Draft circular aims to promote responsible use of technology, AI in higher education

Once issued, the circular is expected to provide a key legal basis for promoting responsible technology adoption, advancing digital transformation and AI in higher education, while strengthening quality assurance, data protection and academic integrity in the digital era.

The Ministry of Education and Training has released a draft circular on the application of technology in higher education for public consultation, aiming to establish a unified legal framework for deploying digital technologies, artificial intelligence (AI) and related solutions across the sector.

The draft applies to higher education institutions, organisations and individuals involved in teaching, research, management and support services, as well as enterprises providing digital platforms and AI solutions.

Draft circular aims to promote responsible use of technology, AI in higher education -0
Students at FPT Ha Nam Inter-level School practice their lessons by applying digital technology software. Photo: VNA

Under the draft, technology adoption will be implemented comprehensively across training, assessment, research, institutional governance and student services. Universities may proactively select suitable technological solutions aligned with their development strategies and conditions, while ensuring controlled implementation and academic integrity.

In training activities, institutions may apply digital technologies and AI through various modes, including technology-assisted in-person teaching, fully online learning, blended learning, and data- and AI-driven personalised education. These applications are intended to support teaching organisation, learning management, progress tracking, academic advising, career guidance, and data analytics to improve curricula and teaching methods.

The draft emphasises that AI must serve as a support tool rather than replace lecturers, ensuring transparency, accountability, and compliance with academic integrity standards without distorting learning outcomes.

An AI training course for lecturers at Da Nang University of Physical Education and Sports (Photo: VNA)

For testing and assessment, higher education institutions are permitted to use digital technologies and AI provided they ensure accuracy, objectivity, transparency and fairness, in line with programme learning outcomes. Applications may include question bank development, exam administration and grading, monitoring assessment processes, analysing learning outcomes and competencies, and managing assessment data.

The draft also requires strict identity verification of learners, robust monitoring mechanisms, and the integrity, traceability and secure storage of assessment data. Institutions must publicly disclose assessment criteria and provide mechanisms for explanation and review of results. The use of AI in assessment must likewise support, not replace, academic roles and must not compromise evaluation integrity.

A key component of the draft is the emphasis on safeguarding academic integrity in digital environments. It stipulates that the use of digital technologies and AI in teaching, assessment and research must ensure honesty, objectivity and transparency, respect intellectual property rights, and accurately reflect learners’ capabilities and research outcomes.

Violations include using AI for cheating, plagiarism, unauthorised use of materials, falsifying data, outsourcing academic tasks, or failing to disclose AI use when required.

Higher education institutions must establish internal regulations, define violations and handling procedures, implement monitoring systems, and raise awareness of academic integrity.

In governance, the draft calls for comprehensive digital transformation, with data serving as the foundation for management and decision-making, ensuring transparency and accountability. Institutions are required to develop integrated, standardised and secure data systems to support administration, teaching, research, forecasting and AI applications.

It also requires synchronised digital infrastructure and stronger digital and AI competencies among students, lecturers and administrators.

Once issued, the circular is expected to provide a key legal basis for promoting responsible technology adoption, advancing digital transformation and AI in higher education, while strengthening quality assurance, data protection and academic integrity in the digital era.

VNA

Other News

Vietnam moves to adapt to rapid population ageing, expand silver economy

Vietnam moves to adapt to rapid population ageing, expand silver economy

The International Day of Older Persons 2026, themed “The Age of Longevity: Rethinking Systems for Longer Lives,” highlights the need to develop healthcare, social security, labour-market and social-service systems in response to increasing life expectancy. For Vietnam, rapid population ageing is not only a demographic issue but also a development challenge.

Vietnamese, Lao localities bolster Front cooperation

Vietnamese, Lao localities bolster Front cooperation

Both sides agreed to keep educating officials, Party members, youth union groups and the broader public, especially young people in both provinces, on the great friendship, special solidarity, comprehensive cooperation and strategic cohesion between Vietnam and Laos.

Urgent rescue launched for Merchant Mariner off Quang Ngai

Urgent rescue launched for Merchant Mariner off Quang Ngai

The captain discovered water entering ballast tanks No. 4, 5 and 6 on the port side, causing the vessel to list slightly. Initial assessments indicated that the vessel may have struck an underwater rock formation while underway.

Publishing copyright caught in crossfire of piracy, AI

Publishing copyright caught in crossfire of piracy, AI

Publishing copyright is entering an entirely new phase. As AI becomes increasingly capable of generating text, summarising books, mimicking writing styles and producing content at enormous speed, ensuring copyright protection is becoming more difficult.

Heavy rains cause widespread damage in Phu Tho, Thanh Hoa

Heavy rains cause widespread damage in Phu Tho, Thanh Hoa

Prolonged heavy rains from September 13–17 have caused flooding and landslides, damaging homes, crops, roads and infrastructure in Phu Tho and Thanh Hoa provinces, with local authorities mobilising forces for emergency response.

Quang Ninh police bust 38.4 million USD transnational cybercrime ring

Quang Ninh police bust 38.4 million USD transnational cybercrime ring

Quang Ninh city's Public Security Department warned individuals, agencies and businesses not to publicly disclose or provide personal information or bank account details on social media, and urged organisations and businesses to strictly comply with regulations on protecting customers’ personal data.

Search area expanded to recover more martyrs' remains in Quang Tri

Search area expanded to recover more martyrs' remains in Quang Tri

The continued recovery of martyrs’ remains provides valuable information and further evidence of those who fought and sacrificed their lives for national independence and freedom. It also encourages search teams to persist in locating fallen soldiers still lying on former battlefields, contributing to the effective implementation of the 500-day campaign and reflecting Vietnam’s long-standing tradition of gratitude.

Vietnam to screen students nationwide for five health risks from 2028

Vietnam to screen students nationwide for five health risks from 2028

Vietnam will launch nationwide screening for five groups of school-related diseases and health conditions among students from preschool through high school from 2028, including overweight and obesity, refractive errors, spinal curvature, oral diseases and mental health disorders.