Vocational Education – A Critical Link in the National Technology Talent Ecosystem

As Viet Nam enters a new stage of development, science and technology, innovation, and digital transformation have been identified as the core pillars of national competitiveness. In practice, however, one of the major “bottlenecks” lies not only in policies and regulations, but in the availability of human resources capable of mastering and deploying technology.

At the conference “Promoting Science and Technology, Innovation and National Digital Transformation in Connection with the Development of the Private Economy”, Mr. Vu Chi Thanh, Rector of FPT Polytechnic College, FPT Corporation, shared a number of perspectives and practical experiences.

Photo: Mr. Vu Chi Thanh, Rector of FPT Polytechnic College, FPT Corporation, speaking at the conference.

According to Politburo Resolution No. 57-NQ/TW, science and technology development, innovation and digital transformation are defined as strategic breakthroughs and key drivers for improving labor productivity and national competitiveness. In parallel, Resolution No. 68-NQ/TW affirms the role of the private economic sector, which currently contributes around 50% of GDP and creates jobs for more than 80% of the workforce.

However, more than 98% of Vietnamese enterprises are small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), while Viet Nam currently has only about 500,000 technology professionals — far below the projected demand of 2 million by 2030. The significant shortage of technology talent, particularly in areas such as artificial intelligence, big data, and cybersecurity, is becoming a major barrier to digital transformation and the development of the private economy.

From this reality, the representative of FPT Polytechnic emphasized:

“Vocational education must be recognized in its rightful position as a strategic link in the national human resource ecosystem, rather than a ‘secondary pathway’. Vocational education has very clear advantages in the current context: streamlined training, short learning cycles closely aligned with real market demand; a strong focus on practical skills so learners can work immediately after graduation; and particular suitability for SMEs and private enterprises, which form the majority of the economy,” Mr. Vu Chi Thanh stressed.

One concrete example shared at the conference was the training model of FPT Polytechnic College, a member of FPT Corporation’s education ecosystem. In line with Resolution 57, FPT Corporation has defined a long-term strategy to invest in strategic and core technologies, and has established the Strategic Technology Steering Committee focusing on five key areas: Quantum AI, Cybersecurity, UAV, Data, and Railway Technology.

Inheriting FPT’s technological strengths and as part of the FPT ecosystem, FPT Polytechnic implements the “school within the enterprise” model with the philosophy of “practical learning – practical careers,” focusing on training hands-on talent for technology and the digital economy such as Artificial Intelligence (AI), Chip & Semiconductor Technology, Information Technology, and data processing.

Photo: FPT Polytechnic students regularly visit and gain hands-on experience at enterprises.

The college applies a practice-oriented training approach, project-based learning, and integrates AI into the curriculum. One hundred percent of students participate in enterprise internships during their studies. The school has proactively expanded partnerships with more than 2,000 leading domestic and international enterprises, enabling all students to gain real workplace exposure while still in school. According to the college’s statistics, 97.7% of graduates are employed after graduation, demonstrating the effectiveness of its market-aligned training model.

Beyond on-campus training, FPT Polytechnic also implements initiatives to improve digital capabilities for the community. A notable example is the nationwide “Digital Pioneers” campaign, focusing on three pillars: digital citizenship, digital defense, and AI application. From November 25, 2025 to date, the program has been deployed at 78 high schools across 18 provinces and cities, reaching more than 35,000 students and teachers, thereby contributing to raising awareness and technology mastery among the younger generation.

AI training activities under the “Digital Pioneers” campaign have reached 78 schools across 18 provinces and cities, engaging nearly 35,000 students in just over 40 days.

Based on practical experience, Mr. Vu Chi Thanh proposed three key recommendations to enhance the effectiveness of vocational education in the new era: promptly translating Party and State guidelines into highly practical implementation mechanisms and policies for vocational education; expanding mechanisms for enterprises to participate more deeply in training; and reforming output standards to focus on practical competence, technological deployment capability, and rapid adaptation to digital transformation.

He also affirmed that FPT Polytechnic College will continue to accompany the Party, the State, enterprises, and society in training practice-oriented human resources, contributing to making science and technology, strategic technologies, and digital transformation true drivers of the country’s sustainable development.