Ms. Pham Chi Lan: The core of the digital age is still people

The seminar attracted nearly 700 students in the city. Photo: Chu Thanh

On the morning of April 15, nearly 700 students in Vinh city attended the discussion "Digital Age: Opportunities and challenges for young people in the period of deep international integration".

The seminar was organized to help students gain more knowledge and skills to adapt and integrate with the rapid changes of the world before the 4.0 industrial revolution.

Speakers participating in the program. Photo: Chu Thanh

The topic revolves around 5 questions: What new opportunities and challenges does deep international integration create for our youth? What are the opportunities and challenges of digital technology for youth? What do youth need to do to seize opportunities and respond to challenges? What should youth prepare to enter the period of deep international integration and the digital age? What new skills do today's youth need to equip themselves with to enter life?

The speakers affirmed that the core of the Digital Age is still people. Photo: Chu Thanh

Speaking at the seminar, Ambassador Nguyen Nguyet Nga - Senior Advisor to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs affirmed that the digital age is having a strong impact on the world and Vietnam. For Vietnamese students in general and those from Uncle Ho's hometown in particular, this is both an opportunity and a challenge.

Therefore, each young person must have aspirations, must see their own value, must know how to equip themselves with life skills, foreign language ability as well as cultivate personality.

Students ask questions to the speakers. Photo: Chu Thanh

Ms. Pham Chi Lan, economic expert, former Secretary General and Vice President of the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI), said that according to a study by the World Economic Forum, in 5 years (2015 - 2020), 35% of the skills needed in society will change.

For example, while society previously required factors such as "active listening", now it requires "emotional intelligence". It can be understood simply as needing "intelligence", but not cold, dry "intelligence" that only knows technology and money, but must know what value those technologies and money bring to oneself, to society, and to the community.

Moreover, in the era of technology 4.0, young people need to be “flexible on the basis of understanding”. People of the new era will always be required to be flexible and ready for change. But flexibility must be based on understanding.

And the advice from the speakers at the seminar for students is to equip themselves with discipline, read books to improve their knowledge and find experiences for themselves right in school.

The organizers presented flowers to the speakers participating in the program. Photo: Chu Thanh

At the forum, speakers also answered many questions from students about opportunities and challenges for young people in the digital age.

Guests and speakers participating in the program:

- Ambassador Nguyen Nguyet Nga, Senior Advisor to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

- Ms. Pham Chi Lan, economic expert, former Secretary General and Vice President of Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI)

- Ms. Le Lan Anh, Director of IDP Vietnam

- Mr. Le Dinh Hieu, Co-founder and CEO of GAP