AI in Language - Highlights from the Seminar "Chinese for Science and Technology: Implementation, Connection, and Development"

This morning (April 7), in a meeting room at Hanoi University of Science and Technology (HUST), the Seminar "Chinese for Science and Technology: Implementation, Connection, and Development" attracted a large number of Chinese language experts from universities, as well as domestic and foreign enterprises.

Dr. Le Quang Sang - Dean of the Faculty of Chinese, Foreign Trade University Hanoi - gave a very heartfelt remark to the Organizing Committee. He shared that initially, he thought this was just a small workshop for colleagues to exchange professional knowledge, but upon entering the meeting room, he was truly overwhelmed by the grand scale and elaborate preparation, no different from a world-class international conference.

The surprise of the experienced expert was the perfect start to a working session full of fresh thinking about language education - Chinese for Science and Technology - in the digital era.
Strategic Vision and the Mission to Train "Bridge Engineers"
  Opening the seminar was a dedicated speech by Prof. Vu Van Yem - Vice President of Hanoi University of Science and Technology. With a deep and comprehensive vision, the University leader began by assessing the position of language in the new era. He affirmed that in the context of deep globalization and international cooperation, language now acts as a bridge of knowledge and a key to unlock cooperation opportunities in science, technology, education, as well as innovation.

Prof. Vu Van Yem emphasized that among international languages, Chinese is increasingly asserting its key role, especially in the field of science and technology, as China has become a leading nation in research, development, and application. Mastering this language is a way to access a massive wealth of knowledge and participate directly in transnational technology projects. The Professor shared: "Promoting the teaching, learning, and use of Chinese specialized in science and technology is a practical need for higher education institutions, especially at Hanoi University of Science and Technology - a leading training and research center in Vietnam."
      For this reason, the Chinese for Science and Technology (FL3) major has been heavily invested in by the University and will begin enrollment in 2025. This is a pioneering, strategic training model that connects educational goals with the practical needs of the international labor market. Prof. Vu Van Yem expects the FL3 program to train generations of students capable of fluently using Chinese in an academic context, competent enough to analyze modern technical documents, and ready to work at large corporations in China or Chinese partners in Vietnam.

With a vision to 2035, Hanoi University of Science and Technology aims to become a center of excellence in talent training and innovation, and the FL3 major is a crucial part of realizing this strategy. The highly focused remarks of the HUST Vice President not only evoked pride but also affirmed the correctness in choosing the University's new direction.

Virtual Chinese Teacher Prepares a Lesson in... 1 Minute!
  Continuing the spirit of the seminar, experts delved into analyzing the superiority of the FL3 training program. Dr. Pham Thi Thanh Van - Director of the FL3 program - reported on the positive results after the first year of implementation. The admission score for the FL3 major is among the highest, affirming its strong appeal to talented candidates. The 136-credit program is designed based on the integration of three modern theoretical frameworks: LSP (Language for Specific Purposes), CLIL (Content and Language Integrated Learning), and CSP (Chinese for Specific Purposes). This is the first and only program in Vietnam to apply this profoundly integrated model.
  From the perspective of applied linguistics research, Dr. Tran Thi Thanh Mai - Director of the Boya Applied Linguistics Research Institute - brought sharp insights on renewing industry theory. The expert argued that there needs to be a paradigm shift from viewing "language as knowledge" to "language as a professional tool". Dr. Mai emphasized: "Knowing a language is not synonymous with being able to do the job; understanding terminology is different from understanding principles and essence." Therefore, the Chinese for Science and Technology - FL3 program at the School of Foreign Languages, Hanoi University of Science and Technology, is on the right track by taking the philosophy of "competency-oriented" and "concept-based teaching" as its core. Allowing students to learn language through scientific content helps them form systems thinking and the ability to solve complex technical problems using that very language.
  Another breakthrough highlight of the FL3 major is the application of artificial intelligence (AI) in teaching. Dr. Bui Thu Phuong - Head of the Chinese Language Professional Group - shared about designing specialized modules oriented towards digital capacity. AI does not play the role of replacing humans but acts as a "cognitive scaffold" helping to personalize the learning path for each student. Through support tools like iFLYTEK's SPARK model, students can interact with "virtual teachers" and practice spoken language 24/7 in a virtual reality environment.
  Ms. Cao Ngoc Khiet - Operations Manager of iFLYTEK's global Chinese learning platform - caught the entire room's attention when introducing a solution that helps optimize the lesson preparation time of a virtual Chinese teacher from 120 minutes down to just... 1 minute, while also creating a diverse interactive learning space for students. This combination transforms language from a barrier into a sharp thinking tool, helping HUST students confidently anticipate the Industry 4.0 era.

HUST's FL3: A Cure for the "Pain Points" of Businesses!

Besides the academic values, the seminar also listened to highly practical sharings from businesses about the need for high-quality human resources. Ms. Nguyen Xuan Hai Yen - Founder of Proline Vietnam - pointed out that the "pain point" of many businesses today is the shortage of personnel who are both good at foreign languages and knowledgeable about technology. She shared that small and medium enterprises in Vietnam are in dire need of personnel with digital capabilities, technological acumen, and the ability to use Chinese to operate e-commerce platforms or execute smart manufacturing projects.
  The birth of the Chinese for Science and Technology - FL3 major is a satisfactory answer to this problem. FL3 students are not only trained at the university but also participate in an "Enterprise Semester", interning early at tech corporations in Vietnam and China. The program creates a cohesive ecosystem between the University and enterprises, where industry experts directly participate in building learning materials and career orientation for students. This helps bridge the gap between the lecture hall and reality, allowing students upon graduation to immediately take on important positions such as "Bridge Engineers", technology project managers, or technical support experts at FDI enterprises.
  Furthermore, through the TMEDU educational ecosystem and official study abroad channels like Vimiss, FL3 students also have the opportunity to receive scholarships at top Chinese universities like Tsinghua or Fudan. The YouJob employment forum also opens doors to giant corporations like Huawei and Tencent. All these factors create a sustainable and promising development roadmap for young people who dare to choose a pioneering path at Hanoi University of Science and Technology.

The peace of mind of parents is also clearly reflected through the sharing of Mr. Nguyen Tuan Anh - a parent of a K70 student majoring in Chinese for Science and Technology, HUST. He expressed pride in seeing his daughter develop strongly in thinking, self-study ability, and clear future orientation after just a short time studying in the HUST environment.

Igniting the "Small Flame" of Artificial Intelligence and Language Passion

Concluding the seminar with meaningful exchanges, Dr. Trinh Thi Anh Hang - Dean of the School of Foreign Languages, HUST, and Head of the Organizing Committee - emotionally shared that the School of Foreign Languages, HUST has absorbed extremely valuable messages from experts and businesses. She was particularly impressed by Dr. Tran Thi Thanh Mai's concern that language must be a tool for students to think and create, as well as sympathizing with the "pain point" of human resource shortages raised by Ms. Hai Yen.
  Dr. Trinh Thi Anh Hang affirmed: "The School of Foreign Languages commits to connecting more deeply with businesses to clearly understand practical needs, thereby continuously updating and innovating the FL3 training program in particular and other science and technology language programs in general." She also emphasized that the lessons on interdisciplinary, cross-disciplinary thinking, and innovation in assessment and evaluation contributed by experts such as Dr. Le Quang Sang; Assoc. Prof. Cam Tu Tai - Dean of the Faculty of Chinese Language, School of Languages and Tourism, Hanoi University of Industry; Dr. Nguyen Thi Minh - Vice Dean of the Faculty of Chinese Language and Culture, University of Languages and International Studies (VNU), etc., will be an important orientation for the University to train outstanding individuals, who not only meet standards but also surpass their own limits to succeed in an international environment.
  The seminar closed with full confidence in a bright future for the Chinese for Science and Technology - FL3 major, Hanoi University of Science and Technology. The "small flames" of artificial intelligence and language passion ignited at HUST today promise to create a high-quality workforce, taking Vietnam's science, technology, and economy further in the global digital era.

With methodical preparation, the strategic vision of the HUST Leadership Board, and the companionship of major partners, the Chinese for Science and Technology - FL3 major will certainly continue to be the preferred choice for young people yearning to conquer the peaks of knowledge and shape the future.