Attending the Workshop, on behalf of Ministries, Departments, and Associations were: Dr. Nguyen Son Hai - Director of the Information Technology Department, Ministry of Education and Training; Assoc. Prof. Dr. Tran Xuan Nhi - Standing Vice President of the Association of Vietnamese Universities and Colleges, former Deputy Minister of Education and Training; Assoc. Prof. Dr. Tran Minh Tuan - Director of the Department of Digital Economy and Digital Society, Ministry of Information and Communications; On behalf of Vietnam National University, Hanoi, was Assoc. Prof. Dr. Pham Bao Son - Vice Director of Vietnam National University, Hanoi.
Along with representatives from the functional departments, member schools, faculties, and affiliated centers and institutes; on the side of the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, there was Prof. Dr. Hoang Anh Tuan - Rector of the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, VNU Hanoi.
Associate Professor Dr. Dao Thanh Truong – Vice Rector of the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, VNU Hanoi, representing the leadership of departments and faculty members of the affiliated faculties/departments. On the Meta Group side: Mr. Ruici Tio, Regional Policy Program Manager for Asia-Pacific - Meta Group; Ms. Thao Griffiths - Director of Public Policy for the Vietnam Market - Meta Group.
The workshop attracted the interest and participation of a large number of managers, scientists, educators, leading experts in the fields of digital transformation, information technology and higher education, along with representatives from universities, colleges, and businesses nationwide.
The workshop was also attended by nearly 700 readers, including experts, managers, researchers, and Gen Z students from across the country, via the Zoom Meeting platform.
The seminar received attention from news agencies and media outlets that attended and reported on it, including VTV1, National Assembly Television, Vietnam News Agency, Dan Tri newspaper, Education and Times newspaper, Vn Express, etc.
The world is entering an era of digital transformation, a process closely linked to the application of digital technology in all aspects of human social life. Vietnam is not outside this process. The Vietnamese government is implementing very specific policies to promote comprehensive digital transformation, such as the "National Digital Transformation Program to 2025, with a vision to 2030". To achieve these goals, enhancing the digital capabilities of each citizen, especially students – the next generation of human resources in the near future – is crucial. Therefore, from 2020 to the present, the University of Social Sciences and Humanities - Vietnam National University, Hanoi, has collaborated with Meta Group to implement the project "Enhancing Digital Capabilities for Students" and has achieved many positive results. The project has integrated digital skills training content from Meta Group's Digital Age Thinking program into the "Introduction to Information Literacy" course and trained over 2000 students; developed a digital competency framework for students and materials for developing digital competencies; established a Digital Humanities Club, and organized a nationwide video creation contest "Messages for the Digital Generation".
Professor Hoang Anh Tuan, Rector of the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Vietnam National University, Hanoi, shared his perspective in his opening remarks at the conference: “It can be said that, as ‘digital natives,’ Vietnamese students possess the qualities and opportunities to develop comprehensively in the digital environment. In particular, students aged 18-22 will be the pillars and owners of the country, so equipping them with digital skills to prepare for entry into the labor market is extremely important. The University of Social Sciences and Humanities is very pleased and grateful for the cooperation and partnership of Meta Group, with the support of the Ministry of Education and Training, the Ministry of Information and Communications, and Vietnam National University, Hanoi, in implementing many meaningful programs that contribute to building high-quality human resources and promoting Vietnam to become a digital nation in the future.”
Professor Hoang Anh Tuan (Rector of the University of Social Sciences and Humanities) delivered the opening remarks at the conference.
Dr. Nguyen Son Hai, Director of the Information Technology Department, Ministry of Education and Training, stated: “Today's workshop on Digital Competency for Students in the Context of Digital Transformation in Higher Education, jointly organized by the University of Social Sciences and Humanities (VNU) and Meta Group, is very timely and useful. I highly appreciate the University of Social Sciences and Humanities for proactively researching and implementing a Digital Competency Framework for students, which demonstrates the University's pioneering spirit in innovation and digital transformation.”
Dr. Nguyen Son Hai (Director of the Information Technology Department, Ministry of Education and Training) highly appreciated the significance of the cooperation between Vietnam National University, Hanoi and Meta Group and the role of the University of Social Sciences and Humanities.
Associate Professor Pham Bao Son - Vice Director of Vietnam National University, Hanoi, highly appreciated the significance of the Conference: "This is an opportunity for us to look back at the important contributions of the 'Enhancing Digital Capacity for Students' Project, which the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Vietnam National University, Hanoi, has implemented in collaboration with Meta Group since 2021, and at the same time look to the future, seek opportunities for cooperation and connection to further promote the development and enhancement of digital capacity for students and young people in Vietnam in general. Vietnam National University, Hanoi, as a leading multidisciplinary, high-quality training, scientific research, knowledge and technology transfer center in the country, with the spirit of 'Innovation - National Responsibility - Sustainable Development', will continue to play a key role in this endeavor."
Associate Professor Pham Bao Son (Vice Director of Vietnam National University, Hanoi) emphasized the need to strengthen connections to further promote the development and enhancement of digital capabilities for Vietnamese students and young people in general.
Speaking at the workshop, Mr. Ruici Tio, Policy Program Manager, Asia-Pacific Region, Meta Group, said: “I am very proud that through our collaboration with the University of Social Sciences and Humanities - Vietnam National University, Hanoi, Meta Group has for the first time supported the design and implementation of a credit-based Digital Competency course for students. This is one of our efforts to respond to the National Digital Transformation Program and contribute to building a Digital Society. Through this program, we hope to foster a generation of responsible digital citizens, equipped with critical thinking and digital skills to confidently participate in the online environment safely, ready to access future careers and become innovative agents.”
Mr. Ruici Tio (Policy Program Manager, Asia-Pacific Region, Meta Group) affirmed that enhancing digital capabilities for the younger generation is a key strategy for Meta and expressed his desire to continue deeper cooperation with VNU and the University of Social Sciences and Humanities in future projects.
Through live presentations at the workshop:
Digital transformation and digital workforce(Prof. Dr. Ho Tu Bao - Institute for Advanced Studies in Mathematics);
A strategic breakthrough in national digital human resource development within the Digital Economy and Society Development Strategy to 2025 and orientation to 2030.(Assoc. Prof. Dr. Tran Minh Tuan - Director of the Department of Digital Economy and Digital Society - Ministry of Information and Communications), The workshop provided information on the current situation and importance of digital competence for citizens of the 21st century, while also discussing the advantages, difficulties, and potential strategies to promote higher education institutions in enhancing digital competence for students. Many useful documents such as the Digital Competency Framework, Handbook, and Monograph on Digital Competency for Students were shared at the workshop.
Professor Ho Tu Bao (Institute for Advanced Studies in Mathematics) in his report provided a detailed analysis of the concept of digital competence and why it is necessary to equip young people, especially Vietnamese students, with digital competence in the current context.
Associate Professor Dr. Tran Minh Tuan presented a report sharing very useful information about the human resources situation in the field of information technology, as well as the potential for developing a high-quality workforce in Vietnam with strong digital skills to adapt and integrate into the rapidly changing digital society worldwide.
Notably, within the framework of the workshop, a team of experts from the University of Social Sciences and Humanities announced the first Digital Competency Framework for students in Vietnam, based on research and references from many popular digital competency frameworks worldwide. This framework has been widely referenced by domestic training institutions to develop digital competency development programs, aiming to help learners acquire the necessary skills and knowledge to study, work, and communicate effectively and safely in the digital environment.
Dr. Do Van Hung (Head of the Information and Library Science Department, Director of the IT Center, Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities, Vietnam National University, Hanoi, Deputy Head of the Project Coordination Board) presented the first Digital Competency Framework for Vietnamese Students - a core product of the Project.
Simultaneously, the two documents, "Handbook for Developing Digital Competencies" and "Monograph on Digital Competencies," were presented in detail at the workshop by representatives of the editorial team: regarding their content and how to use them effectively. This is an important result of the close cooperation between the University of Social Sciences and Humanities - VNU Hanoi and Meta Group over the past two years, with a shared vision of developing comprehensive digital competencies, helping students to be proactive and creative in their studies and career development in the digital world. The materials will be taught at the University of Social Sciences and Humanities - VNU Hanoi, alongside the inclusion of Digital Competencies as a subject in the Bachelor of Information Management program.
At the workshop, experts in the field of digital transformation from ministries, associations, and universities discussed and shared key topics: clarifying the concept of digital competence, its significance; the current situation and needs for digitally competent human resources in Vietnam; and related policies and fundamental solutions to enhance digital competence for students.
Experts from the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, the Ministry of Education and Training, the Ministry of Information and Communications, Mete Group, and the Banking Academy participated in the discussion session.
Associate Professor Dr. Dao Thanh Truong (Vice Rector of the University of Social Sciences and Humanities) summarized the workshop, sharing that the opinions, discussions, and reports all affirmed the significance of the project to enhance digital capacity for Vietnamese students and expressed the hope that Meta Group, as well as domestic and foreign agencies and businesses, would continue to cooperate with the University of Social Sciences and Humanities and other educational institutions to implement more meaningful projects.
