The enhancement of higher education quality has become an urgent requirement for Vietnam to improve labor productivity and achieve sustainable development in the digital era. Higher education institutions (HEIs) need to implement breakthrough solutions regarding university autonomy and digital transformation. The expansion of international cooperation remains essential for standardizing training programs according to global competency frameworks. HEIs should transition from monodisciplinary to interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary curricula. This shift aims to develop a workforce of "problem solvers" with systems thinking. Substantive autonomy in exploiting intellectual property and commercializing research results will create endogenous motivation for institutions. HEIs must promote the "Dual Education" model through organic connections with enterprises. This model ensures that graduates meet the practical demands of the labor market. These solutions serve as key factors in establishing an innovation ecosystem. Universities will become primary drivers for labor productivity and sustainable development in Vietnam towards 2045.