Higher Education in the Age of AI & VUCA – How Should Parents Prepare Their Children?

On the morning of March 24, as part of the preliminary round of the National & International Academic Olympic Competition hosted at VinUni, hundreds of outstanding high school students and parents from across the country gathered on campus. On this occasion, VinUni Community organized a Community Talk titled “Higher Education in the Age of AI & VUCA”, aiming to help parents better understand the rapid changes in education and the labor market, and how to best prepare their children for the future. 

The World Is Changing – Parents Need to Rethink How They Prepare Their Children 

With the rapid advancement of AI and technology, alongside an increasingly unpredictable world defined by VUCA (Volatility, Uncertainty, Complexity, Ambiguity), many skills and types of knowledge once considered “keys to success” may no longer be sufficient for the future. 

So the question becomes: 

How Can Students Be Equipped to Step Confidently into the Future? 

From this starting point, the speakers who are educational experts, university lecturers, and parents themselves had shared practical, multi-dimensional perspectives: 

🔹 Dr. Giáp Văn Dương – Chairman of VinUni Community, Education Expert 
🔹 Ms. Trịnh Thị Thúy Liên, MA – Lecturer, College of Liberal Arts & Sciences, Head of Amser @VinUni Community Chapter 
🔹 Dr. Lê Duy Dũng – Program Director, Bachelor of Data Science, College of Engineering & Computer Science 

Key Takeaways from the Talk:

1. How Is the World Changing with AI & VUCA?

• AI is not only changing how people work, but also reshaping the global labor market. 

• Traditional jobs are gradually disappearing, while new roles continue to emerge. 

• Flexibility and adaptability are becoming essential survival skills. 

2. How Should Students Learn in the Age of AI?

• A shift from rote learning to thinking, creativity, and problem-solving is crucial. 

• AI can enhance learning efficiency, but also raises challenges around critical thinking and ethics. 

• Integrating technology into learning is no longer optional; it’s inevitable. 

3. The Role of Higher Education – Choosing the Right University and Major

• Universities are no longer just places that deliver knowledge; they help students build skills, innovative thinking, and a lifelong learning mindset. 

• The value of a university lies not only in its degree, but also in its networks, learning environment, and opportunities for holistic development. 

4. What Can Parents Do to Support Their Children?

• Guide without imposing – help children explore their interests and potential instead of chasing “trending” majors. 

• Create opportunities for children to develop soft skills, independent thinking, and adaptability. 

• Choose a university not only based on reputation, but also on its educational philosophy and ability to support well-rounded growth. 

The session concluded with thoughtful and in-depth questions from parents, reflecting strong concern for their children’s future in an increasingly uncertain world. 

Though the talk was brief, VinUni Community hopes it provided valuable insights and opened up new perspectives for parents as they walk alongside their children on this journey.