Strategic Importance and Development of STEM Fields in Vietnam's Education System
As efforts continue to adapt Vietnam's education system to modern technologies, more than a third of students chose STEM fields in the 2026 university admissions.
While it is emphasized that comprehensive reforms must be made in education and training for Vietnam to specialize in strategic technology sectors and keep pace with global transformation, the rates of STEM preferences in the 2026 university enrollments drew attention.
Global Transformation and Human Resources
A profound transformation is taking place worldwide, driven by fields such as artificial intelligence, big data, semiconductor technology, and biotechnology. In this process, the quality of human resources and the ability to produce new knowledge rank among the most crucial factors determining the strength of economies.
2026 University Enrollment Figures
In the ongoing 2026 university admission process, more than 633,000 students finalized their enrollment procedures. Approximately 212,600 of these students, accounting for 33.6 percent, chose STEM fields.
Strategic Technology and Basic Sciences
Among the finalized enrollments, over 121,000 students headed towards 15 basic science, engineering, and strategic technology fields, making up 19.1 percent of the total number.
Admission Scores for Technology Programs
While the admission scores for many artificial intelligence and data science programs exceeded 25, the scores for more than 60 percent of the departments related to microchips and semiconductors stood at 22.5 or higher levels.
Support Policies for Students
Within the framework of Decree No. 179/2026/ND-CP, support ranging from 3.7 million to 8.4 million VND per month is provided to students studying in basic sciences, key engineering, and strategic technologies fields.
Future-Oriented Educational Reforms
In the face of rapid advancements in science and technology, Resolution No. 71-NQ/TW on the development of education and training demands innovation in mindset, curriculum, teaching methods, and university development models.