Striving to become a regional AI application center by 2030
Artificial intelligence (AI) is the creation of intelligent machines and systems through the use of computer models, engineering, and related technologies, to perform tasks that normally require human intelligence.
According to Google's AI Opportunity Agenda for Vietnam - Some recommendations - Vietnam is facing a shortage of AI experts, with an estimated only about 300 AI experts.
Mr. Do Thanh Binh, Director of International Cooperation of the Vietnam Software and IT Services Association (VINASA), said that there are currently about 1.5 million IT workers working in Vietnam. Of these, about 500,000 are well-trained engineers.
In the short and medium term, 2024-2025, Vietnam lacks about 150,000 - 200,000 IT human resources each year, especially in the fields of AI, Big Data, Full-stack programmers and cybersecurity.
“In Vietnam, the period 2025-2030 will increase by 74% in human resource demand for AI, increase by 20,000 experts/year related to the field of cybersecurity and increase by 30%/year in human resources related to Blockchain technology,” Mr. Do Thanh Binh informed.
Statistics show that building a specialized AI workforce is extremely important to ensure that Vietnam has enough human resources to meet the needs of AI projects.
In response to the demand for human resources in the AI field, in 2021, the Prime Minister issued the National Strategy on AI Research, Development and Application to 2030. The goal of the strategy is to promote AI research, development and application, making AI an important technology field of Vietnam in the fourth industrial revolution. By 2030, Vietnam will become a center for innovation, developing AI solutions and applications in the ASEAN region and the world.
Higher education institutions across the country are also not out of the game, quickly starting to train human resources in this field. Notably, up to now, the Academy of Posts and Telecommunications Technology is the first school in Vietnam to have a faculty of Artificial Intelligence.
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Pham Van Cuong - Head of the Department of Artificial Intelligence, Academy of Posts and Telecommunications - Information Technology, the Academy's Artificial Intelligence training program is built according to international standards with 2 main areas: Machine Learning and Applied Artificial Intelligence based on advanced training programs from large and prestigious universities in the world such as Stanford University, Carnegie Mellon University to equip students with knowledge areas that are both specialized, modern and highly practical to meet the human resource needs of high-quality Artificial Intelligence experts.
Many recommendations to improve the quality of human resources in the AI field
According to Prof. Dr. Nguyen Dinh Duc, Chairman of the Council of the University of Technology, Vietnam National University, Hanoi, currently our human resource training in the field of AI still has many shortcomings. Human resources are the most important, so the State needs to invest in building strong research groups on high technologies. There are policies to attract good domestic and foreign experts to participate in strong research groups at a number of universities and research institutes. These research groups are the core that closely links scientific research with human resource training.
To promote the training of high-quality human resources in the coming time, it is necessary to build and invest (invest in the teaching staff, scholarships for undergraduate and graduate students; invest in facilities and equipment) in priority high-tech human resource training programs at both undergraduate and graduate levels. Promote the connection between: the State, schools - scientists, experts and businesses in research and training of high-tech human resources...
From the perspective of businesses, Mr. Do Thanh Binh said that in order to meet the demand for human resources in information technology and digital technology in the coming time, the Ministry of Education and Training needs to have training programs for lecturers with specialized courses to improve teaching capacity. At the same time, create conditions and policies for students and lecturers to participate in technology research projects...
Higher education institutions need to work closely together to have enough resources to grasp and organize training to meet the diverse needs of businesses. At the same time, linking with businesses, creating internship opportunities for students at large corporations, building specialized technology laboratories at key universities...
"Enterprises also need to publicize their human resource plans and provide specific human resource needs so that universities can adjust their training programs," Mr. Binh suggested.
According to Prof. Dr. Nguyen Dinh Duc, Chairman of the Council of the University of Technology, Vietnam National University, Hanoi, the training and development of high-tech human resources in Vietnam, including the field of AI, still faces many difficulties, mainly related to the limited number and quality of staff working in teaching and researching CNC fields and sectors. Training programs at schools are still scattered. Curriculum and lectures are still heavy on theory, mainly teaching principles and general problem solving methods, not closely following the development of advanced technology in the world. The infrastructure and modern laboratories of universities in Vietnam today can be said to not keep up with modern advanced technologies in the world,...
