THE ROLE OF LIFELONG LEARNING IN DEVELOPING HIGH-QUALITY HUMAN RESOURCES IN VIETNAM'S DIGITAL ERA

Abstract

The Fourth Industrial Revolution has intensified the imperative for continuous skill development, rendering initial formal education insufficient for career-long employability. This study examines the role of lifelong learning in developing high-quality human resources in Vietnam during the digital era, employing qualitative methodology based on document and policy analysis of Party and State documents, government reports, and international organization assessments. The findings reveal that Vietnam has progressively elevated lifelong learning to a foundational pillar of national development strategy, with the 13th National Party Congress identifying human resource development as a strategic breakthrough and institutional infrastructure providing mechanisms for learning society construction. Quantitative indicators demonstrate progress, including STEM enrollment increasing by 10.6 percent in 2024. However, significant challenges persist: only 13 percent of the workforce possesses formal training qualifications, approximately 65 percent of top technology talents work abroad, and a 23-percentage point urban-rural gap constrains equitable digital learning access. The study proposes six recommendations addressing financing mechanisms, university-enterprise collaboration, grassroots infrastructure, digital divides, talent retention, and recognition of prior learning. The research concludes that policy commitment and institutional architecture constitute necessary but insufficient conditions; sustainable financing, stakeholder coordination, and implementation capacity determine whether strategic frameworks translate into workforce quality improvements.