Key Drivers of Vietnam’s Digital Education Ecosystem: An Exploratory Factor Analysis Aligned With Sustainable Development Goals

The global context of digital transformation has compelled education systems to rapidly adapt and innovate. In Vietnam, establishing an effective digital education ecosystem is key to achieving sustainable development goals, particularly Sustainable Development Goal 4 (SDG 4) on Quality Education. However, there is a recognized lack of quantitative research on the key drivers shaping this ecosystem in the Vietnamese context. This study aims to explore and identify these main drivers. Drawing on survey data from 699 Vietnamese students and applying Exploratory Factor Analysis, we identified four prominent factors: Technological Infrastructure, Stakeholder Collaboration, Policy Orientation, and Financial Accessibility. The findings suggest these factors play a foundational role in fostering the digital transformation of higher education. These results provide preliminary empirical evidence on the underlying structures that shape Vietnam's digital education environment. This research can serve as a basis for future in-depth analyses and offers initial insights for policymakers to focus on the identified crucial factors.