'Golden time' for young pioneers to promote digital transformation

This is the opinion of the leaders of the Youth Union at the Forum of young volunteers and creative people building the country on the afternoon of December 14, within the framework of the 12th National Congress of the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union.

Thai Binh Provincial Youth Union Secretary Thieu Minh Quynh said that the 13th Congress identified digital transformation as one of the six key tasks in the socio-economic development orientation for the 2021-2030 period. The Congress's political report identified this as one of the three key tasks and a breakthrough for the 2022-2027 term.

The Secretary of Thai Binh Provincial Youth Union emphasized that in the context of many difficulties and challenges, it is extremely urgent to innovate thinking, change the way of working, the way of living, apply scientific and technological advances, and promote digital transformation.

Secretary of Thai Binh Provincial Youth Union Thieu Minh Quynh.

To keep up with the general development trend, the Central Youth Union has coordinated with the Ministry of Information and Communications to sign a Program of joint activities for the period 2022 - 2026. Localities have also approved digital transformation projects in each phase. This shows the strong determination of ministries, departments, branches, organizations and the entire political system in implementing digital transformation.

Sharing his experience in Thai Binh, Secretary of the Provincial Youth Union Thieu Minh Quynh said that the Provincial Youth Union has developed the software "Management and work of the Youth Union". This is a means to support the management of grassroots youth union activities, manage the implementation of emulation criteria, support the implementation of youth union member management software, and is a job information portal connecting businesses with youth union members...

After 3 months of promoting propaganda, the rate of people using online public services at levels 3 and 4 in the whole province in December increased, reaching 77.4% of the total number of public service records. This activity has contributed to building an e-government, putting people at the center, increasing transparency, improving service quality; restructuring business processes, organizational structure and transforming relationships from the traditional environment to the digital environment.

Signing of cooperation agreement between the Ministry of Information and Communications and the Central Committee of the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union in March.

However, the application of digital transformation still faces many difficulties and challenges. According to the Secretary of Thai Binh Provincial Youth Union, these challenges are opportunities for the Youth Union in particular and the young generation in general to promote their strengths, and are a "golden time" for the Youth Union to promote its pioneering role in promoting the digital transformation process.

Start-up but not yet associated with innovation

Secretary of the Youth Union of the Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology Phan Ke Son affirmed that creativity is one of the strengths of young people. Wherever there are young people, there are creative activities.

The requirements of the country's industrialization, modernization and deep international integration, the 4.0 era and the strong development of digital technology are creating new spaces and motivations that urge young people to constantly innovate.

However, according to Mr. Phan Ke Son, the current young generation still lacks experience to gain lessons. “The gaps that young people have not had the opportunity to fill, such as knowledge, relationships that need to be established; lack of failures, friction to gain more knowledge,... are obstacles in the process of realizing creative ideas of young people”, Mr. Son analyzed.

Secretary of the Youth Union of Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology Phan Ke Son.

The Secretary of the Youth Union of the Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology said that Youth Union organizations need to accompany young people on the path of starting a business. Relevant levels and sectors need to pay more attention and create more favorable conditions in terms of capital, mechanisms and policies. He also expressed that good ideas and good initiatives have not been realized, that is, there is no funding source to support young people to develop their ideas into reality.

Youth Union organizations need to act as a “bridge” between the extremely rich store of creative ideas of union members and young people with organizations and businesses across the country. Because businesses are always thirsty for ideas, when they come across good ideas, they are willing to spend money and accompany startups to realize them into products that bring high economic value.

Citing youth discussion programs with the Institute's leaders on support for startups and idea development, Mr. Son said that every year there are about 10 independent topics for young staff with a budget of 500-600 million to support good ideas.

Youth delegates experience the digital creative space at Viettel Group headquarters. Photo: Youth Union.

Deputy Secretary of the Bac Giang Provincial Youth Union Giap Xuan Canh assessed that the field of innovation has become a major driving force in Vietnam's economic development in recent years. However, the role of the Youth Union in supporting innovation is still limited. Even in the exhibition booth at the Congress, there were mainly products from agricultural startups.

"We use the phrase startup without associating it with innovation because it is basically a product of the economic development model," analyzed Deputy Secretary of Bac Giang Provincial Youth Union Giap Xuan Canh.

The Deputy Secretary of the Bac Giang Provincial Youth Union said that we must have the right awareness about startups and innovation because "economic development is simple but startups and innovation are different".

Also making the same proposal as the Secretary of the Youth Union of the Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology, Mr. Giap Xuan Canh proposed building economic development linkage models among young people to combine consumption and product promotion.