Building a sustainable workforce: Integrating digital skills into intercultural language curricula to meet regional economic needs
Abstract
Abstract: The aim of this study is to investigate the gap between the daily digital usage habits of language students and the professional digital competencies required by modern multinational employers, and to propose an integrated curriculum model (ICM) to address this disparity. The study was carried out using a mixed-methods approach at Ba Ria - Vung Tau University in Vietnam. Quantitative data were gathered through a self-assessment survey of 421 students in the Faculty of Languages - International Cultures, aimed at evaluating their digital technology habits and capabilities. Concurrently, a qualitative document analysis was conducted on three foundational course syllabi to determine the current extent of digital integration in language teaching methodology. The results indicate a significant paradox: although the vast majority of students reported high levels of daily internet use, their self-assessed proficiency in higher-order professional skills, such as digital collaboration and digital content creation, was sharply lower. Furthermore, the syllabi analysis reveals a fragmented approach to education, in which technology is either isolated as a teaching tool or entirely absent from core communication courses. The significance of these findings lies in their highlighting the inadequacy of relying solely on students' innate social technology skills to prepare them for professional careers. By mapping these deficits against a global digital literacy framework, the study successfully proposes a cross-curricular integration model that embeds specific digital tasks into existing language modules. This approach creates a simulated learning environment where students confront real-world digital challenges identical to those encountered in foreign direct investment enterprises. This ensures the sustainability of human capital by enhancing flexibility and adaptability, equipping graduates to meet the demands of the globalized digital economy. Keywords: Ba Ria – Vung Tau University; Cross-cultural collaboration; Digital literacy; Sustainable development; UNESCO Framework