Vietnam will promote digital transformation in higher education in 2021, local media quoted Deputy Minister of Education and Training Hoang Minh Son as saying at an online conference on December 12.

The conference, organised by the Ministry of Education and Training, aimed to clarify the issues arising in practice and set up target for shigher education in the period of 2021-25.

At the meeting, Mr. Son highlighted issues to be discussed, including digital transformation and the need of a national database on higher education.

Deputy Minister of Education and Training Hoang Minh Son speaks at the conference. Photo: Education and Times Newspaper

In 2021, Vietnam’s education sector will accelerate the National Digital Transformation Program and implement digital transformation in the education and training sector. Therefore, digital transformation must become a strategic task of every higher education institution and must be deployed effectively in school administration, in enrollment and training, in teaching and learning innovation, Mr. Son added.

The minnistery will supplement policies to create a legal framework to promote digital transformation in education and training, guide schools to implement E-Government Architecture 2.0 and connect to the national public service system.

Besides, the foundation of national database on higher education should be basically completed within the framework of the SAHEP project (University Improvement Project), the deputy minister noted.

He also emphasized the enrollment in 2021 will remain basically stable until 2025, with some technical improvements and enhanced autonomy and responsibility of the higher education institutions.

The portal of registration and examination will be integrated into the National Public Service Portal to increase access and interaction with candidates throughout the country.

Mr. Son said the ministry will require all higher education institutions to urgently take steps to establish school councils in accordance with the legal regulations and complete accreditation before the end of this school year.

Regarding quality accreditation, Deputy Minister Hoang Minh Son said that in 2021 and in the years ahead, when the model of self-autonomy university is expanded, education quality accreditation needs special attention.

"Higher education institutions should focus on building and completing the internal quality management system, considering the assessment and accreditation as regular activities to continuously improve quality, creating confidence and benefits for learners and society," Mr. Son stressed.