Lifelong learning in the digital era
In the digital era, lifelong learning has become an inevitable requirement for both individuals and society. It serves as a vital foundation for improving intellectual standards, developing human resources, and creating momentum for the sustainable development of localities and the nation.
An ongoing journey
Amid the tranquil atmosphere of Da Lat, translator Than Trong Son - an educator well past the age of eighty, continues to work diligently on his manuscripts. For him, a day without learning something new or reading an additional page in French or English is like a day of “intellectual suffocation.” Learning, in his view, is not merely about accumulating knowledge but also about refreshing the soul and keeping the mind constantly active.
Not far away, in the vegetable and flower fields of Lam Dong, farmers such as Duong Le Tuyet Nhung (33, Ward 3 Bao Loc) tell a different story of learning. Without formal training in business or technology, she learned through hands-on production, the internet, and exchanges with friends and partners to gradually refine her turmeric processing techniques. From humble turmeric roots, she has built a quality turmeric capsule brand with stable sales, creating jobs for more than 30 local workers.
Two individuals, two generations, two different fields — yet they share a common belief: learning is a continuous, self-driven journey without an endpoint. They are like “weavers” using knowledge to weave new values for themselves and their homeland.
These stories demonstrate that lifelong learning is not confined to degrees, classrooms, or age. Rather, it is a persistent, self-motivated process embedded in daily life — a continuous renewal of knowledge and skills to adapt to work demands, socio-economic changes, and the increasingly high expectations of the modern era.
Learning is not passive memorization; it is a process of cultivating a growth mindset, where each lesson is an opportunity for self-reflection and renewal.
Translator Than Trong Son
According to Mr. Than Trong Son, learning is not only about acquiring new knowledge to expand intellectual boundaries, but also about actively filtering out outdated experiences to keep pace with new technologies and working methods. The most important factors are an appropriate learning method and perseverance. By breaking content into small portions and maintaining a daily habit of studying for just 10–15 minutes, knowledge accumulates over time. Thanks to this approach, even in his eighties, he is fluent in English, French, and German, understands Russian and Chinese, and skillfully uses computers, smart devices, and artificial intelligence tools for research, translation, and academic exchange.
For Tuyet Nhung, the effectiveness of learning lies in having clear goals closely linked to practice. “During production and when bringing products onto e-commerce platforms, I proactively search for materials, learn from partners and customers, and directly experiment to adjust them to my conditions,” she shared. This flexible and practical learning approach has helped her business establish a strong foothold in a competitive and rapidly changing market.
Spreading the flow of knowledge
Although lifelong learning is fundamentally a personal journey requiring individual initiative, in Lam Dong, this journey is supported by organizations and the community. In recent years, the province has implemented numerous policies and programs to encourage self-study and lifelong learning among residents. Notably, Programs 387 and Program 667 issued by the Prime Minister focus on building a learning society and fostering learning citizens for the 2021–2030 period.
According to Ton Thi Ngoc Hanh, Chairwoman of the Provincial Association for Learning Promotion, the association has closely coordinated with relevant departments and agencies, advising People’s Committees at all levels to develop specific plans and roadmaps. These programs are integrated into local movements and campaigns to encourage citizens to actively pursue education, participate in training courses, improve knowledge and skills, and apply scientific and technical innovations. Community learning centers have also been strengthened under the motto “Learn what you need,” meeting the practical demands of the people. These achievements show that when the spirit of self-learning is awakened and supported consistently by organizations and communities, lifelong learning becomes more than a slogan — it becomes a dynamic current flowing throughout society. This flow of knowledge forms the foundation for raising intellectual standards, developing human resources, and paving the way for Lam Dong’s sustainable growth in the era of digital transformation and deep integration.
At present, Lam Dong Province reports that over 37% of its citizens are engaged in lifelong learning; more than 73% of families, nearly 67% of lineages, 96% of communities, and 86% of organizations have been officially recognized as learning models.