When universities must 'lead the way'

In the era of artificial intelligence and strategic technologies, higher education cannot simply focus on training human resources; it needs to become a pioneering center for experimentation, innovation, and opening up new avenues for national development.

VietNamNet•20/05/2026

VietNamNet shares an article by Associate Professor Dr. Do Chi Nghia, a full-time National Assembly representative on the National Assembly's Committee on Culture and Society, on the "pioneering" mission of universities in the technological era.

These two requests are groundbreaking and carry high expectations.

The speech by General Secretary and President To Lam at Hanoi National University recently raised many profound issues regarding higher education in the new era. Of the seven tasks assigned to Hanoi National University, two requirements are groundbreaking and contain high expectations.

Firstly, universities must become places that "dare to lead, dare to experiment, and pave the way" for new models in education, science and technology, innovation, and digital transformation. Secondly, universities need to be pioneers in implementing the Party's strategic resolutions, focusing on solving major national problems, especially in strategic technologies, core technologies, and source technologies.

These are not just guidelines specific to a single university, but also a message about the new role of Vietnamese higher education in the knowledge-based era.

Thus, universities are no longer primarily viewed as training human resources as before, but are placed in the position of "leading the way and paving the path".

Do Chi Nghia.jpg

Associate Professor Dr. Do Chi Nghia - a full-time member of the National Assembly's Committee on Culture and Society.

In the traditional development model, schools provided education based on societal needs. However, in today's era, if universities only chase immediate demands, they will always lag behind reality. Artificial intelligence (AI), semiconductors, and big data are transforming the global economy and labor structure. In this context, universities cannot simply impart existing knowledge; they must foresee the future, prepare the necessary skills for that future, and open up new avenues for national development. This is the role of "leading the way and paving the path."

Being a pioneer means daring to venture into new fields, experimenting with new models of education, governance, and research before society fully recognizes their value. The history of the world's leading universities shows that large educational institutions are always testing grounds for new ideas before they become mainstream trends.

In reality, in a rapidly changing world, not all development models are still relevant. Outdated management mindsets are becoming obstacles. Outdated mechanisms are slowing down innovation. Outdated training methods are no longer keeping pace with the times.

When General Secretary and President To Lam requested that Hanoi National University provide a practical basis for the Party and State to continue refining development policies, it meant that universities not only have the responsibility of conducting scientific research but also must contribute to "paving the way" for national development. Universities must be places to identify new bottlenecks in the institutional framework, limitations of the old model, and propose new directions for the future.

A nation that wants to develop rapidly needs not only resources but also the ability to adapt and innovate continuously. During the development process, new issues will always arise, such as AI, digital data, and the green transition. These issues require new management thinking and policies. And nowhere is a better place than universities to experiment, critique, and propose these directions.

Procedures and a "safe" mindset will make it very difficult to generate big ideas.

Therefore, the demand for radical reform of university governance models is not only aimed at reforming a single university, but also at forming a national "development laboratory." There, new educational models can be tested; new autonomous mechanisms can be implemented; collaboration methods between universities, businesses, and the government can be deployed early; and new technologies can be researched and applied proactively.

However, to "lead the way," universities must first be "freed." It's impossible to expect universities to be innovative and groundbreaking if they are still managed with an administrative mindset heavily focused on control and a fear of risk. Innovation is always linked to experimentation, and experimentation doesn't always guarantee immediate success.

An environment heavily reliant on processes, procedures, and a "safety" mentality will find it difficult to generate great ideas. Therefore, the requirement for expanded autonomy coupled with accountability is a fundamental condition for universities to fulfill their pioneering role. Universities need to be granted genuine autonomy in academics, organizational structure, personnel, finance, and development strategy. It is impossible to expect universities to compete internationally and master core technologies while simultaneously operating under a "request-and-grant" mechanism with multiple layers of approval.

Autonomy must be accompanied by a high level of accountability. Universities should be judged by the quality of their education, research capabilities, innovative products, and substantial contributions to the country, not by the number of formal procedures or reports.

When General Secretary and President To Lam requested Hanoi National University to take the lead in strategic technology fields, it also showed that higher education is being placed at the center of national self-reliance.

Vietnam National University, Hanoi.jpg

Hanoi National University clearly defines its mission as training high-quality human resources and promoting basic research. Photo: VNU

For many years, Vietnam has primarily participated in the low-end segment of global value chains. This has contributed to economic growth but has also created significant technological dependence. Without improving research capabilities and mastering technology, sustainable development will be difficult to achieve.

No nation can become a superpower if it is always dependent on buying technology from others. And nowhere other than universities can create the knowledge base to change that. Today's laboratories can determine a nation's technological standing for decades to come. Today's strong research groups can create the strategic industries of the future.

However, to achieve this, a radical shift in investment thinking for science and technology is needed. Core technologies cannot be developed if investments remain scattered and short-term. Fields such as semiconductors, AI, and biotechnology all require significant resources, long-term investment, and a high level of risk.

More importantly, a genuine culture of innovation needs to be fostered within universities. A university that wants to lead the way and pave the path needs to encourage divergent thinking, scientific critique, and a desire to overcome old limitations. Young people need to be given opportunities to experiment. Scientists need to be trusted. New ideas need to be respected. That is the spirit of a pioneering university.

Ultimately, the two groundbreaking tasks assigned to Hanoi National University are also major requirements for Vietnamese higher education in the new era of development. In many cases, universities also need the courage and intelligence to propose new models and approaches for development when old models are no longer suitable.

This is not just the role of an educational institution, but also the mission of a national intellectual center in the new era.

Source: https://vietnamnet.vn/khi-dai-hoc-phai-di-truoc-mo-duong-2517633.html