Educating Patriotism for Students in Vietnamese Higher Education Institutions in the Context of Digital Transformation and International Integration: An Approach from the Global Citizenship Competency Model

Abstract: This study analyzes the education of patriotism for students in Vietnamese higher education institutions in the context of digital transformation and international integration, from the perspective of the global citizenship competency model. The research aims to clarify how patriotism is perceived, implemented, and transformed into competence in the current higher education environment. The study uses a mixed methodology, combining quantitative surveys with semi-structured interviews to analyze the relationship between patriotic awareness, behavior, and the components of global citizenship competency. The results show that students' understanding of patriotism tends to shift from a traditional understanding to a more flexible approach, linked to social practices and the digital environment. However, a gap exists between the educational content and its practical application. The digital environment is identified as both a space for fostering and a challenge in shaping patriotic behavior, which depends significantly on learners' digital literacy and critical thinking skills. Simultaneously, traditional cultural values tend to support the development of global citizenship competencies, demonstrating a complementary relationship between these two value systems. The research suggests that patriotic education needs to be restructured towards an integrated approach, shifting from content transmission to competency development, combined with interactive teaching methods and the application of technology. These findings contribute to the theoretical and practical foundations for educational innovation in the context of globalization.