Building a Digital Competency Framework for Citizens: Starting from Schools

To build a generation of safe digital citizens, the city needs to deploy synchronous solutions, especially education .

Associate Professor, Dr. Nguyen Gia Nhu - Principal of the School of Engineering Technology, (Duy Tan University): Risk of falling behind in "defense"

In the context of the complicated cyber security situation, Da Nang city has taken proactive steps with strategic vision. Some examples can be mentioned that demonstrate the city's impressive efforts and achievements at the strategic and specialized levels. First of all, Da Nang proactively conducted practical drills to respond to cyber security incidents and attaches importance to improving this skill. Incident response drills are organized regularly, closely coordinating with units...

Da Nang is one of the localities with a strategic vision for security infrastructure when it plans to build a provincial/municipal Cyber Security Operations and Monitoring Center (SOC). This is considered an important step towards comprehensive protection of the e-government system and smart city in the future, not only for itself but also to provide services for the entire region.

The city also focuses on investing in future human resources. The fact that local universities, including Duy Tan University, have invested resources and provided high-quality training in Information Security; have labs for researching network security and practicing cyber warfare, etc. is a positive sign, showing long-term preparation for high-quality human resources in the area.

However, Da Nang’s pioneering digital transformation invisibly increases the “attack surface”, making the city a more valuable target in the eyes of cybercriminals. Meanwhile, the defense capacity on a large scale has not kept up, for example, the readiness level of businesses and the digital skills of people are still low… This is the core of the paradox of Da Nang: Leading in “attack” (developing digital technology, digital economy ) but at risk of falling behind in “defense” (cybersecurity for all people, all businesses).

“Humans are the weakest link” in the security chain. Statistics show that about 90% of successful data breaches are caused by human error, such as clicking on phishing links or using weak passwords. Therefore, it is time to change our perspective. In the context of a smart city like Da Nang, humans are not only the weakest link, but also have the potential to become the strongest line of defense, the most intelligent and flexible threat detection system.

Nguyen Hue Secondary School organized a seminar on Safe Social Networking Skills for students. Photo: NTCC

This is when Da Nang’s initiative really took off when the locality pioneered the issuance of the “Digital Competency Framework for Citizens” in October 2024. The Digital Competency Framework for Citizens has shifted its focus from “warning” to “equipping and measuring” citizens’ capacity.

Based on the solid foundation of the Digital Competency Framework, Da Nang can deploy specific and synchronous solutions to build a generation of truly safe digital citizens.

First, integrate it deeply into the general education system. Cyber safety must be considered a survival skill in the 21st century, like drowning prevention or traffic safety. The content of the Cyber Security Law should be included in the National Defense and Security Education subject in high schools. The Department of Education and Training needs to play a leading role in integrating this content into the main curriculum, ensuring that 100% of students are equipped with basic knowledge.

Second, there is a suitable information security skills training program for adults. The city can develop free online courses and mobile applications on the DaNang Smart City platform. These courses should be designed with high interactivity, have short tests, a points system and issue certificates.

Third, create a reliable and simple reporting channel and turn each citizen into a “sensor” for the city security network. This is the important connection point between the “Human” and “Surveillance” defense layers…

Mr. Vo Thanh Phuoc - Principal of Nguyen Hue Secondary School (Hai Chau Ward): Forming digital capacity from school

Digital competence for students is of interest to the school and is implemented early to help form and develop 5 components. These are: Using and managing information and communication technology; behaving appropriately in the digital environment; solving problems with the support of information and communication technology; applying information and communication technology in learning and self-study; collaborating in the digital environment through content topics.

Schools play a key role in equipping students with digital skills, including providing knowledge, facilities and creating an environment to practice and develop skills. This helps students adapt to the technological world and prepare for the future.

In the 2024-2025 school year, the school has introduced teaching through 4 forms: Teaching the IT subject of the 2018 General Education Program; integrating digital citizenship skills education in teaching subjects and educational activities; teaching and learning to enhance digital citizenship skills education; organizing digital citizenship skills education clubs.

With the thematic activities of "Cyberspace Safety Training" in collaboration with the Hai Chau District Youth Union and the Da Nang City Social Work Center, students of Nguyen Hue Secondary School are equipped with civilized rules of conduct in cyberspace. From here, creating a strong change in awareness, responsibility, and behavior when receiving information on social networks.

Students are provided with knowledge about the benefits and security threats in cyberspace, focusing on potential risks and challenges in the cyber environment; the exposure, loss, theft, and sale of personal data; complex activities of groups; banking and financial fraud; payment account trading...

From real-life stories and practical situations, students are provided with information and skills to use social networks safely and effectively; legal regulations related to the use of social networks, students' responsibilities in using them; the reality and harms of improper use of social networks; skills to handle situations such as online bullying, mental violence or other bad social network issues to help students have ways to respond...

In addition to the above activities, the school also specifically implements the contents through the activities of the Young Informatics Club, Nguyen Hue Team media Club, etc.

Mr. Nguyen Thanh Lich - Vice Chairman of Lien Chieu Ward People's Committee: Creating a habit of using electronic public services

Digital citizenship is a key factor and determines the success in implementing the three pillars of digital transformation: Digital government, digital economy and digital society.

To become a digital citizen, each individual needs digital capacity and digital skills to serve life, work, communication relationships and socio-economic activities.

In addition, the Digital Competency Framework for Citizens is the basis for agencies and localities to develop and deploy training and guidance on digital transformation for people more effectively; apply policies, solutions, support and equip people with necessary digital tools; especially deploy digital transformation applications and systems to meet people's needs... contributing to the successful promotion of digital government, digital economy, and digital society in the area.

Lien Chieu was chosen to pilot the Education sector database software for primary and secondary school admissions from 2023. The application of the primary school admissions portal helps schools' admissions information to be transparent. If the student's profile is not complete or does not match the admissions requirements such as residence information... the data cannot be entered into the system.

To support parents in using the enrollment software, schools in the district have established on-site guidance teams. This is a stepping stone to forming and creating a habit of using electronic public services for citizens.

From the experience of schools, in addition to organizing digital skills training, the Ward People's Committee has established a community technology team to guide the installation and use of online public services to support the elderly and disadvantaged households and reflect difficulties arising in digital transformation to the Ward People's Committee and Party Committee for resolution and adjustment.

Source: https://giaoducthoidai.vn/xay-dung-khung-nang-luc-so-cho-cong-dan-khoi-dau-tu-truong-hoc-post744523.html