PV: Assoc. Prof. Dr. Thai Thanh Ha, it is known that you are leading a research group on measuring the digital divide in Vietnam. This is a research topic of great practical value, because the digital divide will widen the gap between rich and poor in society even more, if we do not have a timely solution to the problem. Can you tell us why you and your colleagues chose this topic for research?

Associate Professor, Dr. Thai Thanh Ha: The gap between rich and poor is a very complex, multifaceted and difficult problem for all countries in the world. In particular, after the "storm" of Covid-19 and its terrible impact, the gap between rich and poor seems to be widening. However, there is a battle that will be more fierce, fierce and long-term, which is the battle to narrow the digital gap. In the context of the fourth industrial revolution with the current rapid pace of digitalization, the digital gap between groups of people with access and disadvantaged groups, with little or no access to the digital transformation process, will have a very strong impact, causing the gap between rich and poor to widen further in society.

Associate Professor, Dr. Thai Thanh Ha.

In our country, hunger eradication and poverty reduction as well as efforts to narrow the gap between rich and poor have always been given attention. This is clearly demonstrated in the policies of the Party and the State, especially the major decisions that have been approved by the National Assembly and are being vigorously implemented by the Government, such as the National Target Program for Socio-Economic Development of Ethnic Minorities and Mountainous Areas, the National Target Program for New Rural Development, the National Target Program for Sustainable Poverty Reduction, etc. The achievements we have made in our efforts to narrow the gap between rich and poor are truly impressive. The multidimensional poverty rate according to the United Nations standards will decrease to 4.3% in 2022. Our achievements have been recognized and highly appreciated by international friends.

However, like most other countries in the world, our country is facing a new global dilemma, which is how to narrow the digital gap. Vietnam is one of the countries with the highest digital transformation speed in the world, with the growth rate of digital economic sectors reaching double digits, especially e-commerce. In this context, if the poor and disadvantaged have no or very little access to digital products, digital services, and digital platforms, the gap between rich and poor will widen further. For example, if poor farmers cannot bring agricultural products to e-commerce platforms, their income will decrease, because online shopping is a new and increasingly popular consumer trend in society.

Ninh Binh Provincial Public Administration Center serves the people. Photo: NAM TRUC

Based on that reality, my colleagues and I at the Foreign Trade University, the Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee of Quang Binh province and vocational training institutions in the pilot research areas were very concerned with this topic. Fortunately, we were sponsored by the Australian Embassy to research the topic "Measuring the digital divide in the post-Covid-19 period in Vietnam through the pilot development of an inclusion index based on the Australian research framework". Australia has had very in-depth research results and they are continuing to research this topic. At the same time, 2023 is the year the two countries celebrate the 50th anniversary of establishing diplomatic relations, so our proposed topic is also of practical significance because it was selected with 11 out of 68 candidate profiles sent to the Australian Embassy in Hanoi to participate in the selection.

PV: In your opinion, which groups of people can become disadvantaged in the current digital age?

Associate Professor, Dr. Thai Thanh Ha: According to the general research results of the world, gender is also an issue. Men in developed countries have more opportunities to own smartphones and access the internet than women. About 1.2 billion women in the world do not have mobile phones. Therefore, women in the world have less opportunities to access digital technology than men.

In society, the group of people who regularly access the internet will create relationships and social circles among people with common interests and therefore they have more opportunities to earn money and find jobs than those who have little or no access to the internet. The poor and people in underdeveloped areas will have less opportunity to access the internet.

People with disabilities are also a group with low internet access rates because even when they are fully equipped with means, their physical disabilities make it difficult for them to use those means to access the internet.

PV: So what are the possible causes of the digital divide in society, sir?

  Associate Professor, Dr. Thai Thanh Ha: I think there are the following main causes that can cause the digital gap in society: People with low incomes will have less access to the internet; less developed areas will have less access to the internet; people with good knowledge, skills, and foreign languages ​​can exploit and make good use of the rich resources on the internet to apply in their studies and daily life; in some cases, people have the conditions but never or very rarely use the internet. In addition, military conflicts between countries are also the cause of the digital gap between countries that are involved in the war and countries that are not affected...

PV: In your opinion, how can we narrow the digital gap in society?

Associate Professor, Dr. Thai Thanh Ha: According to the Strategy for Closing the Digital Divide proposed by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) and the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), there are 10 solutions to address this issue. These are promoting digital inclusion in broadband plans and efforts to increase the role of the digital economy; enhancing digital literacy and digital skills; supporting policies for disadvantaged groups; integrating internet access policies with the world; focusing on the internet and infrastructure needs; protecting children online on the internet; limiting environmental impacts; encouraging information technology and innovation; and creating conditions for affordability of broadband internet.

PV: Thank you very much!

WIN (done)

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