Promoting cooperation between schools and businesses
Hoang Dang Khoa - a first-year student majoring in Artificial Intelligence (AI), University of Technology, Vietnam National University, Hanoi - in November last year, surpassed thousands of competitors to win the first prize in the Technology Initiative category at Viettel Digital Talent (VDT) 2025 with the topic: "UAV orientation based on Cross-Modal Keypoint Matching" (AI & Data Science field).
This is a solution highly appreciated by the Professional Council for its practical applicability to UAV systems in the future, solving the most challenging technology problems. Thanks to that, although not yet officially graduated, the male student was kept as a full-time employee.
After 5 years of implementation, VDT has become the most attractive technology internship program in Vietnam, attracting excellent domestic students and international students from 14 countries.
Emphasizing the meaning of the cooperation model between schools - businesses - the state, Mr. Tao Duc Thang - Chairman cum General Director of Viettel Group - sees this as a platform to help students shorten the gap between theory and practice:
“We create this program so that students have the best internship environment, not just stopping at theory but directly approaching practical problems of society. When you grow up quickly, the school benefits, businesses benefit, and the State has more engineers, masters, and doctors who understand reality and are ready to solve major problems of the country,” he said.
In fact, under pressure to improve output quality, many educational institutions have shifted from the mindset of "teaching what we have" to "teaching what the market needs".
Mr. Tran Thanh Hai - Principal of Vien Dong College (HCMC) - said that the school identifies technology as a strategic direction to increase students' competitiveness. Therefore, the school continuously updates information technology advances into its curriculum, and invites international lecturers, especially from India - one of the world's major information technology centers - to directly participate in training.
In addition, lecturers and final year students are also facilitated to participate in technology fairs in India to practice, thereby helping the school evaluate and adjust the training program. The advantage of being located in Quang Trung Software Park also helps Vien Dong College directly connect with more than 100 technology businesses at home and abroad, forming a training model combining school lecturers and business engineers.
At the University of Transport, in October 2025, outstanding students from the Faculties of Engineering, Electrical - Electronics, Mechanical Engineering, Transport - Economics at the University of Transport had the opportunity to participate in a field trip to the Vietnam - China international intermodal railway line - A journey connecting knowledge and culture.
During the tour, students have direct access to modern railway infrastructure, technology and operating procedures. The program is organized with the companionship and sponsorship of Vietnam Railways Corporation (VNR).
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Van Hung - Rector of the University of Transport - said that the three-house model has been expanded by the unit with two more entities: international technology transfer partners and beneficiary/application units (localities, industry agencies), forming an expanded three-house model, ensuring that research results go straight into practice.
To have mutual benefit, it is necessary to change from the mechanism.
From the business side, Mr. Tran Dai Nghia - Chairman of the Board of Directors, General Director of Minh Duc Group - clearly recognizes the gap between training and practice that many technical students are still facing. According to him, most students when they first graduate lack practical experience, leading to confusion and difficulties when undertaking supervision or construction design tasks.
This is the reason why Minh Duc Group has actively cooperated with universities in technical fields for many years, participating in the student training process. "The knowledge the school imparts is relatively close to reality. When placed in the business environment, many students can participate in design, construction supervision and understand the work they need to do. Students mainly lack skills and practical experience" - Mr. Nghia commented.
Mr. Nghia made 3 proposals. First, the State needs to create autonomy for schools in designing teaching programs to better suit reality. Second, universities need to increase the time for students to participate in practice and reality more. To do this, clearer mechanisms and policies are needed. Third, businesses need to be encouraged to participate more in the training network, from many angles.
