A delegation of 16 leading Australian educational technology (Edtech) enterprises paid a working visit to Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City to promote digital transformation cooperation in the education sector between the two countries from October 22-24.
The program is part of the Vietnam Landing Pad Initiative organized by the Australian Trade and Investment Commission (Austrade), aiming to connect Australia's education technology capacity with Vietnam's rapidly growing education ecosystem, thereby supporting the implementation of the goal of digital transformation in Vietnam's education sector.
Within the framework of the program, at the Australia - Vietnam Cooperation Workshop, organized by Austrade in collaboration with the Vietnam Higher Education Network of Entrepreneurship & Innovation (VNEI) on October 24 in Hanoi, Australian Ambassador to Vietnam Gillian Bird emphasized that education has long been one of the most important pillars in the cooperation between the two countries.
According to the Ambassador, in the context that Vietnam is implementing major educational reforms to promote digital transformation, positioning the country as a leading destination for innovative educational technology cooperation, this event has provided the Vietnamese digital education ecosystem with useful information about Australia's edtech capabilities, especially in three areas: learning management systems (LMS), lesson design and student assessment tools, and English, STEM and life skills education programs.
Previously, speaking at the seminar “Digital Transformation in Vietnam - Australia Higher Education” organized by the Austrade in collaboration with BK Holdings, under the auspices of the VNEI and the Hanoi Innovation and Startup Association (HANISA), Mr. Jonathan Saw, Trade and Investment Counselor of the Australian Government, shared that Australian Edtech businesses are globally recognised for their innovation, quality and reliability.
"From AI-powered learning platforms to cutting-edge classroom solutions, these businesses are shaping the future of education globally," he added. "Together with Vietnam’s strong policy commitment and rapid digital transformation, we are well-positioned to make significant, long-term changes.”
According to Mr. Jonathan Saw, Southeast Asia plays a central role in Australia's national strategy, with deep and long-lasting cooperative relationships. He also affirmed the Australian Government's commitment to accompanying Vietnam in building a modern, innovative and integrated education system. "We encourage Vietnamese partners to openly share their needs and expectations, and hope that Australian EdTech businesses will listen, understand and adapt solutions to suit Vietnam's reality," he added. "Only by working together can we build sustainable partnerships that help prepare the young generations of both countries for a rapidly changing world."
On the Vietnamese side, Associate Professor Dr. Truong Ngoc Kiem - Director of the Center for Knowledge Transfer and Startup Support (CSK), Vice President of VNEI, said that in recent years, the picture of Vietnamese education has taken on completely new, more vivid and diverse strokes thanks to the wave of digital transformation.
From a somewhat unfamiliar concept, the application of Edtech has quickly become an inevitable trend, reshaping the way we teach and learn, opening up both opportunities and challenges for the entire industry.
The wave of digital transformation brings many great opportunities. It helps erase geographical distances, creating conditions for students in difficult areas to access quality knowledge sources. At the same time, it also equips both teachers and students with the necessary digital skills to become global citizens in the 4.0 era.
However, there are still many challenges, the biggest of which is the digital gap - the difference in facilities, equipment and internet connection between regions. In addition, improving the digital capacity of teachers, especially the elderly, is also a problem that needs to be thoroughly solved. Issues of information security in cyberspace and ensuring the quality of digital educational content also require proper attention and investment.
According to Ms. Ngo Thu Huong, Senior Trade Development Manager of Austrade, as technology develops, Australia's education methods have changed towards digitalization, replacing the traditional methods of the past. "However, the core goal remains the same: making education accessible," she said. "Today, as needs change, Australia has diverse models and many different ways to meet the needs of learners."
The delegation's activities have concluded successfully, marking a new step forward in cooperation between the two countries. Both sides are working together to open up many new cooperation opportunities to promote digital transformation in Vietnam's education, thereby affirming their shared commitment to building an innovative, connected and future-ready education system.
Landing Pad is an Australian Government initiative to support export-ready Australian technology businesses to expand into international markets. Launched in 2017, Landing Pad is now available in Singapore, Bengaluru, Shanghai, London, San Francisco, Jakarta and Ho Chi Minh City.
Landing Pad Vietnam was launched in June 2024, within the framework of the Southeast Asia Business Exchange program - “Partnering for a Digital Future”, following the announcement by the Australian Prime Minister at the ASEAN-Australia Summit in Melbourne on March 5, 2024.
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