Digital transformation in Vietnamese higher education is closely linked to practice

This issue was presented at the seminar "Digital Transformation in Higher Education in Vietnam" attracting the participation of many higher education managers, lecturers, researchers and representatives of Vietnamese and UK universities.

Delegates discussed challenges and solutions for digital transformation in universities at the seminar (Photo: British Embassy in Vietnam).

Digitalization captures local context

Faced with the rapid development of technology, science and engineering, universities in Vietnam need to promote digital transformation to meet training needs and contribute to promoting socio-economic development.

Understanding this importance, the British Council has supported 3 projects to expand a sustainable digital ecosystem for higher education in Vietnam, with a total funding value of up to 275,000 GBP, including the Digi - Doi Alliance project, Supporting digital transformation in teacher training in Vietnam and Achieving successful digital transformation in Vietnamese universities.

Equipping digital skills is equipping thinking skills and confidence for higher education. Sharing at the seminar, Professor Tony Wall, Liverpool John Moores University, said that all three projects to expand a sustainable digital ecosystem for higher education in Vietnam were conceived and developed in coordination between the two countries.

With Digi - Doi, the project promotes co-creation of the program at the national level and across all sectors, aiming to build skills, confidence and capacity to start thinking about digital transformation in the local context in Vietnam.

According to Dr. Ly Thien Trang, Vice Principal of Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology, "The Digi - Doi project implemented at the school has had an impact on the application of digital transformation in their practical work. Lecturers implemented the digital transformation project with the guidance of experts from UK universities. From there, they changed their working methods, teaching methods... towards improving the digital experience for students as well as improving work efficiency".

Regarding the project Supporting Digital Transformation in Teacher Training in Vietnam, Dr. Le Quang Vuong, Head of Biology Department, Vinh University, assessed: "The impact of the project is in two aspects including awareness and skills. Teachers now do not only see digital transformation in education as a temporary solution, but they have understood the potential, advantages and mandatory requirements of digital transformation.

The project also supports teachers to change their approach, as changing teaching tools will require teachers to adjust content and appropriate pedagogical methods through skills training to access learning materials in new formats to create interaction and attraction for learners.

Successfully building a Digital Maturity Self-Assessment Tool for the Vietnamese university context based on the Digital Maturity Assessment Model of Jisc (the UK's organization for technology, data and digital in higher education, research and innovation), UK, Associate Professor Dr. Mike Perkins, British University Vietnam shared about the project "Achieving successful digital transformation in Vietnamese universities": "This digital tool allows Vietnamese universities as well as UK universities to self-assess their digital maturity, thereby determining the next steps to develop and support themselves in the digital transformation journey".

Associate Professor, Dr. Diep Thanh Tung, Vice Rector of Tra Vinh University, also said that the project has helped develop an internal digital culture to align with the organization's mission and core values ​​and promote the training and improvement of digital skills and digital capacity for all relevant parties.

Delegates attending the seminar (Photo: British Embassy in Vietnam).

Sustainable Digitalization for Vietnamese Higher Education

Under the Memorandum of Understanding signed in 2021 between the British Council and the Ministry of Education and Training, the British Council is committed to supporting the development of Vietnam's higher education sector by sharing UK knowledge and expertise in a range of priority areas, including digital transformation in higher education.

Ms. Hoang Van Anh, Director of Education Program, British Council shared: "The cooperation between the British Council and the Ministry of Education and Training in digital transformation has so far been realized with a high-level online conference on Preparing for digital transformation in higher education, a report on Digital transformation readiness in higher education at Vietnamese universities, 3 cooperation projects with more than 40 professional workshops, consulting for more than 600 lecturers and students, an online digital center for teacher educators, and a self-assessment tool for digital maturity in higher education".

"These results are expected to become a solid foundation to support and promote a sustainable digital transformation strategy in higher education in Vietnam," Ms. Van Anh emphasized.

Source: https://dantri.com.vn/giao-duc/chuyen-doi-so-trong-giao-duc-dai-hoc-viet-nam-gan-lien-voi-thuc-tien-20250514104852183.htm