This afternoon (April 23, 2025), the “Digital Age Innovation Challenge” competition was officially launched at National Economics University (NEU).

An overview of the event

Attending the event were Nguyen Minh Triet, Secretary of the Central Committee of the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union; Patrick Haverman, Deputy Resident Representative of UNDP Vietnam; and Pham Manh Hung, Deputy Director General of Voice of Vietnam.

Representing NEU were Assoc. Prof. Dr. Bui Huy Nhuong, Vice President; Dr. Vu Trong Nghia, Head of the Department of Communications; Assoc. Prof. Dr. Ha Minh Hoang, Dean of the Faculty of Data Science and Artificial Intelligence; and a large number of students.

The “Digital Age Innovation Challenge” competition is part of the “Enhancing Digital Competencies for Young People – Skill Our Future” program, jointly organized by Voice of Vietnam Online, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP Vietnam), and the Center for Science and Technology Development and Young Talent under the Central Committee of the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union.

The program aims to equip young people with a sound understanding of digital technology and the digital knowledge and skills needed to study, work, start businesses, and innovate in the digital age, thereby helping improve labor productivity and national competitiveness.

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Bui Huy Nhuong, Vice President of NEU, speaks at the event

Speaking at the event, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Bui Huy Nhuong, Vice President of NEU, noted that much has been said about the importance of digital skills in building and developing the country’s economy. As the economy changes, two groups need to transform: the current workforce and the future workforce—the younger generation.

“In the current context, we need to shift toward ‘planting the seeds’ of digital thinking in young people while they are still in school. This requires the involvement of all agencies, ministries, commissions, sectors, the Government, social organizations, and international organizations,” the Vice President of NEU emphasized.

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Bui Huy Nhuong said that, as a higher education institution, NEU has recently placed particular emphasis on developing fields of study related to digital transformation and digital skills, such as data science, business analytics, digital business, and Fintech (Financial Technology). In particular, over the past year, NEU established the College of Technology, which offers programs in fields such as information technology, data science, and AI technology. This underscores both the necessity of these fields and the substantial labor market demand for them.

In addition, in issuing the standard framework for undergraduate academic programs, the Ministry of Education and Training has identified digital skills as one of the skills that young people need to acquire.

At NEU, Data Science in Economics and Business has become a required course across all fields of study. This highlights the importance of courses related to digital skills in equipping students to enter the labor market as effectively as possible after graduation. The University has also introduced the overarching term “digitization of academic programs,” which entails incorporating digital training content, academic programs, and courses related to digital skills training for students into the University’s curriculum.

Delegates officially launch the “Digital Age Innovation Challenge – Youth Digital Innovation Challenge” competition under the theme “Bridging the Digital Divide”

Vietnam is entering an accelerated phase of comprehensive digital transformation to keep pace with the wave of the Fourth Industrial Revolution and the strong trend toward globalization. According to the World Economic Forum’s (WEF) “Future of Jobs Report 2025,” by 2030, automation will displace 92 million jobs, while 170 million new jobs will be created, primarily in fields such as data, AI, digital technology, and digital content. In this process, a high-quality digital workforce plays a pivotal role in determining the country’s competitiveness and sustainable development.

Vietnam has made a strong commitment to promoting digital transformation in conjunction with workforce development, employment, and entrepreneurship. The “National Digital Transformation Program to 2025, with Orientations to 2030,” issued by the Prime Minister, sets the goal of establishing a digital economy, digital society, and digital government. People are at the center of digital transformation in this strategy. Building a digital society means developing digital citizens; therefore, citizens’ digital competencies, particularly those of young people, must be enhanced to meet the requirements of rapid and sustainable development. The National Congress of the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union for the 2022-2027 term identified enhancing digital competencies for young people as one of its three breakthrough priorities for the term.

Nearly 500 students participate in the “Enhancing Digital Competencies for Young People – Skill Our Future” program

In particular, the Politburo’s Resolution No. 57-NQ/TW on breakthroughs in the development of science, technology, innovation, and digital transformation has paved the way for building a comprehensive innovation ecosystem. It also provides a policy foundation for enhancing digital competencies and encouraging digital entrepreneurship, especially among young people, to create new value and promote sustainable development. Alongside this, specialized programs such as “Digital Transformation in Vocational Education to 2025, with a Vision to 2030” and the project “Strengthening IT Application and Digital Transformation in Education and Training for 2022-2025, with a Vision to 2030” aim to develop a generation of dynamic digital citizens capable of adapting, leading innovation, and entering the labor market in the digital era.

Article and photos: Department of Communications

This is an automated translation. If you notice any errors, please contact the Department of Communications, National Economics University at phongtruyenthong@neu.edu.vn.