Bac Ninh youth use AI to expand markets for OCOP products

Nearly 1.7 million interactions, more than 192,000 people reached, and over 500 media products created

On May 10, in Bac Ninh, Bac Giang Agriculture and Forestry University under the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment, in collaboration with the Bac Ninh Department of Education and Training, held the closing ceremony and award presentation for the 2026 “AI Affiliate - Digital Marketing for Bac Ninh OCOP Products” competition.

Following its launch, the competition received enthusiastic participation from high schools, vocational education, and continuing education centers across the province. Out of 105 schools attending training sessions, 65 schools officially registered for the competition, achieving a participation rate of 62% - a positive result for a new model that requires shifts in mindset and digital technology skills.

According to Mr. Mai Son, Standing Vice Chairman of the Bac Ninh Provincial People’s Committee, the competition created a broad impact, inspiring creativity and encouraging teachers, pupils, and students to proactively embrace new technologies. Entries in the competition generated nearly 1.7 million interactions on Facebook and TikTok, along with more than 192,000 reaches through affiliate channels. Participants produced 523 media products and supported the promotion of 32 OCOP enterprises, cooperatives, and household businesses across the province.

“The competition has delivered practical value in three key aspects. First, it has contributed to improving digital capacity, technological skills, and innovative thinking among teachers, pupils, and students. Second, it has helped promote and expand markets for OCOP products through modern, effective, and cost-efficient methods. At the same time, it serves as an effective model linking schools, businesses, and local authorities in training human resources aligned with socio-economic development needs,” Mr. Mai Son said.

Based on the results achieved, Bac Ninh provincial leaders called on Bac Giang Agriculture and Forestry University to continue promoting its pioneering role in research and the development of innovation programs, AI applications, and digital transformation initiatives closely aligned with local practical needs. The university was also encouraged to continue accompanying Bac Ninh in training high-quality human resources and supporting the development of the digital economy.

After several rigorous evaluation rounds, the Jury awarded the First Prize to Viet Yen 2 High School. Two Second Prizes went to Yen The High School and Nguyen Van Cu High School. The Organizing Committee also presented four Third Prizes, 15 Consolation Prizes, and five Special Awards.

The Department of Education and Training, along with educational institutions across the province, was also encouraged to continue expanding this model by incorporating digital technology experiences, e-commerce, and AI-related activities into schools in a practical and appropriate manner, helping students gain early access to future-oriented skills.

For businesses, cooperatives, and OCOP producers, provincial leaders expressed hope that they would continue to work closely with educational institutions and professional organizations to effectively leverage digital transformation, e-commerce, and digital communications for product promotion.

“I also hope that you will continue nurturing your spirit of creativity and aspiration to contribute, while boldly applying new technologies to help build a faster-growing and more sustainable Bac Ninh,” Mr. Mai Son told the students.

Using AI to promote the image and value of Bac Ninh’s specialties

According to Prof. Dr. Pham Bao Duong, Secretary of the Party Committee and President of Bac Giang Agriculture and Forestry University, the idea of connecting higher education with general education led the university and the Bac Ninh Department of Education and Training to jointly create a practical platform that allows students to gain early exposure to artificial intelligence (AI), e-commerce, and digital economy thinking.

A positive sign, he noted, is that many students have confidently applied AI to create innovative media products, build sales channels, and promote OCOP products from their hometowns. These experiences not only help students develop digital and communication skills, but also contribute to spreading the image and value of Bac Ninh’s specialty products to consumers across online platforms.

“We hope that the outstanding students from this competition will continue to receive training and support to become young KOLs and KOCs, serving as communication ambassadors to promote Bac Ninh’s OCOP products in the future,” Prof. Dr. Pham Bao Duong said.

Leaders of Bac Giang Agriculture and Forestry University also affirmed that the university will continue working closely with the Bac Ninh Department of Education and Training and educational institutions across the province to effectively implement the “Creating the Future with AI” program. Through this initiative, digital transformation and AI applications will be increasingly integrated into general education, career orientation, entrepreneurship, and innovation activities for students.

Providing additional information about the university’s academic programs, Prof. Dr. Pham Bao Duong said that in 2026, Bac Giang Agriculture and Forestry University plans to enroll students in 20 majors across the fields of Technology and Engineering; Accounting, Economics and Business; Languages; Agriculture and Forestry; and Natural Resources and Environment. These are all disciplines closely aligned with practical workforce demands and development trends in the current era of digital transformation.

Notably, in order to encourage students to pursue key technology and engineering fields serving high-quality workforce development, Bac Ninh Province is currently providing 100% tuition support for three majors: Information Technology, Mechatronics Engineering, and Control & Automation Engineering.

The policy will be implemented from the 2025-2026 academic year through 2030, creating favorable opportunities for students to access high-tech fields of study.

Prof. Dr. Pham Bao Duong said that Bac Ninh Province’s policy of providing 100% tuition support for majors in Information Technology, Mechatronics Engineering, and Control & Automation Engineering not only demonstrates the locality’s strong commitment to education and high-quality workforce training, but also represents a strategic step in preparing human resources for a new stage of development, as digital transformation and automation continue to have profound impacts across all sectors, including agriculture.

According to him, agriculture today is no longer merely a traditional production sector but is rapidly shifting toward high-tech, smart, and digital agriculture. This transition requires a workforce capable of applying information technology, automation, artificial intelligence, and control systems to agricultural production, management, and product distribution.

“The tuition support policy will create tremendous motivation for students to confidently choose technology and engineering fields - sectors with extremely high workforce demand, but which many students previously hesitated to pursue due to tuition costs or academic pressure. It is also a practical policy that helps expand access to higher education, especially for students in rural areas,” Prof. Dr. Pham Bao Duong shared.

Leaders of Bac Giang Agriculture and Forestry University believe that the policy also contributes to attracting investment in high-quality human resource training, laying the foundation for developing a generation of young engineers and specialists capable of meeting business demands in the context of digital transformation and the digital economy. When local authorities proactively invest in human capital, businesses will also have greater confidence to expand investment in production, technology, and long-term workforce training cooperation.

According to Prof. Dr. Pham Bao Duong, this is not merely a tuition support policy, but also a strong message reflecting Bac Ninh’s determination to build an ecosystem of education, technology, and innovation closely linked to the practical development needs of the locality and the region.