KNOWLEDGE MANAGEMENT AND INNOVATION  IN HIGHER EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS: EMPIRICAL EVIDENCE FROM VIETNAM

Abstract

In the context of increasing university autonomy, digital transformation, and international integration in Vietnam, strengthening innovation capability has become an important strategic priority for higher education institutions. Knowledge management (KM), encompassing knowledge creation, sharing, storage, and application, provides a critical mechanism through which universities can transform individual and organizational knowledge into innovative outcomes. Despite its growing importance, KM practices in Vietnamese universities remain relatively fragmented, while empirical evidence on how different KM processes contribute to institutional innovation is still limited. This study investigates the effects of four key KM processes knowledge creation, knowledge sharing, knowledge storage, and knowledge application on innovation capability in teaching, research, and organizational management. Data were collected from 312 lecturers and managers across 16 public and private universities in Vietnam and analyzed using Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM). The findings demonstrate that all four KM processes have positive effects on university innovation capability, with knowledge application and knowledge sharing emerging as the most influential factors. The analysis also reveals significant differences between public and private universities, suggesting that institutional context shapes the effectiveness of KM practices in fostering innovation. By providing empirical evidence from the Vietnamese higher education sector, this study extends the understanding of the KM innovation relationship in an emerging higher education context. The findings also offer practical implications for university leaders seeking to develop more integrated KM systems, strengthen knowledge-sharing cultures, and leverage institutional knowledge to support university autonomy, digital transformation, and sustainable innovation.