Hanoi dialogue examines AI teaching and regional education cooperation

Experts at an ASEAN–China education dialogue in Hanoi on November 2 called for artificial intelligence to support, rather than displace, the roles of teachers and students. Discussions addressed responsible AI use, professional training and cooperation across borders.

Hosted by Vietnam National University-Hanoi’s University of Education, the dialogue marked the start of the Global MOOC & Online Education Conference 2026. VNU-Hanoi and China’s Tsinghua University are jointly hosting the conference in Hanoi from November 2 to 4.

A UNESCO Institute for Information Technologies in Education representative said teachers should retain responsibility for pedagogical decisions. AI could assist with analysing data, preparing lessons and personalising learning, but could not take over teachers’ guidance and support for students’ overall development. Students also needed to assess the technology critically and recognise its limitations and risks, the representative said.

At the Global MOOC and Online Education Alliance’s Executive Board meeting on November 2, University of Education president Tran Thanh Nam proposed cooperation on teachers’ AI skills. He said VNU-Hanoi was ready to co-chair efforts to develop a shared framework and practical training. He also proposed multilingual smart courses, beginning with 2–5 Vietnamese- and English-language pilots covering educational AI, digital teaching and learning assessment.

Nam’s other proposals included scholar exchanges and joint research into educational AI. He called for teacher competence and multilingual education to receive priority in the Global Digital Higher Education Development Report 2027, and said VNU-Hanoi was prepared to help establish a Southeast Asia chapter of the alliance.