Vietnam strengthens high-quality human resource training for semiconductors, AI

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh has signed an official document to enhance training of high-quality human resources in the fields of semiconductors, artificial intelligence and cloud computing.

He has praised higher education institutions, corporations and enterprises for their proactive involvement in training high-quality human resources in high-tech sectors such as semiconductor manufacturing, biology, and new materials.

To build on these achievements and create breakthroughs in training and development amid rapid technological advancements and the Fourth Industrial Revolution, the PM has signed Official Dispatch No. 83/CD-TTg dated August 23, 2024, outlining key directives for ministers, heads of ministerial-level agencies, government agencies, and chairpersons of people's committees of provinces and cities.

The dispatch asks the Ministry of Education and Training to carry out four basic tasks.

Firstly, it will direct public and private higher education institutions to establish specialized units such as schools, faculties and departments to focus on training and research in semiconductors, AI and cloud computing.

Secondly, the ministry will oversee the review and modernization of training programs; develop plans and organize training for lecturers, researchers and students in these fields; enhance technology use, particularly AI, in teaching and learning; and foster collaborations with businesses, educational institutions and prestigious research agencies both domestically and internationally.

Thirdly, it will expedite the completion and submission of a project on developing high-quality human resources to support high-tech and foundational industries for prime ministerial approval.

Fourthly, the ministry develops a directive to guide and promote human resource training in the semiconductor, AI and cloud computing industries.

The PM’s dispatch tasks the Ministry of Planning and Investment with completing and submitting for the prime minister's approval for a project on "Developing human resources for the semiconductor industry to 2030, with a vision to 2050," that includes elements related to AI and cloud computing.

It should also promote the creation and development of ecosystems, innovation centers, incubators and innovation networks in the semiconductor, AI and cloud computing fields.

The dispatch instructs the Ministry of Science and Technology to review and prioritize scientific research programs linked to talent training and the development of experts and scientists at higher education institutions in semiconductor, AI and cloud computing fields.

The science and technology ministry will also lead efforts, in collaboration with relevant ministries and agencies, to establish specific mechanisms and policies to attract scientific and technological talent from abroad to collaborate and teach at higher education institutions.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Information and Communications will complete and submit for the prime minister’s approval a strategy for developing Vietnam's semiconductor industry to 2030, with a vision to 2050. It will also develop a plan to implement this strategy, prioritizing the creation of big data computing centers to support higher education institutions in training high-quality human resources in semiconductors, AI and cloud computing.

Ministers, heads of ministerial-level agencies and government agencies direct and support higher education institutions in developing high-quality human resource training in high-tech fields, particularly semiconductor, AI and cloud computing.

The dispatch directs head of provinces and cities to attract investment for developing the semiconductor, AI and cloud computing ecosystems. They will also strengthen cooperation between the government, educational institutions and businesses to improve the effectiveness of training and developing human resources in the targeted fields.

Deputy Prime Minister Le Thanh Long will oversee and ensure implementation of the latest dispatch from the Prime Minister. The Government Office will also monitor implementation of the dispatch and resolve issues that arise thereof.

The U.S. Mission to Vietnam, in partnership with STEAM for Vietnam and others, last week concluded an event to introduce Generative AI (Gen AI) in education in Vietnam. The event drew the participation of nearly 15,000 online views, along with over 600 teachers registered and attending in person at 10 locations.

Fulbright University Vietnam in mid August received a $1.5 million grant from Google to advance AI research and education in the country.

In early July, Vietnam’s Ministry of Education and Training and Intel jointly launched an AI training course for university lecturers in Hanoi. The training course, part of Intel’s AI for Future Workforce Program, is also the first joint activity between the ministry and the global tech giant under an MoU signed by both sides on promoting digitalization in education.

The 225-hour training course would benefit 27 lecturers from eight science-technology universities in Hanoi, building a foundation for a competent AI workforce in the country. After completing the course, the lecturers are expected to update their training programs for university students with AI-related content.