This study explains entrepreneurship in the context of a comparative analysis of Vietnam and South Korea. For that purpose, it develops an analytical framework based upon both theory of planned behaviour (TPB) and sociological approach to demonstrate whether or how much macro-environmental factors, such as entrepreneurship education, family support and social support, and the three TPB antecedents, including attitude, subjective norms and perceived behaviour control, affect entrepreneurial intention. Primary data were collected from a self-administered survey with 600 students in Vietnam and 550 students in South Korea using the convenience sampling method. Structural equation modelling (SEM) analysis was adopted to test the entrepreneurial intention model in two subsamples. Furthermore, independent sample T-test and multi-group analyses were performed to see differences in entrepreneurial intention between the two countries. This study found significant differences in the entrepreneurial intention between the two countries. In Vietnam, entrepreneurship education and family support positively affect the students’ attitude towards entrepreneurship. However, among the antecedents of entrepreneurial intention, only perceived behaviour control influence their entrepreneurial intention. On the other hand, in South Korea, all the macro-environmental factors positively affect the three TPB antecedents and entrepreneurial intention. Moreover, attitude is the most influential factor in entrepreneurial intention.

Organizational knowledge is regarded as a key source of sustainable competitive advantages for organizations. Along with the development of information technology, organizations often find many ways to facilitate the online knowledge sharing process. However, the establishment of successful online knowledge sharing initiatives seems to be challenging to accomplish. This study aims to enhance the understanding of the factors that affect employees’ knowledge-sharing behavior in organizations by examining the integration of two social psychology models—the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) and the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB). A total of 501 complete responses, from full-time employees in Vietnamese tele-communication companies, were collected and used for data analysis using structural equation modelling. The overall findings of this study appear to coincide with the propositions of the TAM and the TPB, which this research model was built on. Perceived ease of use and perceived usefulness significantly affect employees’ attitudes toward knowledge sharing. In turn, attitudes, along with subjective norms and perceived behavior control (PBC), have a positive influence on knowledge sharing intentions (KSI). Consequently, KSI can be used to predict knowledge donating and knowledge collecting.

This paper employs bibliometric reviews to explore the trends in the digital transformation of universities (their application of all relevant types of digital technologies). This study offers an overview of the development of the literature on digital technologies-university nexus over time: while people started paying attention to the application of digital technology in the early 1970s, only after the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic did this nexus arouse special interests from relevant stakeholders. Results from bibliometric analysis (applied to Scopus database) also reveals interesting findings about authors and countries. Authors from developed nations (with advanced level of digital technology development and modern education system) are the most influential (in terms of citations). However, the majority of documents come from developing countries (which probably reflects their efforts to avoid being left behind). Several implications and future research directions are given for relevant stakeholders including the maintenance and facilitation of digital transformation, the need for deeper investigation of the impact of artificial intelligence tools or the necessity of quantifying these effects.

The concept of national innovation systems (NIS) has been commonly applied as a theoretical lens for researching innovation systems worldwide. This phenomenon has occurred also in Asia. Although underreported, the case of Vietnam is worth exploring, including the role of public universities (PUs) in the NIS and the transformation of these institutions in order to enhance their influence in this system. This qualitative study includes a literature review and in-depth interviews with eleven high-ranking managers from nine Vietnamese PUs to assess the transition of these universities toward innovation and entrepreneurship and their significant role in NIS, particularly for three characteristics identified in the gray literature: effective leadership, interdisciplinarity, and entrepreneurship. Insights from interviews revealed PUs’ strong leadership in NIS and the universities’ clear objectives and significant efforts to change toward innovation and entrepreneurship. However, institutional barriers rooted in the long-standing Soviet Union-style educational system, such as rigidly defined education boundaries and premature networking with industry, pose major constraints to change. The study offers suggestions to improve the Vietnamese PUs’ ability to promote innovation and entrepreneurship, including integrating interdisciplinary courses into the curriculum, establishing interdisciplinary offices, encouraging talent mobility between universities and industry as well as devising robust intellectual property rights.

Aim/purpose – This paper reviews existing studies on digital transformation in higher education to develop a digital maturity model for universities in Vietnam. Design/methodology/approach – Content analysis methods were used for a systematic literature review, adhering to the PRISMA approach. Of the 150 records, 50 articles remained following the application of exclusion criteria. Then, the four-stage process, including (1) diagnosis, (2) planning, (3) evaluation, and (4) improvement, was em- ployed to develop the digital maturity model. Focus group interviews were conducted to evaluate the proposed model. Findings – A digital maturity model was developed and evaluated using several tech- niques in a sequential research process. The model has seven dimensions and 40 indica- tors covering a variety of activities in a university, including: (1) Planning, leadership, and management, (2) Digital teaching and learning, (3) Scientific research, (4) Quality assurance, (5) Technology transfer and social service, (6) Human resources, (7) ICT infrastructure and resources. Research implications/limitations – This model is helpful for universities to self- -evaluate and identify their digital maturity level. Adopting the model will be an initial step in their digital transformation process, which can provide university managers with input for their digital transformation strategy and plans. However, this study has not yet validated the model using quantitative methods, which should be addressed in future research. Originality/value/contribution – Research on digital transformation and digital maturi- ty in the Vietnamese higher education sector remains scant. This paper aims to fill this void by developing a new digital maturity model applicable to Vietnamese universities. Keywords: Digital transformation, digital maturity, higher education, transition context, Vietnam. JEL Classification: I23, M10, O14, O33.

This study assesses the role of formalized business in the innovation activities of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the private sector in Vietnam. Panel data regression analysis is employed in this study. Research data were extracted from three surveys of small and medium private enterprises conducted by the United Nations University (UNU) in 2011, 2013 and 2015. The dataset contains information about enterprises in all major manufacturing sectors, on innovation activity, firm formalization status, and enterprises’ characteristics. Research results show that improving the status of the firm from informal to formal has a significant boost to the overall innovation performance, as well as each type of innovation of small and medium enterprises in Vietnam. This is the first study in Vietnam that examines the impact of formalization on product innovation outcomes of small and medium-sized private enterprises, taking into account the characteristics of enterprises such as size, age, technology level, and other specific features.