This is the assertion of Nguyen Hoang Duc, founder and CEO of a digital marketing e-learning platform and lecturer at FPT Skillking. He made this statement during the livestream "Choosing a University, Choosing a Future - What Parents Need to Know," hosted by FPT University (FPTU). Journalist and poet Nguyen Phong Viet also participated in the discussion.

Sharing his personal journey, Duc initially chose finance and banking as his major, following a popular trend. However, after a one-year internship, he realized it wasn't the right fit. He decided to change direction, exploring various fields before finding his passion in digital marketing. He recounted the pressure he faced after graduation due to his parents' high expectations for stability, a path he didn't desire.

"You only have 10 years of youth; if you don't try, how can you succeed? Later, I realized that 'stability' was actually uncertainty. True stability is the ability to exist and thrive within uncertainty," he emphasized.

In the two years following graduation, Duc worked in six different fields before committing to digital marketing. Despite working outside his original field of study, he was still able to apply his financial knowledge to his business endeavors. Currently, he is both a lecturer and the operator of an e-learning platform with 17,000 students after four years of operation.

Nguyen Hoang Duc, an FPT University alumnus, is the founder and CEO of an e-learning platform. Photo: FPTU

Nguyen Hoang Duc, an FPT University alumnus, is the founder and CEO of an e-learning platform. Photo: FPTU

From a father's perspective, journalist Nguyen Phong Viet also highlighted the important role parents play in supporting their children's decisions.

"Right decisions often stem from many wrong ones made before. When you accept to start over, one day, the experience and life lessons will help you make the right choice," he shared.

Poet and journalist Nguyen Phong Viet. Photo: FPTU

Poet and journalist Nguyen Phong Viet. Photo: FPTU

Duc also believes that modern parents, especially those born in the late 1970s and early 1980s, are becoming more open to their children's decisions. They are placing less emphasis on academic achievement and focusing more on advising, guiding, and mitigating risks, while allowing their children to take ownership of their choices.

"No one can accurately predict career prospects in the next 5 or 10 years. In the AI era, the essential thing is not just learning to know, but learning to adapt," he said.

According to Duc, his learning experience at FPT University provided him with the foundation to cultivate self-learning, the ability to work intensely, and the resilience to overcome mistakes, all contributing to his current career success. The university's training program is structured in continuous phases, focusing on one subject at a time, creating positive pressure that requires students to maintain high concentration. Small class sizes also enhance interaction, making it easier for students to speak up, debate, and build confidence.

"FPTU lecturers are very open to students expressing their opinions and debating, which helps students dare to share their ideas," he commented.

From his experience building an e-learning platform, Duc noted that AI is increasing learning efficiency, but it remains just a supporting tool. In marketing, to write advertising content that resonates emotionally with customers, personnel still need a foundation in psychology and linguistics, something AI cannot yet replace.

Sharing the same view, journalist Nguyen Phong Viet stated that higher education in the AI era is not just a traditional teacher-student relationship, but an environment combining AI, lecturers, and students.

Journalist Nguyen Phong Viet and digital marketing expert Nguyen Hoang Duc (from left to right) at the livestream. Photo: FPTU

Journalist Nguyen Phong Viet and digital marketing expert Nguyen Hoang Duc (from left to right) at the livestream. Photo: FPTU

With the goal of training students to become flexible and creative global citizens, FPT University has implemented the AI First model, integrating technology and artificial intelligence to help students familiarize themselves with and apply AI from their first year. In addition, students are required to participate in internships at hundreds of partner businesses domestically and internationally, equipping them with confidence and adaptability before entering the job market. As a result of this practical training model, 98% of FPT University graduates find employment immediately after graduation.

With these efforts, FPT University has risen to 80th globally in the Good Jobs and Economic Growth criterion, while maintaining its position in the 101-200 global group for Quality Education (SDG4) according to the THE Impact Rankings 2025. This prestigious ranking, conducted by Times Higher Education magazine, evaluates universities worldwide based on the 17 Sustainable Development Goals of the United Nations.

Nhat Le