On December 20th, a symposium on “Open Knowledge in the Digital Age” was organized by the Vietnam Blockchain Association (VBA) in collaboration with the Fulbright School of Public Policy and Management at Fulbright University Vietnam, Alpha Books Corporation (Alpha Books). The event took place at the Fulbright University campus in Ho Chi Minh City and was livestreamed on the Quickom online conference platform.
The program featured the participation of numerous experts in technology and finance who shared multidimensional insights into technologies shaping the world, such as Blockchain, NFTs, Metaverse, Artificial Intelligence (AI), and more. During the event, outstanding publications from the Blockchain Library – an initiative by VBA aimed at providing high-quality educational resources and research materials on blockchain technology – were introduced to a wide audience, including students.
Mr. Phan Duc Trung, Deputy Chairman of VBA, stated, “The Blockchain Library serves not only as a knowledge resource but also as a bridge between theory and practice, helping people gain a better understanding of blockchain technology and how to apply it in management, business, and research in a simple and effective way, promoting the development of businesses and the blockchain community in Vietnam.”
From Fulbright University Vietnam’s perspective, Dr. Huynh Nhat Nam, Senior Lecturer and Senior Researcher at the Fulbright School of Public Policy and Management, expressed support and commitment to promoting initiatives like the Blockchain Library. He said, “Metaverse applications in business and industrial production can be seen as an extension of Industry 4.0 capabilities to meet the demand for more effective digital communication and technical collaboration tools. These applications have the potential to rapidly develop in the near future and provide tangible value to businesses, not lagging behind the currently popular metaverse applications for consumers.”
Mr. Nguyen Canh Binh, Chairman of Alpha Books, announced that in the near future, publications related to technology and finance would be a priority for their company. This commitment was made when Alpha Books announced the Blockchain Library project in August 2022 to support education, training, and the dissemination of blockchain knowledge to a broader community.
In his closing remarks, Mr. Tran Viet Hung, former Deputy Head of the Central Office of the Party and Senior Advisor to the Vietnam Blockchain Association, emphasized, “Blockchain is considered a cornerstone technology of the future, and knowledge is the most powerful tool in the development process. Therefore, it is not surprising that when blockchain is combined with knowledge, it will be a breakthrough, heralding the era of digital technology and innovation.”
Mr. Hung also expressed his hope that initiatives like the Blockchain Library would continue to grow and expand in many educational institutions nationwide, making it easy for individuals and organizations to access knowledge and contribute to shaping the digital era for the country.
During the symposium, three books were introduced and discussed by the speakers, including “Metaverse: The Virtual Universe and the Revolution of Everything” by Matthew Ball, “The NFT Revolution” by authors Sora Seong, Rolf Hoefer, and Scott McLaughlin, and especially “The Biography of Elon Musk” by Walter Isaacson, which was officially launched earlier in the week. By presenting these publications selected and edited by experts from the Association, the Blockchain Library promises to help those unfamiliar with blockchain gain a better understanding of the blockchain industry’s context and the dissemination of knowledge, thereby facilitating integration into the digital economy.
In addition to introducing the Blockchain Library, the symposium on “Open Knowledge in the Digital Age” also opened up a space for discussing the impact of blockchain technology on the economy, society, career opportunities, and workforce training within the industry.