Managing Assessment in Vocational Education through Digital Transformation: Evidence from Secondary Vocational Schools in Hanoi, Vietnam

Abstract

The global push towards digital transformation has profoundly impacted vocational education and training (VET), necessitating a paradigm shift in how student competencies are assessed and managed. This study investigates the management of assessment in secondary vocational schools in Hanoi, Vietnam, amidst this transition. Employing a mixed-methods research design, the study gathered data through surveys administered to 357 participants — comprising managers, teachers, and students — across eight secondary vocational schools, supplemented by in-depth semi-structured interviews with 15 educational leaders and instructors. The findings reveal a significant gap between stakeholders' awareness of the importance of digital assessment and its actual, systematic implementation. Specifically, while 82.3% of managers and 74.7% of teachers agreed that digital technologies are necessary for improving assessment quality, the mean implementation scores across all assessment dimensions remained low (ranging from M = 1.97 for secure online examinations to M = 3.21 for learning management system-based quizzes). School-enterprise collaboration emerged as the most critically underdeveloped area (M = 1.68–1.76). Key challenges include inadequate technological infrastructure, insufficient digital competencies among educators and managers, and the absence of a coherent institutional framework for e-assessment. Based on this empirical evidence, the study proposes six integrated management measures: fostering a digital culture, developing a comprehensive e-assessment framework, improving assessment methods and tools, ensuring enabling conditions, establishing a monitoring and adjustment mechanism, and strengthening school-enterprise linkages. This research provides a practical, evidence-based roadmap for VET school leaders and policymakers in Vietnam to navigate the complexities and challenges of digital transformation, ultimately improving assessment quality and aligning vocational training with the demands of the digital economy.