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Technology and Innovation Management Specializations: Perfect combination of Technology and Economics from experts’ and employers’ perspectives

Technology and Innovation Management Specializations: Perfect combination of Technology and Economics from experts’ and employers’ perspectives

“Having trained in technology management skills which focuses on new technologies; listing as: Artificial Intelligence, machine learning, AR/VR and so on as well as practiced in innovative thinking to be ready for adaption to business and time changes, UEH students graduating majoring in Technology and Innovation Management are the future enterprises’ elite human resources in the digital age” – These outstanding advantages of new specialization were specifically evaluated and analyzed by experts and employers at "Decode" online Webinar specializing in Technology and Innovation Management.

Dear experts, COVID-19 pandemic has been affecting business operations. What has technology contributed to enterprises so as to adapt and innovate in business and production activities?

- Mr. Nguyen Tuan Minh, Director of Data and Analytics - One Mount Group: The 21st century is witnessing the explosive development of Digital economy, Creative economy thanks to the birth and continuous development of new technologies. Deeply grasping and applying technology will help businesses operate more efficiently. Technology always plays an important part in business operations, growth leverages and sustainable development of enterprises. In terms of Covid-19 pandemic context, technology has clearly shown its key role to help enterprises quickly adapt, overcome difficulties, as well as seize opportunities with new appropriate forms of operation matching new manufacturing and business conditions. At One Mount Group, new learning machine models are being additionally installed to support businesses to understand customers’ psychology via analyzing customer behaviors as rapidly and effectively as possible so as to build business modality aiming at future markets; or the inevitable downward trend that the retail service industry needs to research and apply, possibly, eKYC technology Techcombank is deploying towards identifying customers electronically without face-to-face meetings.

Experts, what is the role of innovation culture in the growth and sustainable development of enterprises?

- Ms. Nguyen Thi Minh Giang, General Director of Human Resources and Corporate Culture, Mekong Capital: Along with the vital role of technology that Mr. Nguyen Tuan Minh mentioned, if enterprises want to create breakthroughs and develop sustainably, they need to construct innovation culture. Building an innovation culture has to come from the root, a leader with a mindset and commitment to innovation. At the same time, based on each business goal, leaders and enterprises determine an appropriate and effective innovation strategy. An illustrative example is the success story of The Gioi Di Dong, a company in MeKong Capital’s investment portfolio. With the target of becoming a model as best customer service business in Vietnam, when competitors were not interested in technology, in 2007, The Gioi Di Dong established a new function in charge of digital transformation with a scale of nearly 200 employees. Due to this distinct and focusing investment, together with leaders’ commitment and open-mindedness, the company has achieved breakthroughs in its business activities, becoming the current leading retailer in Vietnam.

The digital era forces both businesses and workers to adapt to the new technological environment. From your personal experience and observation, could you please clarify the benefits of economic human resources when being more methodically trained in new technologies?

- Mr. Nguyen Tuan Minh, Director of Data and Analytics - One Mount Group: Technology will change jobs as well as workers need to improve their digital skills to meet the chronological requirements. Following this propensity, human resources in the economic sector will have a remarkably competitive advantage when they are knowledgeable and able to apply new technologies. When they understand the technology, they can both implement technology-product development strategies and dramatically evolve new technology-applying business models. In addition, they understand the technology’s future shape, how world technology inclinations impact the world and timely grab opportunities that others may not have seen. To get these things, they need to undergo a thorough training process.

Could you share more about the characteristics of human resources in the digital age?

- Ms. Nguyen Thi Minh Giang, General Director of Human Resources and Corporate Culture, Mekong Capital: At Digital age, employees at all positions need to be equipped with technical knowledge. To be successful in any position, in any industry, the first decisive factor is an open mind, a mindset ready to accept and try new things, willingness to stand up and learn fast after each failure (agile mindset). For an innovator, one output of the new major that we have been discussing today, I strongly agree with the view that it is crucial to concentrate on training communication skills since this position is responsible for building an operating and developing framework for the business based on contacting all departments, all customers to understand their needs. Only when being properly and entirely understood is the technology applicable to promote its optimal power.

- Ms. Le Thi Kim Cu, Former CEO - Dentsu Vietnam: A quick survey of two Vietnamese companies on investment fund management and pharmaceutical distribution (over 300 employees) showed a considerable increase in technology-competent human resources - 50% and 150% respectively. Besides, World Economic Forum's Future of Jobs Report (2020) forecasts that by 2025, a 10-skill group, whose laborers are essentially equipped, includes Top 1 - analytical and innovative thinking, Top 7-8 technology-related skills. Digital transformation is an unavoidable tendency and businesses extremely require human resources having technological capabilities and innovative thinking, the perfect combination of these two elements is like a fish meeting water. However, Vietnamese workforce’s digital skills, in 2020, dropped 4 places to 96th position in Global Talent Competitiveness Index (GTCI) despite our emphasis on improving Industry 4.0 policy. More than ever, it is exceedingly paramount to train human resources to adapt to the new technology environment.

From expertsanalysis and exchange related technology impact on enterprise development and human resource characteristics in Digital age, could you please tell us how UEH Institute of Innovation has prepared and planned to provide high-quality human resources to meet business requirements in digital age?

- MBA. Huynh Phuoc Nghia, Vice Director UEH Institute of  Innovation: To provide highly-qualified human resources meeting the new wave of technology, from 2021, UEH Institute of Innovation has been enrolling students for training programs specializing in Technology and Innovation Management. This is the first bachelor program in Vietnam, built on Management - Technology - Innovation pillars, that provides foundation knowledge on management,  new technology-applying abilities (AI, Big Data, VR/AR and so on) in business operations and management together with innovation management assists graduates to be ready to adapt to the future labor market and to respond to changes of enterprise movements and of time. We are consistent in thriving and implementing training programs in accordance with international standards; ranging from programs, academic resources, lecturer teams, domestic and foreign consultants to teaching methods and assessing student learning outcomes, dynamic learning environment, and extracurricular activities associated with practice.

Thanks to speakers’ exchange and discussion, Technology and Innovation Management Major is an elective consideration for the present young people to have wide career opportunities in the future. UEH students are equipped with Technology knowledge which is business quintessence in Digital age.

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Digital Readiness Report, PwC, 2021.
News, photos: UEH Institute of Innovation