Vietnamese youths (Illustrative photo: VNA) Hanoi (VNA) – Respondents generally have positiveperceptions of Vietnam and are optimistic about the future of their country, accordingto the British Council’s Next Generation Vietnam survey, which was released onAugust 19.
The survey, carried out between May 2019 and April 2020,questioned 1,200 Vietnamese youths aged between 16 and 30 from all walks oflife. The survey looked at young people’s views on education, employment,lifestyle and their hopes and fears for their country; their degree ofinternational engagement and opinions on the wider world; and the values andbeliefs that affect their lives.
According to the survey’s results, 72 percent of respondentsbelieve Vietnam will be better off in 15 years than it was before 2019.
More than three-quarters of those surveyed (77 percent)across the country feel schooling has improved since previous generations.However, two in three youths (68 percent) also think people in their age havedifficulty finding jobs fitting their studies and desired field of employment.This gap underscores a need to continue retooling school curricula to meet the21st century’s demands through teaching skills such as creative communication, criticalthinking, and time management.
Young people also see positive changes when it comes togender equality in the workplace and beyond. Nearly two-in-three Vietnameseyouths (65 percent) believe that job opportunities for their cohort haveimproved over the last five years. Those from ethnic minority backgrounds andrural areas strongly feel that quality of life and livelihoods have improvedsignificantly since their parents’ generation.
While looking at the government and society, they believethat policymakers should prioritise tackling corruption, improving theprotection of the natural environment, ensuring food safety and quality, andproviding education and employment opportunities.
The survey also delved deep into the group’s thinking relatedto the internet, individualism, marriage, food safety, and internationalcooperation, among other matters.
British Council Vietnam Director Donna McGowan said thereport was completed at the time when young Vietnamese were witnessing theirnation’s significant changes and response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
British Ambassador to Vietnam Gareth Ward said he wasimpressed with Vietnamese youths’ optimistic attitude and hoped to have more chancesto interact with them as the two nations are stepping up cooperation in greengrowth and educational reform towards innovation and creativity./.
VNA
