Huong, a Vietnam Outstanding Young Face of 2024, Deputy Head of the Faculty of Materials Science and Engineering at the Phenikaa School of Engineering, Phenikaa University, said that to achieve breakthroughs in national science and technology development, relying on talent from abroad will not be sufficient. 

Building a strong domestic workforce is crucial, he said.

“The Politburo issued Resolution 57 on breakthroughs in science, technology, innovation, and digital transformation, emphasizing the important role of the workforce in the 4.0 industrial revolution, and the high demand for quality human resources. 

“While attracting experts and scientists from abroad is necessary, it cannot replace the fundamental task of systematically building a domestic workforce,” Huong said.

When implementing recruitment activities across various localities and schools, Huong observed a declining interest among high school students in fields like Materials Science, Semiconductor Technology, Physics, and Chemical Engineering. 

“Even high-achieving students seem less enthusiastic about science and technology fields compared to before, with fewer showing interest,” Huong said.

“Many students seem hesitant to fully commit. They quickly turn away when they perceive a field as difficult. I sense that some young people today lack the resilience of previous generations,” he added.

Hailing from a poor rural area in Ha Tinh, Doctor Huong shared that he learned independence at 15. “While in 10th grade at Vinh University’s Specialized High School in Nghe An, I went to Ben Thuy market after school to buy VND20,000 worth of anchovies to cook for myself to support my studies. Each month, I’d return home to ask my parents for money and bring rice back to Vinh. Later, as a PhD student in France, I faced numerous challenges but always pushed through,” Doctor Huong recounted.

For today’s students, facing difficulties and challenges remains tough. “Something as simple as attending a 6:45am class is already a struggle for many. How can they endure and conquer greater challenges in science, technology, or future careers?” 

He said that changing this situation requires a shift in societal awareness about the role and value of those pursuing science, technology, and engineering.

The Party, State, and Government are strongly promoting science, technology, and innovation. Many universities have introduced attractive scholarships and tuition incentives to encourage talented students to pursue technological fields. 

MOET reported that of nearly 615,000 university entrants in 2024, 25 percent chose Business and Management, meaning 1 in 4 students opted for this field. Following it was Computer Science and Information Technology at 12 percent, while only about 9 percent chose Engineering Technology.

Thanh Hung