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Vol.15, No.3, August 2026. ISSN: 2217-8309 eISSN: 2217-8333
TEM Journal
TECHNOLOGY, EDUCATION, MANAGEMENT, INFORMATICS Association for Information Communication Technology Education and Science |
Evaluating Digital Competence Among University Students in Vietnam’s Northern Mountainous Region: Challenges and Strategies for Enhancement
Tran Thi Hong, Nguyen Minh Tuan, Nguyen Thi Tra My, Trinh Thanh Hai
© 2026 Tran Thi Hong, published by UIKTEN. This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 License. (CC BY-NC-ND 4.0)
Citation Information: TEM Journal. Volume 15, Issue 3, Pages 2943-2961, ISSN 2217-8309, DOI: 10.18421/TEM153-76, August 2026.
Received: 07 August 2025.
Abstract:
Digital competence is increasingly recognized as a vital skill for individuals in contemporary society, particularly in light of the rapid and widespread advancements in information and communication technology. In the current digital context, it is imperative for university students to possess digital competencies that enable them to engage effectively in an open and global educational environment. This study employs a mixed-methods approach, integrating both qualitative and quantitative research methodologies, with a sample size exceeding 2,000 students from the Northern mountainous region of Vietnam, enrolled in member institutions of Thai Nguyen University, alongside 50 lecturer members who provide direct instruction. The study aims to elucidate the current state of digital competence among these students. The findings indicate that, overall, students in the Northern mountainous region of Vietnam exhibit a degree of confidence in their digital competencies, with a substantial proportion rating their skills as good or very good. However, the research also reveals that a significant number of students assess their digital abilities as merely average or poor. Furthermore, the study identifies several barriers that hinder the development of digital competencies among students. Based on these insights, the paper proposes implications for the administration of member universities of Thai Nguyen University, as well as for educational policymakers in Vietnam, suggesting specific plans, strategies, and actions aimed at enhancing digital competence among students in the Northern mountainous region and Vietnamese students more broadly in the near future.
Keywords – Digital competence, digital competence of students, ethnic minority students, northern mountainous region of Vietnam. |
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