VAPE and VNF jointly cooperate to expand access to digital knowledge for all

GS.TS. Nguyen Thi Doan and Mr Pham Duc Trung Kien, Chairman of VNF, presided over the signing ceremony. (Source: Organising Committee)

The signing ceremony marks a new phase of cooperation, connecting the educational encouragement network with educational technology solutions to expand citizens' access to knowledge.

Prof. Dr Nguyen Thi Doan, President of the Vietnam Association for Promoting Education (VAPE), and Mr Pham Duc Trung Kien, Chairman of VNF, co-chaired the signing ceremony. Attendees included Mr Le Manh Hung, Vice President and Secretary-General of VAPE; Dr Le Thi Mai Hoa, Deputy Director-General of the Department of Education under the Central Commission for Information, Education and Mass Mobilisation; Mr Ngo Van Khuyen, Deputy Director-General of the Department of Mass Organisations under the Central Commission for Information, Education and Mass Mobilisation; and representatives of relevant organisations.

From supportive to constructive educational encouragement

Speaking at the ceremony, Prof. Dr Nguyen Thi Doan emphasised that in the country's new phase of development, knowledge and high-quality human resources play a particularly important role. Therefore, promoting lifelong learning requires innovation in methods of educational encouragement, expanded access to knowledge, and enhanced individual self-learning capabilities.

Aligning with the major policies of the Party and the State on the development of science, technology, innovation, digital transformation, and education, VAPE is shifting from supportive educational encouragement to “constructive educational encouragement”. Accordingly, beyond material support, educational encouragement efforts should create opportunities, provide tools and platforms for citizens to proactively learn, gradually mastering knowledge and adapting to societal changes.

The President of VAPE assessed that cooperation with VNF is of practical significance in promoting the “Digital Popular Education” movement and bringing open educational resources and online learning platforms closer to the public. This is also a direction to leverage technology to build learning models for individuals, families, clans, communities, and units.

Connecting educational encouragement networks with digital education platforms

According to the cooperation content, the two parties will coordinate to introduce and support the implementation of the Digital Popular Education Open Class and Khan Academy Vietnam (KAV) Open Class models in localities, agencies, units, and communities in need; simultaneously researching, piloting, and evaluating models such as “Learning Citizen”, “Learning Family”, “Learning Clan”, “Learning Community”, and “Learning Unit”.

A key focus is promoting the digitisation of the “Learning Unit” model, initially at the commune level. Based on criteria issued or officially recognised by competent authorities, VNF will sponsor and collaborate on the development of software to support management, self-assessment, scoring, evidence collection, and progress tracking. The VAPE will coordinate on the criteria, professional requirements, and connect with the system of associations at all levels, local authorities, and related units.

The two parties will also cooperate in training, sharing educational materials, and guiding the enhancement of digital skills, Internet safety, and the application of artificial intelligence (AI) in education for association staff, teachers, and learners. The implementation of models will be linked to practical needs, monitored, and evaluated to draw lessons before considering expansion.

Before the signing ceremony, the Digital Popular Education Open Class KAV model was implemented in Tien Thang (Hanoi City), Lam Binh, and Na Hang (Tuyen Quang). Through the “Internet Safety” course on the Khan Academy platform, the program recorded 934 participating staff members, totalling 114,088 minutes of learning time. Initial results show that the digital platform can help learners access knowledge about online safety while also fostering self-learning habits.

Substantive cooperation, expanding lifelong learning opportunities

Speaking at the ceremony, Mr Pham Duc Trung Kien, Chairman of VNF, expressed his honour at accompanying Hoi Khuyen hoc Viet Nam in its efforts to promote education and lifelong learning. He greatly appreciated the association's innovative vision, particularly its focus on integrating the extensive educational encouragement network with technological solutions to bring knowledge to more people.

According to Mr Kien, cooperation should start from practical models, implemented in accordance with local conditions and evaluated based on actual results. This approach helps concentrate resources and perfect implementation methods before expansion, thereby enhancing the effectiveness and sustainability of activities.

The signing ceremony opens up practical and effective avenues for cooperation, contributing to the promotion of a learning society in the digital era. (Source: Organising Committee)

Through the Khan Academy Vietnam Program, VNF will support the digital learning platform, educational materials, and appropriate professional and technical resources in line with the cooperation plan between the two parties. On the VAPE's side, the association system from central to grassroots levels will play a role in connecting localities, mobilising learners, and facilitating the implementation of models in practice.

The cooperation between the two parties reflects the orientation of linking educational encouragement with digital transformation: not only bringing citizens closer to technology but also making technology a tool for learning and capacity development. Through this, the two parties hope to help narrow the knowledge and digital skills gap, expand lifelong learning opportunities, and gradually build a learning society where all citizens have the conditions to proactively learn and develop.