Universities race to fund AI, businesses still find students lack skills

While 96% of Vietnamese universities invest in AI and many students express confidence in its use, only 15% of employers rate graduates as "excellent" in practical AI skills.

These findings stem from an in-depth study on Vietnamese students' readiness for artificial intelligence (AI) application. The study is part of a global survey conducted across 6 nations by education group Pearson and Amazon Web Services (AWS), released on 6/10. The Vietnam-specific online survey involved 50 universities, 51 businesses, and detailed interviews with education experts, surveying over 300 students.

According to the report, Vietnam is among countries with a rapid adaptation strategy, prioritizing AI with significant investment. Specifically, 96% of university leaders surveyed reported investing in AI, with 36% identifying it as a central priority backed by substantial budgets. This figure for Vietnam is the highest among the 6 surveyed nations: Saudi Arabia, the United States, the United Kingdom, Malaysia, Brazil, and Vietnam.

Investment primarily targets faculty professional development, computing infrastructure, technical capabilities, curriculum design, and AI systems for administrative and operational use. “Concentrating resources on tools, faculty, and training programs indicates an investment strategy focused on the core foundations for AI application readiness,” the report states.

From the student perspective, over 52% of participants rated their readiness as high (8-10 out of 10) for working in an AI-integrated environment.

However, a significant disparity emerges from the employer's viewpoint. Only 15% of businesses rated Vietnamese university graduates as "excellent" in practical AI skills, the lowest percentage across all six markets. Furthermore, nearly half of the employers surveyed indicated that students exhibit suboptimal AI usage habits.

Common deficiencies include: over-reliance on AI-generated results without verification; insufficient practical experience; and excessive dependence on tools or their inappropriate application for specific tasks.

Image: Pearson and AWS report

Eklavya Bhave, Pearson's Director for Higher Education in Asia-Pacific, observed that this disparity is a global phenomenon, not exclusive to Vietnam.

The root cause lies in differing perspectives. While universities focus on instructing students to operate existing tools, businesses expect higher capabilities in applying AI, coupled with creative thinking, critical thinking, data analysis, and communication and collaboration skills to solve real-world business challenges.

“Employers are not concerned with students’ theoretical knowledge or the extent of their AI tool usage; rather, they focus on how students apply these tools to drive productivity and achieve results in the workplace,” stated Eklavya Bhave. He advocates for closer collaboration between educational institutions and businesses, especially as companies redefine entry-level roles, workforce planning, and team capability development strategies.

Associate Professor Dr. Nguyen Phong Nguyen, Dean of the School of Business at the University of Economics Ho Chi Minh City, concurred. He acknowledged that while universities strive to impart AI skills, the rapid pace of technological evolution within businesses continually widens the skills gap.

To bridge this gap, he announced plans to invite businesses to participate in curriculum design, instruction, and student assessment. This approach aims to help students connect theoretical knowledge with practical application, enabling quicker adaptation upon entering the job market.