HCMC – Employers increasingly value adaptability, continuous learning, and the ability to use AI effectively as the technology reshapes hiring requirements, speakers at a university-business forum in HCMC said on June 14.
More than 50 companies from sectors such as finance, banking, law, information technology, construction, and business administration joined the Open Business Matching 2026 program organized by Ho Chi Minh City Open University.
Nguyen Minh Ha, rector of the university, said advances in artificial intelligence, big data, and digital transformation are changing labor market demands under the Fourth Industrial Revolution (Industry 4.0). Universities cannot prepare students for the workforce on their own and need closer cooperation with businesses to align training with practical needs, he noted.
At a panel discussion on strengthening ties between businesses and universities in career guidance and workforce development, Nguyen Viet Anh, director of SSI Securities Corporation’s Nguyen Cong Tru branch in HCMC, described how AI has become part of daily operations.
He said departments at his company are required to incorporate automation into their workflows to improve efficiency. The company has also launched internal training programs and encourages employees to propose initiatives and apply AI in their work.
According to Viet Anh, universities should revise curricula to reflect changing labor market expectations. Professional knowledge acquired in school can quickly become outdated if graduates lack the ability to update their skills and adapt to change.
He argued that universities should equip students with a lifelong learning mindset and a willingness to embrace new technologies. AI should be treated as a basic competency, similar to computer and internet literacy in earlier decades.
Beyond teaching students how to use AI tools, universities should help them understand the responsibilities, limitations, and effective application of the technology, he added.
Viet Anh said knowing how to use AI alone will not provide a competitive edge in the future, as the skill is likely to become commonplace. What will distinguish workers, he noted, is their ability to use AI to boost productivity, solve problems, and create value for organizations.
He also called on universities to integrate AI, digital transformation, and practical workplace skills into their training programs.
Thai Thi Van Anh, director of KTC Auditing Company Limited, highlighted the importance of exposing students to professional environments early through seminars, company visits, and career experience programs.
Such activities should provide practical insights into daily responsibilities, job requirements, and workplace challenges, she said.
She also recommended that universities invite working professionals to engage directly with students. Real-world experiences shared by practitioners can help students gain a clearer understanding of their chosen careers and better prepare for future employment.
