Higher education: Prioritizing "quality" over "quantity" is necessary.

On May 22nd, in Hanoi , Soha.vn and Dai Nam University jointly organized the seminar "Creating Happy Universities in Vietnam: From Vision to Action".

From satisfaction to pride in the university.

In his opening remarks at the workshop, Mr. Bui Ngoc Hai – Director of Soha.vn and Head of the Organizing Committee – stated that the story of a "happy university" is not only an educational issue, but also a story of human development for the entire nation.

Mr. Bui Ngoc Hai – Director of Soha.vn, Head of the Organizing Committee, delivered a speech at the conference.

While acknowledging that higher education has made significant strides in recent years to improve student satisfaction and happiness, Mr. Hai stated that, given the fierce competition in the labor market as AI develops daily, universities still have much work to do.

Citing the figure of 15% of students in a Soha.vn survey who said they lacked confidence about career opportunities after graduation, Mr. Hai argued that this insecurity is a common situation for many young people today – those who have more opportunities than previous generations, but also face more pressure and uncertainty than ever before.

Dr. Le Dac Son – Chairman of the Board of Dai Nam University, presented his paper at the conference.

Speaking at the conference, Dr. Le Dac Son – Chairman of the Board of Directors of Dai Nam University – argued that pressure is not always negative. The important thing is whether students receive the support to overcome pressure and grow.

Based on the practical implementation of the Outcomes Education (OBE) model, the application of AI, and the philosophy of "supportive discipline" at Dai Nam University, Mr. Son believes that higher education needs to help students develop practical skills instead of just chasing after superficial achievements.

Mr. Son also affirmed that the school will steadfastly follow the path it has chosen, so that in 5 or 10 years after graduation, all Dai Nam University students will be recognized by society as individuals capable of building their lives, outstanding individuals with responsibility to their families and the country.

Sharing the same viewpoint as Dr. Le Dac Son on the definition of "happy student," Dr. Le Mai Lan - Vice President of Vingroup , Chairwoman of the Board of Directors of VinUni University, stated: "A happy student is not one who experiences less pressure. It is a student who, after four years, looks back and sees: they have grown, they have accomplished more, they understand themselves better, and they know why what they do is meaningful."

The workshop was attended by a large number of students.

Based on her experiences at VinUni, Dr. Le Mai Lan offers this perspective: "A happy university is not necessarily the most pleasant university. It is a university that makes its students proud and makes society proud to have that institution."

Higher education cannot simply stop at transmitting knowledge.

Speakers argued that, in the age of AI, if higher education continues to teach using outdated methods of knowledge transmission, many students will quickly fall behind.

Professor Rick Bennett, Vice-Chancellor and Vice-President of the British University Vietnam (BUV), believes that higher education needs to shift from a "quantity-focused" mindset to building "substantive quality and international trust."

Professor Rick Bennett, Vice-Chancellor and Vice-President of the British University Vietnam (BUV), presented a paper at the conference.

According to Professor Rick Bennett, what matters is not just rankings or accreditation, but whether the university truly helps students develop the skills, adaptability, and confidence to navigate a rapidly changing world.

Associate Professor Tran Thanh Nam - Vice Rector of the University of Education, Vietnam National University, Hanoi, and Vice President of the Vietnam Association of Educational Psychology - also emphasized the role of personal resilience, mental health, and adaptability in the age of AI.

According to Mr. Nam, higher education cannot simply stop at imparting knowledge; it needs to help learners develop self-learning abilities, psychological resilience, and lifelong learning capacity.

Within the framework of the conference, a panel discussion on the theme "How can higher education create happiness for students, teachers, businesses, and the country?" focused on analyzing the practical demands that society and the labor market are placing on Vietnamese higher education.

Nguyen Hoai

Source: https://daidoanket.vn/giao-duc-dai-hoc-can-trong-chat-hon-trong-luong.html