Fully aware of both the opportunities and challenges brought about by the digital era, the Department of National Defence and Security Education has actively conducted research, provided strategic advice, and directed the comprehensive implementation of measures to renew national defence and security education for university students, thereby contributing to the development of a young workforce equipped with political steadfastness, knowledge, practical skills, and a strong sense of responsibility for the cause of national construction and defence.

Over the past years, under the leadership and direction of the Party and the State, directly guided by the Ministry of Education and Training, and with the close coordination of the Ministry of National Defence, the Ministry of Public Security, and other relevant ministries and sectors, national defence and security education for university students has achieved significant progress. These efforts have helped raise students' awareness and civic responsibility, foster patriotism and national pride, and equip the younger generation with essential knowledge and skills in national defence and security to meet the requirements of safeguarding and developing the Fatherland.

As the strategic advisory body in this field, the Department of National Defence and Security Education has taken the lead in coordinating research and advising on the development and gradual improvement of the legal framework, curricula, and course content for national defence and security education. It has also advised on planning the nationwide network of national defence and security education centres, while directing and guiding the implementation of the subject across educational institutions throughout the country. At the same time, the Department has advised on the training and professional development of lecturers and administrators, promoted the renewal of teaching content and methodologies, and modernised teaching facilities and equipment, thereby contributing to improving the quality of national defence and security education for university students.

A conference on non-traditional security threats and the task of defence and security education (Photo: giaoducthoidai.vn)

At present, the rapid development of science and technology, artificial intelligence, and digital communications has profoundly influenced the awareness, behaviour, and lifestyles of the younger generation through cyberspace. Hostile and reactionary forces, together with political opportunists, have increasingly exploited the digital environment to intensify their sabotage activities and promote “self-evolution” and “self-transformation” through increasingly sophisticated and complex methods. Meanwhile, the curricula and teaching content of national defence and security education at a number of educational institutions have yet to keep pace with new developments. In addition, the digital competence of a proportion of lecturers, together with the information technology infrastructure and facilities at many national defence and security education centres, has not fully met the requirements of educational renewal.

Against this backdrop, the Department will continue to perform its role as a strategic advisory body by proactively conducting research, formulating policy recommendations, and implementing comprehensive measures to fundamentally and comprehensively renew national defence and security education for university students. These efforts are intended to contribute to developing a high-quality young workforce capable of meeting the requirements of national construction and defence in the digital era.

First, priority should be given to strengthening research and strategic advisory work to renew and improve the effectiveness and efficiency of the management and administration of national defence and security education for university students in a comprehensive and modern manner, closely aligned with the requirements of the national digital transformation. Fully implementing the Politburo's Resolution No. 71-NQ/TW, dated 22 August 2025, on breakthroughs in education and training development, the Law on National Defence and Security Education (2013, as amended and supplemented in 2025), and Government Decree No. 139/2020/ND-CP, dated 27 November 2020, the Department proactively advises the Ministry of Education and Training in coordinating with relevant ministries and sectors to review and improve mechanisms, policies, management regulations, and coordination mechanisms, thereby ensuring the unified, synchronised, and effective implementation of national defence and security education. Particular attention is devoted to researching and proposing measures to address difficulties and obstacles in teaching the subject for university students, especially at non-public higher education institutions, foreign-invested educational institutions, and for Vietnamese students returning from overseas study, ensuring that all eligible students are able to complete the course in accordance with regulations.

At the same time, greater emphasis is placed on accelerating digital transformation in the management, administration, and delivery of the subject in conjunction with the implementation of the Project on Developing Population Data, Electronic Identification and Authentication Applications in Support of the National Digital Transformation for the 2022–2025 Period, with a Vision to 2030 (Project 06). On that basis, efforts are focused on gradually developing, standardising, and integrating digital databases covering lecturers, training programmes, learning resources, learning outcomes, certificates, and the nationwide network of national defence and security education centres, thereby establishing a unified, interconnected, and synchronised management system on a national scale. In parallel, the Department continues to improve regulations governing data management, digital learning resources, assessment, and the issuance of certificates in the digital environment, contributing to the development of a modern governance system and further enhancing the quality and effectiveness of national defence and security education for university students.

Second, priority should be given to building a contingent of lecturers and administrators engaged in national defence and security education with sufficient quantity, standardised quality, and the capacity to meet the requirements of education in the digital environment. To date, higher education institutions authorised to deliver the subject independently, together with national defence and security education centres, have largely consolidated their organisational structures and developed a contingent of lecturers and administrators capable of fulfilling assigned tasks, with many lecturers holding postgraduate qualifications and possessing extensive practical experience. Nevertheless, shortages of full-time lecturers remain, while the proportion of visiting lecturers is still relatively high. In addition, the digital competence of a proportion of lecturers and administrators, as well as their ability to apply digital technologies and innovate teaching methods and practical training, has yet to keep pace with the evolving requirements of education and training in general, and the specific demands of national defence and security education in particular, in the context of digital transformation.

In light of these realities, the Department will continue to work closely with relevant agencies in reviewing and assessing the current quality of lecturers and administrators, while researching and incorporating criteria relating to digital competence, the application of artificial intelligence, and innovation in teaching methodologies into the competency framework, thereby ensuring that it meets the requirements of education in the digital environment. On that basis, the Department will advise on and direct the effective implementation of the Prime Minister's Decision No. 10/2025/QD-TTg, dated 19 April 2025, on the establishment, organisation, and operation of national defence and security education centres in conjunction with the Master Plan for the National Defence and Security Education Centre System for the 2021–2030 Period, with a Vision to 2045. Particular attention will be devoted to strengthening the contingent of administrators and full-time lecturers, while giving full play to the core role of seconded military officers in management, training, and quality assurance at these centres.

In parallel with these efforts, and in implementing the Government's Resolution No. 281/NQ-CP, dated 15 September 2025, promulgating the Government's Action Programme for implementing the Politburo's Resolution No. 71-NQ/TW on breakthroughs in education and training development, the Department will take the lead, in coordination with relevant agencies, in formulating a scheme for training and professional development of teachers, lecturers, and administrators engaged in national defence and security education to ensure sufficient staffing and standardised quality. Greater emphasis will also be placed on training, refresher courses, and professional development programmes for lecturers and administrators, while regularly updating them on new developments relating to national defence and security, cybersecurity, high-tech warfare, information warfare, and non-traditional security challenges. Lecturers will be encouraged to participate in scientific research, compile textbooks and digital learning resources, and apply information technology and artificial intelligence to teaching, assessment, and evaluation. At the same time, academic seminars, professional exchanges, and field visits to military and public security units will be further promoted to enhance professional competence and practical expertise.

A review conference on defence and security education of the 2025-2026 academic year

Third, renewing curricula and teaching methodologies to improve the quality of national defence and security education for university students in the digital era. Based on the National Defence and Security Education Curriculum for University Students promulgated under Circular No. 05/2020/TT-BGDDT, the Department will continue to review and advise on updating course content in a streamlined, practical, and reality-oriented manner. Priority will be given to incorporating the latest viewpoints and orientations set out in the Resolution of the 14th National Party Congress concerning national construction and defence, as well as the building of the all-people national defence and the people's security in the new era. At the same time, the curriculum will be supplemented with essential knowledge relating to safeguarding national sovereignty in cyberspace, promoting scientific and technological development, innovation and digital transformation, and equipping students with the skills required to counter wrongful and hostile viewpoints in cyberspace.

Alongside these efforts, the Department will continue directing and guiding the renewal of teaching methodologies towards greater modernity, with stronger application of information technology, artificial intelligence, simulation technology, and online learning platforms in teaching, assessment, and evaluation, thereby gradually enhancing student interaction and learning effectiveness. Priority will also be given to developing, standardising, and digitising the system of textbooks, electronic lectures, question banks, and shared learning resources, while strengthening connectivity and resource sharing among higher education institutions and national defence and security education centres nationwide. At the same time, the renewal of curricula and teaching methodologies will be closely integrated with scientific research and the review of practical experience, ensuring the timely incorporation of new developments in national defence and security into national defence and security education for university students in the digital era.

Fourth, priority should be given to strengthening investment in, and modernising, facilities, equipment, and technical infrastructure for national defence and security education. The Department will continue to advise on improving the system of standards, norms, and quality assurance conditions for teaching and learning, with priority given to drafting and promulgating a circular prescribing the categories, service life, standard designs, colours, and technical specifications for uniforms and shared equipment used by university students undertaking national defence and security education. At the same time, the Department will direct the effective implementation of the Project on the Conversion and Deactivation of Level-5 AK Assault Rifles, while advising on the provision of training weapons, marksmanship training equipment, instructional models, shared teaching materials, and other training facilities in a synchronised and modern manner to meet the requirements of teaching and learning at higher education institutions and national defence and security education centres.

In parallel with these efforts, the Department will strengthen coordination with the Ministry of National Defence, the Ministry of Public Security, and relevant agencies in reviewing and assessing the operational conditions of the nationwide system of national defence and security education centres and higher education institutions authorised to independently deliver the subject. On that basis, timely recommendations will be made to address existing shortcomings and constraints, while gradually modernising training grounds, practice ranges, specialised classrooms, simulation equipment, electronic terrain models, and technological infrastructure serving teaching and training activities. The Department will also effectively implement the Ministry of Education and Training's Plan No. 712/KH-BGDDT, dated 29 April 2026, on formulating the Scheme on the Development and Application of Artificial Intelligence in Education, while promoting the application of digital technologies, artificial intelligence, and electronic learning resources in management, teaching, assessment, and evaluation. Due attention will also be paid to ensuring information security, cybersecurity, safety in training, and the effective management and use of facilities and equipment, thereby gradually building a regular and modern national defence and security education environment.

Renewing national defence and security education for university students is both an urgent requirement and a long-term strategic task in response to the opportunities and challenges of the digital era. In performing its assigned functions and responsibilities, the Department of National Defence and Security Education will continue to conduct research, provide strategic advice, and coordinate the comprehensive implementation of measures to improve the quality and effectiveness of this important task, thereby contributing to the development of a young generation equipped with political steadfastness, knowledge, practical skills, a strong sense of responsibility, and aspirations to contribute to the cause of national construction and defence.

Major General, Ph.D. TRAN NGOC THANH, Director General of the Department of National Defence and Security Education, Ministry of Education and Training