Prime Minister Approves a Plan for Advanced AI Training Centres, Naming 10 Universities to Train 10,000 Learners by 2030

Vietnam’s Prime Minister has approved a scheme to develop a group of training institutions into advanced, specialised centres for artificial intelligence from 2026 to 2030, Tuổi Trẻ reported on November 10. The plan sets up a hub-and-network model in which universities take on specialised roles and share programmes, lecturers, data, computing infrastructure and laboratories, with the aim of training high-level AI workers and building the capacity to research, master and govern the technology.

Ten higher-education institutions have been selected for the first round: Vietnam National University, Hanoi (University of Engineering and Technology), Vietnam National University, Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi University of Science and Technology, the University of Danang (University of Science and Technology), the University of Economics Ho Chi Minh City, the Posts and Telecommunications Institute of Technology, the Military Technical Academy, the Academy of Security Technology, Ho Chi Minh City University of Education and the Vietnamese-German University. Being on the list does not mean recognition as a centre; institutions will be assessed periodically and can be replaced.

What it means in practice

By 2030 the network must have trained at least 10,000 learners in specialised AI, AI+X and sector-specific X+AI programmes, including at least 600 doctoral candidates, and developed at least 150 core experts. Other targets include at least 20 strong research groups, 2,500 papers in Q1 or Q2 journals or at CORE A*/A conferences, 50 core models, datasets or benchmarks, 50 technologies transferred to agencies or businesses and 25 spin-offs or startups. At least two member universities should rank among Asia’s top 150 in AI. The Ministry of Education and Training leads the scheme and must report to the Prime Minister before December 25 each year.

The plan follows Deputy Prime Minister Lê Tiến Châu’s call for AI standards in universities and moves such as UEH joining Plug and Play’s university network. What to watch is the ministry’s criteria for recognising a centre, how investment is spread without duplication, and the mid-term review planned for 2028.