The School of Government’s seminar: Digital transformation in the public sector in Vietnam

24 May, 2021

The term Digital Transformation has recently been mentioned more and more in the media. Public organizations are facing pressures from the external environment, such as changing people's habits in using services or the management practices that require them to transform towards increasing transparency, interactability, and people's satisfaction. In addition, the emergence of COVID-19 makes the requirement for digital transformation important in many public service sectors such as Health, Education, Finance, etc.

To further clarify the digital transformation activities that the public sector is processing, on May 12nd, 2021, the School of Government of the University of Economics Ho Chi Minh City (UEH) held an online seminar with the participation of many research scholars and experts in the field of digital transformation to discuss the goals, orientations, and issues of digital transformation together.

Attending the seminar, on the side of the guests, there was Mr. Dao Ha Trung - Chairman of Ho Chi Minh City High Technology Association. Mr. Le Nhu Hung - Vice Chairman of Ho Chi Minh City Association of Science and Development of Talented Human Resources, Mr. Huynh Bao Toan - Microsoft Expert in Vietnam, Mr. Nguyen Duc Tuan - Deputy Director of Information and Statistics of Science and Technology Center, Ho Chi Minh City Department of Science and Technology, along with many experts, are currently directly carrying out digital transformation in Vietnam. On the UEH side, there's Dr. Dinh Cong Khai - Dean of The School of Government, Director of the Institute of Public Policy and lecturers inside and outside the School of Government.

Besides the achievements, while deploying digital transformation, the delegates also discussed some issues to be solved now in public organizations when implementing digital transformation, including:

(1) Data collection process: The process of collecting data is an important requirement when conducting digital transformation. Therefore, data collection is a content that needs to be accelerated further in Vietnam so that data digitalization can be done promptly. Some of the requirements that need to be met when collecting data include resolving requirements for human resources, technical means, legal systems, people's consensus.

(2) Creating a common understanding of digital transformation: Currently, many organizations and individuals misunderstand that digital transformation only implies the application of technological advances to the workflow or the digitalization of data at the organizations. Misunderstanding the differences between definitions has led to improper ways of doing things. Meanwhile, digital transformation is defined as covering both digitalization activities and applying technology and changing the organizational culture and culture of using people's services in a new way. Therefore, clarifying the inner meaning of the definition of digital transformation is an essential requirement now, when public institutions are at the beginning of the digital transformation. Helping organizations understand digital transformation properly will shape the right strategy in the first place, reducing waste for society.

(3) Technology infrastructure issues: Two issues that need to be solved in parallel are ensuring the synchronizing of technology infrastructure to implement digital transformation activities suitable to each industry and field and ensuring technology operation capacity. In order for digital transformation activities in public organizations to be effective, it is necessary to ensure that the connection between localities is carried out in sync, avoiding the situation of differences in the ability to connect between industries and fields.

(4) Completing the system of legal documents on digital transformation: Resolution No. 01/NQ-CP of January 1st, 2021 of the Government on the main tasks and solutions to implement the socio-economic development plan and state budget estimates in 2021 has also clearly stated one of the top priorities today to promote comprehensive digital transformation, build and finalize the legal framework for new types of business, digital economy, public service provision. Currently, many technologies must be ready but there needs to be a legal framework guiding implementation.

From the above requirements, four groups of solutions: Enhancing the government's supporting role in the implementation of digital transformation in public organizations, media activities on digital transformation in the public sector, completing infrastructure to meet the digital transformation strategy, and completing the legal framework for digital transformation in Vietnam were proposed and actively discussed at the meeting talk.

Some photos at the seminar: