Assoc. Prof. Dr. Chu Cam Tho, Deputy General Director of Phenikaa University, said as the enrollment season nears, students may have questions about the majors they should follow, especially as the world is transforming powerfully due to AI.

Tho argued that while AI can replace humans in many jobs, it is also a golden opportunity for young people in general and women in particular if they make suitable choices. The expert pointed out several fields of study that female students should consider.

First is the Humanities and Social Sciences group.

“AI can write, but it has no life experience. Fields like Psychology, Sociology, Linguistics, or Law are no longer 'pure' as before but must combine with data. Female students can study these fields and, by promoting empathy, a natural strength of women, alongside understanding human behavior to adjust and apply AI, perform a very important job,” Tho said.

Tho also noted a very important area: experience design and content creation. 

“In just the last few years, major cultural events and jobs involving digital technology have greatly attracted people. AI can generate images, but you are the ones who provide aesthetic direction and create the 'story' behind them. Women often have a finesse for observing details. Fields like User Experience (UX) Design or Creative Management require a multi-dimensional perspective and keen artistic sense. Therefore, women can participate well and develop in this profession,” Tho added.

Second is the Business and Management group.

Despite the development of AI, this remains the group that attracts the most learners. About one in four university students studies in this field. 

“However, according to my observations, this group is under the greatest pressure of 'being replaced by AI' if they only learn pure professional skills. Therefore, the risk of 'unemployment' for this group is becoming more apparent. Young people should choose this major at schools with experiential environments, to both learn and intern with businesses and peers. You need self-study tools for self-development and technologies for data management and contextual analysis,” the expert said.

According to Tho, the country is on the rise, and it is building international financial centers that promise to create thousands of new jobs but require high expertise. Therefore, studying management, finance, banking, etc., is still very good; however, students must change their learning style, focusing on applying mathematics and technology from the start.

Third is the Education and Teacher Training group.

In the AI era, teaching knowledge is no longer the top priority (as AI can be a 24/7 tutor), but the focus is on teaching thinking, ethics, and how to be human. Therefore, studying in this field is not as easy as before if one only focuses on knowledge. Education is innovating and needs people capable of inspiring and designing personalized learning pathways, which machines cannot fully replace with a teacher's warmth.

“By studying this major, young people enjoy many state incentives, such as no tuition fees and living support allowances. However, the required entrance scores for these groups are always very high. Young people need to evaluate themselves, especially in training their capacity for understanding and thinking if they want to pursue it,” Tho said.

Fourth is the STEM group - the “rising star”

This is a group prioritized by the Government, with a forecast of many future jobs. For instance, Phenikaa University, along with many major universities, is implementing STEM Talent Programs. The Information Technology and Computer group alone accounts for about 12 percent of the total scale. Vietnam aims to have 1 million STEM personnel by 2030 to “catch the wave” of semiconductor chips and AI.

“In fact, many women are successful in STEM. Women have strengths in meticulousness, perseverance, and problem-solving. Do not be afraid of math, natural sciences, or lines of code. You don't necessarily have to be a superstar programmer, but you can be a data analyst or an AI ethics specialist,” Tho shared.

Fifth is the Healthcare group.

Tho said the proportion of students in healthcare programs remains relatively stable because medical training is strictly regulated in terms of enrollment quotas and facilities. However, market demand is much higher, especially for highly skilled healthcare professionals who can use technological support.

Le Huyen