From 5G and IoT to Blockchain: Vietnam seeks talent to turn new technologies into economic value

As Vietnam moves towards a digital-first economy, a widening shortage of hybrid professionals bridging business and technology is emerging. Speaking at “Empowering Digital Economy Growth in the New Era” hosted by Vietnam Investment Review, BUV’s Dr Dong Manh Cuong outlined how business education is being reshaped to address this gap.

Within the framework of the “Empowering Digital Economy Growth in the New Era” conference-part of a sustainable development series organised by Vietnam Investment Review, the official press agency under the Ministry of Finance-British University Vietnam (BUV) was honoured to be the only educational institution invited. The event brought together government officials, international business associations, and major technology corporations such as Viettel and FPT, providing a forum to discuss emerging workforce demands in Vietnam’s digital transformation.

Experts discuss at the “Empowering Digital Economy Growth in the New Era” conference. Photo: VIR

Widening talent gap at the intersection of business and technology

Speaking at the event, Dr Dong Manh Cuong, Head of the Business School at BUV, noted that Vietnam’s shift towards a digital and technology-enabled economy is exposing a critical shortage of talent in roles positioned at the intersection of business and technology.

He emphasised that Vietnam is not short of engineers or business managers, but of those who can connect both domains to translate technology into economic value. In areas such as data- and AI-driven decision-making, many young professionals may be proficient with digital tools yet lack analytical thinking and the ability to design data-led strategies.

In data governance, the lack of specialists in data architecture, cybersecurity, compliance and advanced analytics hinders businesses from converting large data volumes into competitive advantage. The most significant gap, Dr Cuong stressed, lies in bridge roles-people able to translate technical language into strategic business language.

The rapid rise of blockchain, 5G, IoT and digital payment systems further heightens demand for hybrid professionals who understand technology, business models and regulatory frameworks and can deploy digital solutions in practice-from fintech and smart supply chains to real-time data services.

BUV advances practice-led model linking academic, technology and enterprise

Addressing how BUV prepares students with integrated business-technology capabilities, Dr Cuong explained that the university views collaboration with industry and innovation ecosystems as central to its educational philosophy.

BUV works with companies in AI, data analytics, cloud computing and cybersecurity to embed real-world cases into the curriculum and to design consulting projects enabling students to engage with real data and workflows-such as developing AI models for marketing or creating cloud-based solutions.

In parallel, partnerships with fintech firms, e-commerce platforms, tech logistics companies and organisations deploying 5G/IoT infrastructure allow students to tackle real business challenges and explore digital-era models including digital payments, platform-based economies, intelligent supply chains and real-time data services.

Dr Dong Manh Cuong, Head of the Business School at British University Vietnam (BUV), speaks at the conference. Photo: VIR

Aligned with this approach, BUV has expanded its academic portfolio through the Business Technology programme, delivered in collaboration with Manchester Metropolitan University-a university with over 200 years of history located in one of the UK’s major financial and technology hubs. The programme equips students with managerial insight and technological literacy, covering data analytics, AI in business and the impact of cloud computing, 5G and IoT on organisational models.

BUV also collaborates with incubators and innovation hubs, enabling students to prototype ideas and receive mentorship from industry experts. Several student projects have been recognised by corporate partners and selected for pilot implementation.

Dr Cuong said: “Our strategy is not only to bring businesses into the university, but to place students directly into the technology and innovation ecosystem. This helps them understand how technology operates in real business contexts and develop the mindset needed to create economic value through technology.”

Find out more about the Business Technology programme here.