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Vantage Foundation and Banking Academy of Vietnam Launch Nationwide AI Finance Education Programme for 1,500 Educators and Students

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Vantage Foundation and Banking Academy of Vietnam Launch Nationwide AI Finance Education Programme for 1,500 Educators and Students
Business

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Vantage Foundation and Banking Academy of Vietnam Launch Nationwide AI Finance Education Programme for 1,500 Educators and Students

2026-03-17 18:29 Last Updated At:18:45

HANOI, Vietnam , March 17, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Vantage Foundation formalised a strategic academic collaboration with the Banking Academy of Vietnam (BAV), one of the country's leading finance universities, to advance financial education in the era of artificial intelligence.

Hosted at the BAV campus on March 12 and 14, the programme brought together leading academic institutions across Vietnam to equip both educators and students with practical knowledge in AI-driven financial analysis and decision-making.

Also in attendance were dozens of ecosystem partners who care deeply about Vietnam's economic and technological advancement, including distinguished figures from Vietnam's local fintech and high-tech sectors as well as introducing broker (IB) partners—all of whom are fully confident in the country's socioeconomic development.

The initiative was co-organised with more than 10 leading universities nationwide, including University of Economics Ho Chi Minh City (UEH), National Economics University (NEU), Vietnam National University – Hanoi (VNU-Hanoi), Vietnam National University – Ho Chi Minh City (VNU-HCM), and Foreign Trade University (FTU). These institutions represent some of Vietnam's most respected centres for economics and financial education and collectively formed a national academic coalition supporting the programme.

At the centre of the initiative was the jointly developed course "Financial Data Analysis and Decision-Making in the Era of Artificial Intelligence (AI)", designed to introduce practical applications of AI within modern financial systems.

A defining feature of the programme was its Training-of-Trainers (ToT) model, which equipped lecturers and professors from participating universities with contemporary AI-finance teaching frameworks. By empowering educators, the initiative allowed knowledge to cascade across institutions, enabling trained lecturers to bring advanced financial analytics and AI-driven decision-making concepts back into their own classrooms.

The faculty training session saw participation far exceed initial expectations. While the programme was originally designed for around 20 participants, more than 250 professors from over 10 leading universities across Vietnam ultimately joined the session, including over 50 attending in person and more than 200 participating online.

Among them was a delegation from Can Tho University, one of Vietnam's leading finance universities, whose dean and lecturers travelled more than 1,500 kilometres from the Mekong Delta to Hanoi to attend the training in person, despite having the option to participate remotely.

Following the faculty training session on March 12, the programme delivered in-person learning to 500 university students on March 14 at the BAV campus in Hanoi. To expand access beyond the capital, the programme was also broadcast nationwide, enabling up to 1,000 additional participants to join online.

The programme's academic sessions were delivered by lecturers at BAV, namely Dr. Vu Xuan Tung, AI Solution Architect at Goline Financial Technology JSC; and Ms. Truong Thi Minh Trang, M.Sc., Managing Director of Financial Information Services at FiinGroup, Vietnam's leading financial data and analytics provider backed by global financial information institutions including Nikkei and S&P Global. Dr. Tung led sessions covering AI applications in finance, macroeconomic models, and credit decision making, while Ms. Trang guided participants through real time financial data dashboards and practical AI adoption cases.

The programme concluded with a certificate presentation ceremony jointly conducted by Mr. Floyd Wong, Head of Vietnam representing Vantage Foundation, as well as representatives from the Banking Academy of Vietnam.

In total, the programme reached approximately 1,500 students and educators nationwide. Participation was capped due to venue capacity and technical limitations, with demand for the programme exceeding available places. The organisers viewed this initiative as the foundation for future collaborations aimed at expanding AI-driven financial education to a broader audience across Vietnam.

"At Vantage Foundation, we believe education is a catalyst for sustainable progress. Our collaboration with the Banking Academy of Vietnam on the training programme Financial Data Analysis and Decision Making in the Era of AI reflects our dedication to strengthening financial education in a rapidly evolving landscape," said Mr. Adam Siew, Vice President of Business Development representing Vantage Foundation, who delivered the opening address during the programme.

"Co-organised with more than 10 leading institutions including University of Economics Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam National University, and National Economics University, the initiative equips lecturers through specialised ToT sessions while also engaging more than 1,500 students both in person and online. Through this effort, we are investing in the educators and future leaders who will shape the next era of intelligent, responsible finance."

Nguyễn Thanh Phương, Associate Professor, PhD and Vice Director of the Banking Academy of Vietnam, said the programme reflected the growing need for financial professionals to adapt to rapid technological change.

"The rapid rise of artificial intelligence (AI) is no longer a prediction; it has become a reality reshaping the structure of the global financial industry. In Vietnam, traditional financial professionals are facing critical challenges, including a shortage of specialised skills and tools for collecting, analysing, and processing data, as well as increasing pressure for high speed processing and absolute accuracy in real time transaction environments.

The modern financial and banking sector also requires rigorous risk management thinking and the capability to personalise services. Each professional is no longer simply an operational executor but must become an expert who deeply understands customers and can design tailored financial solutions while still ensuring system safety."

He added that the partnership also aligns with the Academy's broader strategy to strengthen international collaboration and innovation in financial education.

"BAV has always been a pioneer in integrating financial technology and AI trends into its curriculum. Our decision to collaborate with Vantage Foundation is part of our roadmap for internationalisation and innovation in training methods. We believe this partnership will connect academic learning with international practice and create a solid launchpad for students to confidently enter the global labour market."

Through this collaboration, Vantage Foundation continues to support youth development and financial literacy initiatives aligned with Vietnam's national focus on digital capability, fintech innovation, and workforce readiness in the financial sector.

Vantage Foundation

Vantage Foundation is an independent charitable organization launched at the McLaren Technology Centre in the UK in 2023. The foundation has partnered with organisations worldwide, including Grab Indonesia, the iREDE Foundation in Nigeria, Teach for Malaysia, and Instituto Claret in Brazil, to drive impactful social initiatives.

For more information, please visit www.vantage.foundation

Banking Academy of Vietnam

The Banking Academy of Vietnam (BAV) is a leading public higher education institution specialising in banking, finance, economics, and business administration. Established under the State Bank of Vietnam, BAV has played a pivotal role in developing the nation's financial and banking workforce. With a strong emphasis on academic excellence, applied research, and industry relevance, the Academy serves as a key talent pipeline for Vietnam's public and private financial sectors.

For more information, please visit https://en.hvnh.edu.vn/

** This press release is distributed by PR Newswire through automated distribution system, for which the client assumes full responsibility. **

Vantage Foundation and Banking Academy of Vietnam Launch Nationwide AI Finance Education Programme for 1,500 Educators and Students

Vantage Foundation and Banking Academy of Vietnam Launch Nationwide AI Finance Education Programme for 1,500 Educators and Students

Veteran enterprise sales leader to scale go-to-market across healthcare, financial services, and regulated industries

DALLAS, March 18, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Armor, a global leader in cloud-native managed detection and response (MDR), today announced the appointment of Jeff Baker as Head of Global Sales, reporting directly to Founder and CEO Chris Drake. Baker brings over 30 years of industry experience building and scaling enterprise sales organizations across AI, cybersecurity, cloud, and infrastructure, and will lead Armor's global revenue strategy across healthcare, financial services, and high-tech verticals.

The appointment follows a period of accelerating growth for Armor, including recognition by Frost & Sullivan as a global MDR leader and the launch of Nexus, Armor's AI security operations platform.

"Jeff is the kind of leader who builds the engine, not just drives it. He's built sales organizations from scratch, won against much larger competitors, and done it across some of the most demanding verticals in enterprise technology."

Chris Drake, Founder and CEO, Armor

Baker joins Armor from DeepL, where as Head of Enterprise Sales for the Americas he rapidly scaled the enterprise sales organization while driving significant year-over-year revenue growth. He previously served as Regional Vice President at Hitachi Vantara, leading one of the company's largest regions across 17 states, and at VMware built the Commercial Networking, Security, and Cloud Management vertical across the U.S. and Canada into one of its top-performing organizations. Baker brings deep healthcare experience, having built and led healthcare-focused verticals at both Nutanix and VMware, and his track record selling into complex, compliance-driven environments aligns closely with Armor's mission to secure organizations in healthcare, financial services, and other regulated sectors.

"What drew me to Armor is its mission and its ability to deliver real AI-enabled security for organizations in highly regulated industries like healthcare and financial services. I'm excited to help scale our global reach and ensure more CISOs have a partner who truly understands both their threat landscape and their regulatory reality." 

Jeff Baker, Head of Global Sales, Armor

Armor has long valued hiring veterans for their purpose-driven DNA, a mindset that is embedded in the company from the top. Armor's founder is a veteran, and Jeff continues that tradition. A highly decorated U.S. Air Force veteran, he served during Operation Desert Storm as the lead electronic warfare intelligence officer. His leadership philosophy is shaped by service and grounded in accountability, transparency, and building high-performing teams.

Armor protects more than 1,700 organizations across 40 countries and has significantly strengthened its global presence over the past year. Baker's appointment positions the company to accelerate enterprise adoption of its managed detection and response and compliance solutions across regulated industries worldwide.

About Armor

Armor is a global leader in cloud-native managed detection and response. Trusted by over 1,700 organizations across 40 countries, Armor delivers cybersecurity, compliance consulting, and 24/7 managed defense built for transparency, speed, and results. By combining human expertise with AI-driven precision, Armor safeguards critical environments to outpace evolving threats and build lasting resilience. For more information visit our website, follow us on LinkedIn, or request a free Cyber Resilience assessment.

Follow us on LinkedInX.

Media Contact:
Michele Glassman
Marketing Director, Armor
Email: michele.glassman@armor.com 
Website: www.armor.com

Veteran enterprise sales leader to scale go-to-market across healthcare, financial services, and regulated industries

DALLAS, March 18, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Armor, a global leader in cloud-native managed detection and response (MDR), today announced the appointment of Jeff Baker as Head of Global Sales, reporting directly to Founder and CEO Chris Drake. Baker brings over 30 years of industry experience building and scaling enterprise sales organizations across AI, cybersecurity, cloud, and infrastructure, and will lead Armor's global revenue strategy across healthcare, financial services, and high-tech verticals.

The appointment follows a period of accelerating growth for Armor, including recognition by Frost & Sullivan as a global MDR leader and the launch of Nexus, Armor's AI security operations platform.

"Jeff is the kind of leader who builds the engine, not just drives it. He's built sales organizations from scratch, won against much larger competitors, and done it across some of the most demanding verticals in enterprise technology."

Chris Drake, Founder and CEO, Armor

Baker joins Armor from DeepL, where as Head of Enterprise Sales for the Americas he rapidly scaled the enterprise sales organization while driving significant year-over-year revenue growth. He previously served as Regional Vice President at Hitachi Vantara, leading one of the company's largest regions across 17 states, and at VMware built the Commercial Networking, Security, and Cloud Management vertical across the U.S. and Canada into one of its top-performing organizations. Baker brings deep healthcare experience, having built and led healthcare-focused verticals at both Nutanix and VMware, and his track record selling into complex, compliance-driven environments aligns closely with Armor's mission to secure organizations in healthcare, financial services, and other regulated sectors.

"What drew me to Armor is its mission and its ability to deliver real AI-enabled security for organizations in highly regulated industries like healthcare and financial services. I'm excited to help scale our global reach and ensure more CISOs have a partner who truly understands both their threat landscape and their regulatory reality." 

Jeff Baker, Head of Global Sales, Armor

Armor has long valued hiring veterans for their purpose-driven DNA, a mindset that is embedded in the company from the top. Armor's founder is a veteran, and Jeff continues that tradition. A highly decorated U.S. Air Force veteran, he served during Operation Desert Storm as the lead electronic warfare intelligence officer. His leadership philosophy is shaped by service and grounded in accountability, transparency, and building high-performing teams.

Armor protects more than 1,700 organizations across 40 countries and has significantly strengthened its global presence over the past year. Baker's appointment positions the company to accelerate enterprise adoption of its managed detection and response and compliance solutions across regulated industries worldwide.

About Armor

Armor is a global leader in cloud-native managed detection and response. Trusted by over 1,700 organizations across 40 countries, Armor delivers cybersecurity, compliance consulting, and 24/7 managed defense built for transparency, speed, and results. By combining human expertise with AI-driven precision, Armor safeguards critical environments to outpace evolving threats and build lasting resilience. For more information visit our website, follow us on LinkedIn, or request a free Cyber Resilience assessment.

Follow us on LinkedInX.

Media Contact:
Michele Glassman
Marketing Director, Armor
Email: michele.glassman@armor.com 
Website: www.armor.com

** This press release is distributed by PR Newswire through automated distribution system, for which the client assumes full responsibility. **

Armor Appoints Jeff Baker as Head of Global Sales

Armor Appoints Jeff Baker as Head of Global Sales

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