Students from the HCM City University of Industry and Trade explore smart devices showcased at a seminar held on October 25. — Photo www.sggp.org.vn

HCM CITY — Ethical considerations and social responsibility must be placed at the heart of applying artificial intelligence (AI) in education, experts said at recent seminar held in HCM City.

The Central Commission for Information and Education and Sài Gòn Giải Phóng (Liberated Saigon) newspaper last Friday co-corganised the seminar called “Promoting the Application of AI in Education and Training: Benefits and Challenges.”

The event aimed to clarify the spirit of the Politburo’s Resolution No 71-NQ/TW issued on August 22, 2025, which calls for “comprehensive digital transformation and strong application of digital technology and AI” in education and training, and to implement the Government’s action programme under Resolution No 281/NQ-CP dated September 15, 2025.

Opportunities and challenges

Speaking at the event, Nguyễn Khắc Vân, acting editor-in-chief of Sài Gòn Giải Phóng newspaper, said Resolution No 71-NQ/TW identifies the application of digital technology and AI in education as a strategic breakthrough.

“This is not just a guiding policy but a practical imperative requiring Việt Nam’s education sector to proactively innovate and keep pace with global development trends,” he said.

AI offers new opportunities such as personalised learning, expanding access to knowledge, reducing regional disparities, and fostering lifelong learning.

However, the technology also raises major concerns about data security, ethics, and regional infrastructure gaps, he said.

“The key question is how to ensure that AI serves humanity, not replaces it, and promotes fairness and human-centred values in education,” he said.

Lê Thị Mai Hoa, deputy head of the Education Department under the Central Commission for Information and Education, emphasised the need for urgent, coordinated action to accelerate AI adoption in education.

She proposed six key measures, including developing a national “AI Literacy” programme for students and teachers across all educational levels; enhancing teacher training in digital skills and ethical AI use; integrating AI applications into STEM subjects; establishing an ethics framework for academic and AI-related activities; investing in digital infrastructure and “Made-in-Vietnam” AI platforms; and raising awareness through communication campaigns targeting schools and local communities.

Experts discuss the application of AI in education and training at a seminar held in HCM City on October 25. — Photo www.sggp.org.vn

Coordinated implementation

Huỳnh Thành Đạt, deputy head of the Central Commission for Information and Education, called on the ministries of Education and Training, and Science and Technology to advise the Government on issuing detailed guidelines for implementing the national AI Strategy in education, especially an AI Ethics Framework for schools and AI-based curricula for general education.

He also suggested establishing a Digital Transformation Fund for higher education, a strategic mechanism to mobilise social resources and attract private investment in digital infrastructure and AI solutions.

He urged universities to take the lead in developing AI-driven education models, stressing that higher education institutions “must be proactive innovators rather than passive recipients of technology.”

“Businesses should evolve from being ‘employers” to ‘co-creators of human resources,’ while the media must continue to play a crucial role in raising awareness about AI’s benefits and challenges, building social consensus, and preparing citizens for digital integration.”

The seminar gathered senior officials including representatives from the ministries of Education and Training, and Science and Technology, the city’s Party Committee, leaders of the city’s Departments of Education and Training and Science and Technology, and numerous university and high school representatives.

Participants agreed that while AI can help personalise learning and transform education delivery, its success will depend on a strong ethical foundation, robust digital infrastructure, and sustained collaboration between the State, academia, and industry. — VNS