In an era where personalisation, efficiency, and scalability are key to educational success, how can universities provide engaging, consistent, and practice-oriented English instruction for thousands of learners? For Ho Chi Minh City Open University (HCMCOU), the answer lies in harnessing the power of artificial intelligence. By integrating HeyHi’s AI-driven assessment tools into their English Language programme, HCMCOU’s Faculty of Foreign Languages has transformed how their students practise and master key language skills.
This collaboration represents a significant leap in modern language education—where practice is limitless, feedback is instant, and student motivation soars. Discover how HeyHi is helping HCMCOU deliver high-impact English training with cutting-edge AI technology that streamlines assessment and empowers both students and lecturers.
Founded in 1993, Ho Chi Minh City Open University is a pioneering institution in Vietnam, known for its commitment to accessible and lifelong learning. With over 32,000 students across full-time, part-time, and distance learning modalities, HCMCOU offers a diverse and flexible educational experience tailored to the evolving needs of modern learners.
The university’s Faculty of Foreign Languages (FFL), established in 1990, is one of the university’s founding academic units and remains a leader in innovative language education. Offering specialisations such as English Language Teaching, Translation and Interpretation, and Business English, FFL continues to break new ground with its application of technology in curriculum delivery. In line with its mission to provide “opening learning” and practice-oriented instruction, the Faculty sought a way to elevate how students engage with English reading, listening, and writing.
As a public university committed to expanding educational access while upholding academic excellence, HCMCOU faces the dual pressure of scale and quality. Their English language courses serve a vast and diverse student population, each requiring opportunities for frequent, meaningful language practice.
Traditionally, providing regular practice tests and grading essays for hundreds of students would place a significant strain on faculty resources. Creating content aligned with various learning themes, maintaining difficulty progression, and delivering timely feedback were challenges that demanded an innovative solution. Moreover, with the faculty’s emphasis on real-world language usage, the content needed to reflect a broad range of academic topics—spanning Ecology, Psychology, Health Science, and more—while also meeting CEFR standards.
The Faculty of Foreign Languages needed a partner who could not only deliver efficiency at scale, but also preserve the academic rigour and responsiveness that defines its teaching approach.
Recognising HeyHi’s proven capabilities in educational AI, HCMCOU partnered with HeyHi to overhaul their English practice and assessment process. The collaboration focused on two core areas of the English programme: bi-weekly release of practice tests for reading, listening, and writing, allowing students to attempt them at their own pace, and the introduction of AI-powered essay marking.
HeyHi’s generative AI quickly became a game-changer. The system enabled the creation of tailored, CEFR-aligned practice content, built from reference materials in the faculty’s existing curriculum. Lecturers simply specify the learning theme—such as Health Science or Economics—and the system generates appropriate reading and listening passages complete with comprehension questions at three levels of difficulty: easy, medium, and hard.
This capacity to rapidly generate differentiated practice materials has dramatically increased both the quantity and quality of student engagement. Where lecturers once struggled with time-consuming content creation, they can now focus on fine-tuning lessons and offering guidance where it matters most. Students, in turn, benefit from regular, well-structured exposure to diverse topics, which prepares them for academic discourse and real-world application alike.
AI-Generated Practice Content
- Curriculum alignment: Content is designed in accordance with official course resources, ensuring consistency with the syllabus.
- CEFR adherence: Vocabulary and grammar are tailored to the desired CEFR level, balancing challenge and accessibility.
- Tiered difficulty: Students face progressively challenging texts, supporting skill development.
- Multimedia readiness: Integrated text-to-speech produces varied audio, reducing lecturer workload and enhancing listening diversity.
AI Essay Marking for Composition
- Instant feedback: Students receive detailed feedback immediately after submitting their essays.
- Unlimited practice: Learners can practise as much as needed without overburdening faculty.
- Rubric-aligned scoring: Essays are scored based on defined rubrics, ensuring consistency and objectivity.
- Dual-level analysis: AI checks grammar and word choice, alongside higher-order assessments like content and structure, with teachers able to adjust scores as needed.
One of the most remarkable outcomes of the collaboration has been the extraordinary level of student engagement. With frequent, personalised assessments and the opportunity to immediately apply feedback, students are more motivated than ever to practise and improve. The system’s responsiveness has shifted the learning culture—moving from passive instruction to active, self-directed growth.
Moreover, the university’s decision to incorporate HeyHi assessment scores into students’ official academic records signals a deep trust in the platform’s reliability and pedagogical alignment. It is not simply a supplementary tool; it has become an integral part of the university’s academic infrastructure. This validation reflects the university’s forward-thinking approach to innovation and quality assurance in higher education.
The partnership between Ho Chi Minh City Open University and HeyHi showcases how AI can elevate—not replace—traditional teaching by enhancing learning outcomes, scaling meaningful practice, and enabling instant, personalised feedback. By embedding HeyHi’s AI-driven tools into its English programme, the Faculty of Foreign Languages has empowered students to take ownership of their learning while easing the workload on educators. This collaboration stands as a powerful example of how learner-centred, strategic technology adoption can transform language education into a more accessible, scalable, and impactful experience.
Explore how HeyHi can elevate your educational approach and empower your students with outstanding results. Discover more about Ho Chi Minh City Open University here or learn more about the impact of HeyHi tailored solutions here.
