants to enter the second phase of OER development, shifting from “open access” to “open innovation,” the core element is building a sufficiently strong community of practice, connecting research, training, technology, and expanding regional cooperation.

In particular, the workshop also looked further ahead, discussing the role of the GO-GN Asia-Pacific Hub and the OER practice community. Many opinions emphasized the importance of an international scholarly network in raising the standards of OER research in Vietnam. The core issue is promoting quantitative research, impact analysis, measuring readiness, and developing a framework for evaluating the quality of open educational resources. Regional connections not only facilitate the sharing of experiences but also support the development of research capacity for young lecturers – a key factor for Vietnam's deeper participation in the global OER ecosystem.
Overall, the GO-GN Asia Pacific 2025 conference marks a significant step forward in Vietnam's development of Open Education. The event opened up a multi-faceted academic dialogue, where issues of policy, technology, pedagogy, and law were examined through a unified systemic lens. More importantly, the conference contributed to strengthening the role of Vietnam National University, Hanoi and the University of Social Sciences and Humanities as a knowledge center in social sciences and humanities, and as a pioneer in creating an open education model based on humanistic principles and digital transformation. As many universities worldwide are moving towards a "data-driven university" model – where knowledge is freed from access barriers and widely disseminated – Vietnam has the opportunity to build a unique identity within the OER movement: an identity based on humanistic values, open knowledge, and sustainable connections between the domestic academic community and the international network.   Building upon the foundation laid by this conference, academic preparations for the 2026 international conference “Open Futures: Empowering Fair and Inclusive Higher Education in the Asia-Pacific” are becoming even more solid. The key is not only to maintain dialogue, but also to integrate the scientific conclusions from the conference into policy, teaching practices, and the academic culture of each university. Therefore, the breakthrough of Open Education in Vietnam will not come from a single effort, but from the synergistic process of research, innovation, and the maturation of the national OER practice community in the coming years.