Responsible Generative AI Adoption in Vietnamese Higher Education: A Conceptual Framework Aligned with SDG 4

Abstract

The rapid diffusion of generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) has created new opportunities and governance challenges for higher education, particularly in relation to academic integrity, assessment validity, data protection, equity, and AI literacy. In Vietnam, national strategies emphasize artificial intelligence and digital transformation, yet institutional-level guidance for the responsible use of GenAI in teaching, learning, and assessment remains fragmented. This paper develops a conceptual policy framework for responsible GenAI adoption in Vietnamese higher education. Using a conceptual policy analysis and framework development approach, the study synthesizes academic literature, international AI governance guidance, Vietnamese policy documents, and SDG 4 targets. The proposed GenAI Responsible Adoption Framework for Vietnamese Higher Education (GRAV-HE) comprises four interdependent dimensions: ethical policy and AI disclosure, data governance and secure infrastructure, pedagogical transformation, and comprehensive AI literacy. Rather than claiming to replace existing global guidance, GRAV-HE operationalizes Responsible AI and SDG 4 principles for institutional governance in a developing-country higher education context. The framework offers a practical basis for policy dialogue and future empirical validation in Vietnamese and comparable higher education systems.