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Vantage Foundation and Banking Academy of Vietnam Launch Nationwide AI Finance Programme with Vietnam's Top Universities for More Than 1,500 Students and Educators

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Vantage Foundation and Banking Academy of Vietnam Launch Nationwide AI Finance Programme with Vietnam's Top Universities for More Than 1,500 Students and Educators
Business

Business

Vantage Foundation and Banking Academy of Vietnam Launch Nationwide AI Finance Programme with Vietnam's Top Universities for More Than 1,500 Students and Educators

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

HANOI, Vietnam, March 17, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Vantage Foundation, in collaboration with the Banking Academy of Vietnam (BAV) and more than 10 leading universities, has launched a nationwide programme equipping more than 1,500 educators and students with advanced skills in AI-driven financial data analysis and decision-making, drawing interest from more than 3,000 students nationwide.

Held on 12 and 14 March at BAV's Hanoi campus, the initiative comes at a time when Vietnam's financial sector is rapidly strengthening its digital capabilities, with artificial intelligence playing an increasingly central role in financial analysis, risk management and strategic decision-making.

The programme, titled "Financial Data Analysis and Decision-Making in the Era of Artificial Intelligence (AI)", combined in-person sessions with nationwide virtual participation.

More than 10 universities co-organised the initiative, including the 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). Together, these institutions represent some of Vietnam's most influential centres for financial education and a key talent pipeline for the country's banking and financial services sector.

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.

Hosted at the Banking Academy's Hanoi campus, the programme explored how AI-powered analytics, predictive modelling and financial data visualisation are transforming how financial institutions interpret market data and make strategic decisions.

Strengthening AI Capabilities Across Vietnam's Finance Education Network

A central component of the initiative was a Training-of-Trainers (ToT) programme designed to strengthen AI-driven financial analytics capabilities among lecturers. The faculty session attracted more than 250 professors who participated both in person and online. Among them were the dean and lecturers from Can Tho University, who travelled more than 1,500 kilometres from the Mekong Delta to Hanoi to attend.

A key component of the initiative was a Training-of-Trainers (ToT) programme designed to strengthen AI-driven financial analytics capabilities among university lecturers from the leading schools.

The ToT session on 12 March drew strong engagement from professors across Vietnam's finance education network, with more than 250 academics participating both in person and online.

Among those attending were the dean and lecturers from Can Tho University, who travelled more than 1,500 kilometres from the Mekong Delta to Hanoi to participate in person, underscoring the growing demand among educators to integrate AI-driven financial analytics into university curricula.

By equipping educators with these frameworks, the programme enables advanced financial data capabilities to cascade into classrooms nationwide, extending its long-term impact across Vietnam's finance education ecosystem.

Industry Expertise and Real-World Financial Applications

Industry experts also shared practical insights into real-world AI applications across financial markets, providing participants with practical exposure to how AI is being applied across financial data analysis and trading technologies.

Ms. Truong Thi Minh Trang, M.Sc., Managing Director of Financial Information Services at FiinGroup, Vietnam's leading financial data and analytics provider, delivered a session on financial data analytics. FiinGroup counts Nikkei Inc. and QUICK Corp among its strategic shareholders, while its credit-rating subsidiary FiinRatings has S&P Global as a strategic investor.

Participants also attended a live demonstration led by Dr. Vu Xuan Tung, AI Solution Architect at Goline Financial Technology JSC, a Vietnamese fintech developer of securities trading systems used by brokerage firms, showcasing AI-enabled trading software and emerging AI-powered technologies used in modern securities trading systems.

The demonstration showcased AI-enabled trading software and emerging AI-powered trading technologies, giving participants direct insight into how artificial intelligence is already being deployed in modern financial market infrastructure.

Preparing Finance Professionals for an AI-Driven Industry

According to Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Thanh Phuong, Deputy Director of the Banking Academy of Vietnam, artificial intelligence is rapidly redefining the capabilities required of finance professionals.

"Artificial intelligence is no longer a future concept. It has already become a reality reshaping the structure of the global financial industry," he said.

He noted that financial professionals increasingly need the ability to interpret complex datasets and respond to market developments in real time.

"In today's digital economy, data is the new fuel. Without the skills to collect, analyse and interpret data effectively, professionals may struggle to keep pace with the industry's development."

He added that modern financial institutions increasingly require professionals who combine technical data expertise with strong risk awareness and strategic decision-making capabilities.

Strengthening Global Collaboration in Financial Education

The Banking Academy highlighted that its collaboration with Vantage Foundation reflects a shared commitment to advancing financial education while expanding international knowledge exchange.

"As Vietnam implements its National Digital Transformation Strategy, it is crucial that our students and educators develop the technological competencies required for the future financial industry," Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Thanh Phuong said.

He noted that partnerships with international organisations help ensure that Vietnamese students engage with both academic theory and global financial industry perspectives.

Investing in the Future of Intelligent Finance

During the programme's opening session for students on 14 March, Mr. Adam Siew, Vice President of Business Development, representing Vantage Foundation, highlighted the accelerating convergence between finance and advanced technologies.

"Artificial intelligence is transforming how financial institutions interpret data, understand markets and make decisions. Processes that once required weeks of analysis can now be completed in seconds."

He emphasised that technological advancement must remain guided by responsible human judgment.

"Data becomes meaningful only when guided by human insight, responsibility and sound judgment."

Bringing together educators and students from across Vietnam's leading finance universities, the initiative aims to strengthen the country's pipeline of data-literate financial professionals capable of navigating increasingly complex global markets.

"By investing in education today, we are investing in the future leaders who will shape the next era of intelligent and responsible finance," he said.

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

As artificial intelligence continues to reshape financial systems worldwide, collaborations between leading academic institutions and organisations connected to the global fintech ecosystem will play an increasingly important role in preparing the next generation of finance professionals.

Vantage Foundation

Vantage Foundation is an independent charitable organisation launched at the McLaren Technology Centre in the UK in 2023. The foundation partners with organisations worldwide, including Grab Indonesia, the iREDE Foundation in Nigeria, Teach For Malaysia and Instituto Claret in Brazil, to support 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 Programme with Vietnam's Top Universities for More Than 1,500 Students and Educators

Vantage Foundation and Banking Academy of Vietnam Launch Nationwide AI Finance Programme with Vietnam's Top Universities for More Than 1,500 Students and Educators

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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