Hanoi, December 08, 2020 - A new study by IBM (NYSE: IBM) and Morning Consult found while teenagers are aware that skills like Artificial Intelligence (AI) and data science will change their careers, they feel woefully unprepared to work with these technologies. A majority (68%) of the K-12 students surveyed believe that AI will have a big impact on their life and career, but over a third (34%) said they do not feel properly equipped to use it.1  

The survey asked teenagers from 13 countries around the world to rank their knowledge about emerging technologies, as well as their willingness to learn more about them and their interest in technology careers. A majority (56%) of students said they were interested in pursuing a career in technology because most jobs require using technology. And while a majority (60%) were interested in emerging technology areas, such as cloud and cybersecurity, AI is the emerging tech that most students are interested in learning more about. Almost six in ten (59%) students said they were either somewhat or very interested in learning more about AI.  

In order to prepare the next generation of leaders with the necessary skills and knowledge in AI and adopting AI responsibly, IBM Vietnam will be offering new online resources for teachers and students to learn the foundations of AI for free. This program is offered by IBM Vietnam in collaboration with several universities and organizations.  

The first is the deployment of the AI and Robotics training program introduced in collaboration with STEAM for Vietnam, Hanoi University of Science and Technology (HUST) and the Institution of International Experience Education and Society Health (IES). Virtual train-the-trainer workshops in basic AI skills for 126 teachers from 63 provinces were organized recently. The workshops equipped teachers with the basic approach, workflow and application of AI. The training introduced the teachers to cognitive technologies and artificial intelligence (AI) concepts to help them build and reassemble a robot (TJBot) that they can bring to life using IBM Watson and Node-RED programming. The program is expected to benefit at least 1,200 students nationwide. 

The second, in collaboration with the School of Information and Communication Technology (SoICT) of HUST, IBM will continue to expand to Phase 2 of the New Collar program. By leveraging IBM’s learning platform, SoICT will introduce Cloud education in its existing ICT curriculums. The program will be delivered through a series of enablement workshops for researchers, lecturers and students in 10 technical universities across the three regions in Vietnam.   

This train-the-trainer program will equip 100 SoICT and non-SoICT lecturers with the infrastructure and resources to deliver AI, Cloud and Data Science learning to the students. Students will earn IBM digital badges and certificates to develop relevant future ready skills which will enhance their competitiveness as they graduate and enter the workforce. The enablement workshops are expected to benefit 5,000 students nationwide with at least 300 students obtaining IBM digital badges with relevant industry skills. Additionally, SoICT will team with IBM to develop an ecosystem to exchange ideas and best practices, and promote emerging technologies such as Cloud, AI and Data Science in Vietnam’s Club of Faculties - Institutes - Schools - Universities of ICT (FISU).  

Also in December, IBM will collaborate with the IES, SoICT and local Departments of Education and Training in Hanoi and Thanh Hoa province to promote Open P-TECH, IBM’s global education initiative. This is a free digital education platform focused on workplace learning and digital skills, which builds on the industry leading P-TECH program and targets to equip 14-20-year old learners and educators of these learners with foundational technology competencies. In these locations, Cloud and AI workshops and seminars will be organized for teachers from 25 schools, as well as provide appropriate technical support to teachers. SoICT and IES will translate the training content into Vietnamese to encourage accessibility among disadvantaged groups. For six months (until April 2021), the target is to tap into 5,000 students, who will register to Open P-TECH.  

“IBM is committed to help prepare Vietnam’s future workforce for business and social progress that is being driven by technologies such as cloud and AI. We see high interest amongst the students to take-up courses related to technology because they see the benefits of graduating in these fields. Majority of students believe that Cloud, AI and Cybersecurity will have a big impact in their lives and careers,” said Tan Jee Toon, Managing Director for IBM Vietnam.  

“There is a widening gap of digital skills, especially in AI, between Vietnam and high-income nations, according to the 2020 Global Talent Competitiveness Index. It is for this reason that IBM is leading the way in expanding the pathways through which students can build skills for the future. By introducing these programs, we believe that the students will get the right foundation and will be able to use and apply these emerging technologies creatively. This is a significant step in preparing our students for the digital era, creating jobs in the digital economy, helping businesses in Vietnam grow with digital transformation and fulfilling Vietnam’s Industry 4.0 vision,” added Jee Toon. 

IBM has been making investments and partnering with governments, educational institutions and businesses around the world to equip the global workforce for emerging "New Collar Jobs”. Read more at  https://www.ibm.org/    

For press inquiries, please contact: 

Vu Kieu Linh (Ms) 

Brand & Communications Leader 

IBM Vietnam 

Vu.kieu.linh@ibm.com 

+84 903 286 466