Artificial Intelligence (AI) is opening up development opportunities across all sectors in the digital transformation era.
The programme aims to provide free AI training for two million young Vietnamese people during the 2025–2026 period. (Photo: nhandan.vn)
Inspired by the “Mass Education” movement in the early years of the nation’s founding, the “Mass AI Education” program is an effort to modernise knowledge dissemination, aiming to spread and apply AI in youth work and life, while inspiring young people to enter the digital age, implemented by the Central Committee of the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union and the Central Committee of the Viet Nam Youth Union.
Free training courses
According to the organisers, this is the largest-scale AI knowledge and skills training programme ever launched for Vietnamese youth, with over 1,000 satellite sites and the participation of tens of thousands of Youth Union officials at all levels. The goal is to provide free training to two million young people across Viet Nam in 2025–2026, with at least 500,000 expected to complete the programme in its first year.
Upon completing the course, each Youth Union officer will be equipped with an AI assistant capable of analysing data, drafting documents, planning initiatives, and supporting youth campaigns. At the same time, each officer is expected to make use of at least one AI tool to streamline operations in response to rapidly evolving technologies and the demand for leaner organisational structures.
The training programme has been designed with a comprehensive roadmap, progressing from basic to advanced levels, and focusing on practical applications of AI in learning, work, and community service.
Phocap.ai, ensuring accessible and equal opportunities for young people across the country, including those in remote or rural areas. Participants who complete assessments and assignments will be awarded a digital certificate from the Central Youth Union.
This initiative is part of the implementation of Resolution No. 57-NQ/TW on breakthrough development in science, technology, innovation, and national digital transformation. At the same time, it is an activity to concretise the Prime Minister’s national digital transformation program and the Youth Law.
Turning tools into assistants
According to Dinh Ngoc Thanh, Vice President of the Global Network of Young Vietnamese Intellectuals (VNTC) and Assistant Professor at Soongsil University (the Republic of Korea), in its early phase alone, ChatGPT boosted productivity by over 50%. With proficient use, this number could reach as high as 80%. He noted that while each AI tool has its own strengths, it is essential that each Youth Union officer masters the necessary skills and methods to transform such tools into personal assistants—eliminating the need for additional support staff.
Nguyen Tuong Lam, Secretary of the Central Committee of the Viet Nam Youth Union and President of the Viet Nam Youth Federation, stressed that as a pioneering force, Youth Union and Federation officers must be the first to learn, take the lead, and thoroughly understand the essence of AI technology. This, he said, is a prerequisite for showcasing the image of Vietnamese youth in the digital transformation era.
The organisers added that the “Mass AI Education” programme is not merely about popularising AI tools such as ChatGPT, Claude, or Gemini. More importantly, it aims to inspire young Vietnamese to step confidently into the digital era with a mindset of technological mastery and responsible use.
The programme brings together a team of outstanding young lecturers and experts—many of whom have graduated from or are currently working at leading universities and technology corporations around the world, including MIT, Cambridge, Pennsylvania, Maryland (US), ETH Zurich (Switzerland), Monash (Australia), Sejong and Soongsil (Republic of Korea), the International University (Viet Nam), as well as industry leaders such as Google, Uber, DDE, SHB, AIOV, and Momo.
This strong collaboration among Vietnamese intellectuals at home and abroad has resulted in a highly practical training initiative, reflecting a spirit of unity and responsibility towards the homeland. The programme is part of the “AI Education for Viet Nam” initiative launched by the Global Network of Young Vietnamese Intellectuals, which focuses on practical AI skills and their application in education, labour, and community service.
Each learner is expected to become a future trainer at the grassroots level, helping spread technological knowledge and inspiration to broader youth communities and society.
Dinh Ngoc Thanh also pointed out that while AI has not yet replaced human jobs, those proficient in using AI are already poised to replace many others. Therefore, Youth Union and Federation officers must master AI skills to harness it effectively in their work.
(Source: NDO)