The journey of digital technology application at Van Lang University

On September 15, 2023, Van Lang University organized the Technology and Education event "Technology in Education: Application and Transformation Perspectives" with the participation of famous experts in the field of technology and education in the world. Within the framework of the event, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Tran Thi My Dieu - President of Van Lang University, presented Van Lang's digital transformation journey, identified as one of the key tasks in the university's development strategy.

During the 3 years of the Covid-19 pandemic, the story of technology application in general and technology application in the field of education in particular has been widely discussed around the world. In particular, the emergence of some new breakthrough technologies that we could not imagine before makes us have to reflect to shape what the future will look like.

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Tran Thi My Dieu - President of Van Lang University, shared: “On the first days of using technology, the first days of change were extremely difficult. Van Lang has set many policies, creating conditions for lecturers and students to approach, to become familiar with, and to master the technology applications that Van Lang includes in the curriculum.”

Sharing about Van Lang's digital transformation journey in education, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Tran Thi My Dieu said: "In 2008, Van Lang University cooperated with Carnegie Mellon University (USA) - the world's leading university in Computer Science, with the desire to train a number of subjects for students. Software Engineering students follow the program and methods that CMU trains. Also in 2008, Van Lang began implementing courses on Moodle for students to train students in Software Engineering. This is one of the important milestones, marking the beginning of the journey of applying technology and digital transformation in education at Van Lang University." 

During the Covid-19 pandemic outbreak, Van Lang University applied online teaching software - Microsoft MS Teams and E-learning, helping students complete their studies conveniently. The Covid-19 pandemic brought many challenges to the society, especially in the field of education, but it was a condition that strongly promoted the digital transformation process. 

From 2021, the Ministry of Education and Training has agreed to propose a pilot proposal to build Van Lang University into a digital university, applying technology to training, research, management, operation and staff development activities... Van Lang has initially established a digital-based platform for operation management with CRM, ERP, Microsoft 365 toolkit, perfecting the LMS system and promoting the application of technology in training and teaching students in 7 majors: Law - Society, Humanities - Communications, Design & Art, Architecture, Business & Management, Health Sciences, Tourism and Engineering & Technology.

In enrollment and student care, the university applies UIS software modules and toolkits provided by Microsoft to manage, measure and track all student information from the moment of admission until graduation. The system also allows the student care department to monitor the learning status of ethnic minority students, female students, low-income students and students with disabilities to promptly develop support and companion policies. In particular, the financial support management module has been integrated into the software so that in each semester, the university applies tuition exemption/reduction from 15% - 30% to the group of orphan students in difficult circumstances, ethnic minority students, disabled students,... 

At the event, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Tran Thi My Dieu shares with the Van Lang community an article by billionaire Bill Gates (chairman of Microsoft Corporation) about the beginning of the era of Artificial Intelligence. AI brings a revolution in technology such as the appearance of cell phones and the Internet. In particular, billionaire Bill Gates has an optimistic view on AI, believing that AI will have an impact on most fields around the world.

In the field of education, Bill Gates believes that AI will revolutionize the training process through personalizing learning, supporting instructors in the teaching and work management process, as well as promoting minimization of inequality in special education in developing countries. In June 2023, the United Nations held an official meeting to discuss a legal framework for AI to truly bring positive impacts to development. In September 2023, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) called for managing the use of AI in schools, marking that AI technology has truly become a part of life.  

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Tran Thi My Dieu said: “Van Lang University always wants to be a pioneer in education, applying new technologies to change teaching and learning methods, enhance student experience and innovate methods of training and operation management, creating new values on the foundation of digital transformation.

We wish to bring good values to the Van Lang community as well as to society through the application of technology. We also constantly strive to train learners with the capacity and qualities to adapt and respond to the constant changes brought about by technology in the world today. And we are steadfast in building an excellent academic environment that is a cradle for developing new technologies for the future. At the same time, Van Lang University will continue to accompany organizations to share and support the sustainable development of the country." 

The digital transformation journey in education has been bringing positive impacts not only in training and teaching but also in management, supervision, operation, and improving the quality of human resources of the School, is the premise for comprehensive digital transformation at Van Lang. Digital transformation will still be one of the key tasks in the development strategy, associated with the mission of training people for comprehensive development, lifelong learning and bringing positive impact to society. 

Let’s watch the video “The journey of digital transformation of Van Lang University”.

Nam Vuong (Compiled from different sources)