Human resources and local knowledge play a crucial role in the development of ethnic minority regionsKeywords: Human resources; Local knowledge; Ethnic minority; Endogenous resources; Sustainable development.
1. Introduction
Ethnic minority and mountainous areas account for approximately three-quarters of the country's total land area and are home to over 14.8 million people belonging to 53 ethnic minority groups, while also possessing exceptionally rich cultural, ecological and local knowledge resources. Over the years, thanks to the attention of the Party and the State manifested through socio-economic development programs and policies, particularly the National Target Program on socio-economic development in ethnic minority and mountainous areas for the period of 2021-2025 (known as Program 1719), many localities have undergone positive transformations. However, a significant development gap persists between ethnic minority and mountainous areas and other regions; the quality of human resources, labor productivity and the capacity to harness endogenous resources remain limited.
In the context of globalization, digital transformation and climate change profoundly impacting all aspects of social life, the sustainable development of ethnic minority and mountainous regions requires a shift in mindset, moving from a reliance on external support to the promotion of internal strength. Among these, human resources and local knowledge are considered two foundational elements. Human resources encompass not only educational attainment, professional skills and creative capacity but also the ability to embrace, transmit and promote traditional cultural values. Local knowledge has been shaped over generations, embodying valuable experience in farming, resource management, environmental protection, folk medicine and the organization of community life.
Therefore, researching the development of ethnic minority regions based on human resources and local knowledge holds significant importance and is essential from both theoretical and practical perspectives. This serves not only as a scientific basis for leveraging endogenous resources and preserving ethnic cultural identities but also contributes to establishing development models that are appropriate, sustainable and adaptable to the new demands of the nation's development process.
2. Research results
2.1. The role of human resources and local knowledge in the development of ethnic minority and mountainous areas
In the socio-economic development of ethnic minority and mountainous regions, human resources and local knowledge are regarded as two vital pillars of endogenous capacity, playing a decisive role in community sustainability and self-reliance. These assets serve not only to drive economic growth but also as a foundation for cultural preservation, environmental protection and the enhancement of adaptive capacity in the face of changing times.
Firstly, human resources play a central role in every development process. Humans are both creative subjects and beneficiaries of development achievements. For ethnic minority and mountainous areas, improving education levels, vocational skills, management capacity and access to science and technology will directly contribute to improving labor productivity, improving livelihoods and reducing poverty sustainably. In practice, many localities such as Lao Cai, Tuyen Quang, Son La, Dak Lak,… have fostered a workforce of ethnic minority youth, intellectuals, and entrepreneurs who are engaging in community-based tourism, e-commerce and commercial agricultural production, thereby creating new momentum for local development.
Furthermore, local knowledge represents a unique cultural asset shaped over generations. Examples such as the Mong people’s sloping-land farming practices in Tuyen Quang province; the Thai people’s irrigation techniques in Son La and Dien Bien provinces; the community forest management models of ethnic groups like the E-de, Mnong, Gia-rai and Bahnar in Dak Lak, Gia Lai and Lam Dong provinces; and the Dao people’s expertise in using medicinal plants in the northern mountainous regions all demonstrate the immense practical value of local knowledge for economic development and environmental protection. Amidst the complex evolution of climate change, local knowledge contributes to enhancing community resilience against natural disasters and the depletion of natural resources.
Human resources and local knowledge play a vital role in preserving and promoting ethnic cultural identity. It is the local community itself that serves as the custodian of the language, festivals, traditional crafts, folk arts and distinctive cultural values of their ethnic group. When effectively harnessed, these values can serve as resources for the development of community-based tourism, the cultural economy, and distinctive OCOP products, thereby helping to create jobs and boost local incomes.
In the context of digital transformation and international integration, the combination of high-quality human resources and local knowledge will create a distinctive competitive advantage for ethnic minority and mountainous regions. This serves as a crucial foundation for fostering a green economy, a creative economy, and sustainable development, while also contributing to the goal of narrowing the development gap between ethnic minority regions and other parts of the country.
2.2. The current state of development in ethnic minority and mountainous areas based on human resources and local knowledge
In recent years, along with the implementation of ethnic policies and the 1719 Program, promoting human resources and local knowledge has contributed to positive changes in socio-economic development in many localities. This is considered one of the important driving forces to promote endogenous development, sustainable poverty reduction and preservation of national cultural identity.
About human resources, the quality of human resources in ethnic minority and mountainous areas has gradually been improved. The boarding and semi-boarding school system for ethnic minorities and educational support policies have created conditions for people to have better access to education and vocational training. The literacy rate among ethnic minorities in the national language is steadily rising, and the contingent of ethnic minority cadres and civil servants is being gradually strengthened. Many ethnic minority youths are proactively applying science and technology, e-commerce and digital transformation to the development of their production and business activities. In provinces such as Lao Cai, Tuyen Quang, Son La and Dien Bien, various startup models led by young people from the Hmong, Dao, and Thai ethnic groups focusing on community-based tourism, organic agriculture and OCOP products have yielded significant economic results, helping to create local jobs and curb labor migration.
Alongside human resources, local knowledge continues to be harnessed and leveraged across various fields. In agricultural production, the Mong people in provinces such as Tuyen Quang, Lao Cai,… continue to effectively maintain sloping-land farming methods, techniques for conserving local crop varieties and weather forecasting practices based on natural signs. The Thai people in Son La and Dien Bien provinces leverage traditional irrigation systems and community-based water management practices to support agricultural production. In the Central Highlands, communities such as the E-de, Bana and Gia-rai continue to preserve and apply indigenous knowledge regarding community forest management, thereby contributing to the protection of natural resources and the maintenance of sustainable livelihoods.
In the tourism sector, various forms of local knowledge have been transformed into economic products. Community-based tourism models in locations such as Sa Pa (Lao Cai province), Dong Van and Meo Vac (Tuyen Quang province), Moc Chau (Son La province), Mai Chau (Phu Tho province) and Kon Plong (Quang Ngai province) have effectively leveraged traditional cultural values, handicrafts, ethnic cuisine and local knowledge to attract visitors. Thereby, it not only generates income for local residents but also contributes to the preservation of unique cultural values.
However, reality also shows that the quality of human resources in ethnic minority and mountainous areas generally remains below the national average, with a limited proportion of the workforce holding formal qualifications or certificates. A segment of ethnic minority youth lacks digital and business management skills. Much local knowledge is at risk of being lost due to the impacts of urbanization, climate change, and cultural exchange. Numerous traditional crafts, folk remedies, ethnic languages, and local production practices are gradually falling into oblivion due to the lack of effective mechanisms for their preservation and transmission.
It can be said that human resources and local knowledge have played and continue to play a crucial role in the development of ethnic minority regions. However, the utilization of these resources has not yet matched their existing potential. This requires comprehensive solutions to enhance the quality of human resources, preserve local knowledge and foster the integration of traditional knowledge with modern science and technology, thereby creating momentum for sustainable development in the new era.
2.3. Orientations and solutions for the development of ethnic minority and mountainous areas based on human resources and local knowledge
Firstly, priority must be given to enhancing the quality of the ethnic minority workforce through the development of education, vocational training and digital skills. Expanding access to quality education, strengthening vocational training aligned with labor market demands, and supporting ethnic minority youth in starting businesses will enable people to actively participate in the socio-economic development process. At the same time, emphasis must be placed on developing a workforce of intellectuals, entrepreneurs and officials from ethnic minority groups to form a core force driving local innovation.
Secondly, it is necessary to promote the work of preserving, digitizing and promoting the value of local knowledge. Knowledge about agriculture, resource management, folk medicine, traditional crafts and folk culture needs to be investigated, collected, digital databases built and integrated into community education programs. This is an important solution to prevent the risk of traditional knowledge being lost and create a basis for exploitation for economic development.
Thirdly, promoting the integration of local knowledge with modern science and technology. Applying digital technology, artificial intelligence, e-commerce and smart production models to traditional industries will help enhance product value and expand consumer markets. At the same time, it is essential to develop models for community-based tourism, the cultural economy, OCOP products and eco-agriculture by leveraging the advantages of local knowledge.
Fourthly, the State needs to refine mechanisms and policies for protecting intellectual property rights regarding traditional knowledge, increase investment in digital infrastructure and build an innovation ecosystem in ethnic minority and mountainous areas. The synchronized implementation of these measures will help effectively leverage human resources and local knowledge, creating momentum for the rapid and sustainable development of ethnic minority and mountainous areas in the new era.
3. Discussion
The aforementioned research issue demonstrates that human resources and local knowledge are not merely supporting factors but are, in fact, the foundation of the endogenous development process in ethnic minority and mountainous areas. Practical experience in many localities such as Tuyen Quang, Lao Cai, Son La, Dien Bien, Quang Ngai, Gia Lai, Dak Lak,… have demonstrated that wherever local knowledge is effectively leveraged alongside improvements in human resource quality, it is possible to create sustainable economic development models suited to the community’s natural, cultural and social conditions.
Local knowledge holds not only cultural value but also embodies practical experience in resource management, agricultural production, environmental protection and climate change adaptation. When preserved and integrated with modern science and technology, this knowledge can serve as a vital development resource across sectors such as agroecology, community-based tourism, the green economy and the creative economy.
However, research also reveals certain challenges in leveraging endogenous resources. The quality of human resources in ethnic minority and mountainous areas remains limited, while labor migration and the impact of globalization heighten the risk of traditional knowledge being lost. Furthermore, the digitization, preservation, and commercialization of local knowledge assets have yet to match their actual potential.
From the scientific perspective of sustainable development, it can be affirmed that human resources and local knowledge share an organic, mutually reinforcing relationship. People are the agents who create, preserve and advance knowledge, while local knowledge shapes a community’s identity, competitive advantage and adaptability. Therefore, the development strategy for ethnic minority and mountainous areas in the new phase must place the people at the center, at the same time the preservation and promotion of local knowledge as a key element to drive sustainable, comprehensive and inclusive development.
4. Conclusion
Human resources and local knowledge are two key pillars driving the endogenous development of ethnic minority and mountainous regions. Research indicates that effectively leveraging the quality of human resources combined with the preservation, transmission and application of local knowledge has contributed to fostering economic growth, achieving sustainable poverty reduction, protecting the environment and safeguarding ethnic cultural identities. However, in the face of globalization, digital transformation and climate change, these resources are confronting numerous challenges regarding workforce quality, the risk of losing traditional knowledge and limitations in the application of science and technology. Therefore, it is essential to implement comprehensive policies aimed at enhancing human resource quality, digitizing and leveraging local knowledge and harmoniously combining traditional values with innovation. This serves as a crucial foundation for the rapid, sustainable and inclusive development of ethnic minority and mountainous regions in the new era.
* National Defence Academy, Ministry of National Defence
References
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