Abstract

Digital transformation in Vietnamese higher education is shifting markedly from investment in technical infrastructure toward improving the student experience and strengthening student support. Within the digital student support ecosystem, academic advisors and student affairs staff serve as frontline personnel, engaging directly with students, providing ongoing support, and addressing their academic, psychological, and social concerns. However, most current digital transformation initiatives focus primarily on faculty and administrative staff, overlooking the development of digital competence among these frontline support personnel. This paper employs secondary data analysis, drawing on previous studies and credible empirical reports published between 2020 and 2026, to identify persistent challenges in student support in digital environments. Based on this analysis, it proposes practical solutions to address these challenges and strengthen this crucial component of the digital higher education ecosystem.

Keywords: Academic advising, digital competence, digital student support, learning analytics, student affairs.