AI and changes in higher education

During the 2026 admissions season, many AI-related training programmes continue to attract significant interest from applicants, while also placing new demands on higher education institutions to modernise curricula, teaching methods, and workforce preparation for the digital era.

AI shapes trends in academic choice

According to Assoc. Prof. Dr. Vu Duy Hai, Head of Admissions and Career Guidance at Ha Noi University of Science and Technology, AI is a field with a high level of scientific and technological content, requiring students to possess logical thinking skills, creativity, and a strong foundation in the natural sciences. This is one of the main reasons why entry requirements for AI-related programmes at many universities remain consistently high. At Ha Noi University of Science and Technology alone, applicants generally need to achieve at least 28 points to have a chance of admission.

However, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Vu Duy Hai also noted that a high entry score is only a necessary condition. Once students enter university, the factors that ultimately determine success are their commitment to self-learning, proactiveness, and personal effort throughout the course of study.

Assessing career opportunities, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Vu Duy Hai stated that demand for human resources in the AI field is very high, not only within state-owned agencies and organisations but also among businesses that are accelerating the adoption of technology. Graduates from AI-related sectors enjoy broad job opportunities in highly competitive international markets such as Japan and the Republic of Korea.

AI is becoming a tool that gives learners a competitive advantage in both study and work, and this has led to noticeable changes in students’ choice of academic sectors in recent years.

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Phu Khanh

Vice President of Phenikaa University

Not only AI-related programmes, but many other engineering and technology fields are also receiving increasing attention from students as a result of the digital technology revolution.

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Phu Khanh, Vice President of Phenikaa University, said that AI is becoming a tool that gives learners a competitive advantage in both study and work, and this has led to noticeable changes in students’ choice of academic sectors in recent years.

Whereas students previously focused mainly on fields considered easy to find jobs or those offering high incomes, they are now beginning to question the impact of AI on their chosen fields. Many are proactively researching whether their chosen profession is at risk of being replaced and what advantages mastering AI knowledge will provide in their careers.

The changing career choices of students have also prompted higher education institutions to adjust their training programmes and open many new majors. According to the 2026 regular university admissions plan, the Foreign Trade University will open 10 new majors related to rapidly developing fields, including a focus group on digital economy, technology, data, and AI.

Meanwhile, the Thuong Mai University is choosing an approach that integrates AI into its training programmes. According to Nguyen Quang Trung, Deputy Head of the Communications and Admissions Department, the university is promoting the application of AI to enhance the digital capabilities of students in the context of strong digital transformation. Training programmes are built on a combination of foundational knowledge, professional skills, digital competencies, and practical experience, while also strengthening cooperation with businesses to help students quickly adapt to the demands of the labour market.

Thuong Mai University introduced six new training programmes in 2026, including Computer Science (application of AI in business). The programme aims to train graduates with a business foundation combined with the ability to apply AI in areas such as data analytics, digital marketing, finance and investment, operations management, and supply chain management. This trend shows that AI is no longer a standalone field of study but is gradually becoming an important component across a wide range of professions, from engineering and technology to economics, management, and services.

Innovating teaching methods

AI is not only affecting admissions and training but is also transforming teaching and learning methods in higher education. Prof. Dr. Hoang Anh Tuan, President of the University of Social Sciences and Humanities (Viet Nam National University, Ha Noi), stated that AI is no longer merely a technology but has become a new tool and methodology with a strong impact on education and training worldwide.

According to him, AI creates numerous opportunities for personalised learning, research support, and the enhancement of students’ creative capabilities. However, alongside these opportunities come major challenges related to ethics, equal access to technology, and, most importantly, humanity’s ability to control AI rather than be controlled by it.

AI is no longer merely a technology but has become a new tool and methodology with a strong impact on education and training worldwide.

Prof. Dr. Hoang Anh Tuan

President of the University of Social Sciences and Humanities

Viet Nam National University, Ha Noi

Sharing this viewpoint, Dr. Nguyen Quang Huy, President of the School of Technology at the National Economics University, said that AI is providing significant support for both lecturers and students in teaching, learning, and scientific research activities. For lecturers, AI tools can assist in preparing lectures, course outlines, and assessment questions, as well as in searching for documents, summarising content, and standardising academic writing. For students, AI optimises study time, supports revision and coursework, assists with presentation preparation, and improves foreign language proficiency.

Dr. Nguyen Quang Huy also warned that excessive dependence on AI tools could weaken learners’ independent thinking capacity and core creative abilities. This requires educational institutions to innovate their teaching methods, shifting from knowledge transmission towards guiding students in developing critical thinking and the ability to verify information.

According to Prof. Dr. Nguyen Tien Thao, Head of the Higher Education Department under the Ministry of Education and Training, AI, information technology, and digital data-related fields can be viewed from two perspectives. The first is participation in the creation and development of technology through research, innovation, and direct contributions to AI products and new technologies. The second is the application of AI across professions to improve work efficiency, labour productivity, and product quality.

“The development of AI is not only affecting the field of information technology but is influencing all professions to varying degrees. The effective use of this technology depends on each individual’s awareness and capabilities. It is not only those who study AI who can apply this technology,” Prof. Dr. Nguyen Tien Thao emphasised.

The changes in admissions, training, and learning methods show that AI is bringing about profound transformations in higher education. As technology becomes increasingly present in every aspect of life, higher education institutions are required not only to open new training programmes but also to equip learners with adaptability, creative thinking, and the ability to master technology. These will be the key factors determining the competitiveness of the workforce in the digital era.

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