Open and Green Campus – University for the Community
University of Economics Ho Chi Minh City (UEH) is committed to providing permanent free access to all its green, open, and community-friendly spaces across its main campuses in Ho Chi Minh City and UEH Mekong.
This policy forms part of the UEH Development Strategy 2021–2030 and the UEH Green Campus Initiative, reaffirming UEH’s role as a green, smart, and community-oriented university—a place where citizens, students, alumni, partners, and visitors can come to learn, relax, interact, and promote sustainable green lifestyles.
UEH applies three access modes, in alignment with THE Impact Ranking framework (11.2.4):
- Permanent free access: Green areas, gardens, squares, walking paths, sports grounds, the English Zone, open learning areas, and other outdoor spaces are always freely accessible to students, alumni, partners, and the public.
- Time- or event-based free access: Community events for learners across Ho Chi Minh City, alumni, and partners are organized regularly with free admission.
- Fee-based access in specific cases: Certain activities (such as conferences or large gatherings) may charge a small fee to control capacity and allow partners to rent space for community-oriented events.
Green and Inclusive Spaces – A University for the Community
UEH’s green spaces are designed to be inclusive, accessible, and sustainable, ensuring that everyone—not only students but also the wider community, partners, alumni, and local residents—can enjoy free access during the university’s opening hours. The entire campus is designed to meet accessibility standards, featuring ramps, resting benches, signage, safe lighting systems, and harmonized landscaping to support universal usability, including for persons with disabilities.
By 2024, UEH had expanded its internal greenery with over 52,000 m² of grass and shrubs (≈30%), 25,000 m² of trees (≈15.6%), and 87,000 m² of natural drainage and permeable areas (~65%), contributing to microclimate regulation and urban biodiversity enhancement. Key open spaces include: English Zone – an outdoor English-learning park; Nguyen Van Linh Campus Square; Innovation Hub – UII; and UEH Mekong (Vinh Long) – an integrated space combining learning areas, gardens, dormitories, sports facilities, and community zones serving both students and local residents.
Through its “permanent free access” policy, UEH reinforces its commitment to becoming an open university for the community, where everyone can gather, relax, learn, and spread the spirit of green living – green learning – green community.
Regular Open Events – Experiencing UEH’s Green Campus
– Campus Tours, Alumni Tours, and Partner Visits – Connecting Students, Partners, and Alumni:
- UEH frequently organizes campus tours for high school students and their parents, offering opportunities to experience modern facilities, green campuses, open learning environments, and a sustainable academic ecosystem. These tours provide not only career guidance but also inspiration for adopting green lifestyles, environmental responsibility, and sustainable development aligned with the “Green Campus” vision.
- In parallel, the annual “Alumni Tour – Back to UEH” program welcomes generations of alumni to return, revisit the campus, engage in sports, take commemorative photos, and reconnect with faculty. These events express gratitude and strengthen the UEHers community while showcasing UEH’s transformation into a green – smart – sustainable university. In 2024, many alumni cohorts revisited the university, joining commemorative, sports, and social activities at Campuses B, N, and the English Zone—all open free to the public.
- UEH also hosts delegations of lecturers and students from domestic and international universities, as well as corporate partners, to visit and learn from the UEH Green Campus model. Such exchanges promote the spirit of green universities, create forums for experience-sharing among educational institutions, and affirm UEH’s pioneering role in building learning environments that are friendly to both nature and the community.
– UEH Sharing – Career Fair: A free, time-based community event where UEH shares knowledge, skills, and career opportunities with students, alumni, and the public. The program gathers enterprises, social organizations, and partners to provide workshops, seminars, and experiential career booths, thereby promoting lifelong learning and community connection in UEH’s sustainable development orientation.
– English Zone – An Open Event Space for the Community:
The English Zone (Campus B) functions as an outdoor “English park,” hosting regular activities such as EZ Talk, Movie Night, and Board Game Sessions on a weekly or monthly basis. These events are open to all, welcoming students from other institutions to practice English and exchange culture in a green and natural environment.
– UEH Green Community 2024: In 2024, UEH launched the “UEH Green Community” campaign for students, faculty, alumni, and the public, featuring 58 green programs and activities such as waste sorting, tree planting, and recycled learning exhibitions held within UEH’s green spaces. In 2025, UEH will further expand through the Living Lab – UEH Green Campus Project, piloting a “living in harmony with nature” model that integrates green behavioral education with open experiential spaces.
– At UEH Innovation Center (Campus V) and UEH Mekong Campus (Vinh Long), study areas, co-working zones, gardens, and exhibition spaces are open to students, startups, and local residents for free use or pre-registration during designated hours. Meanwhile, UEH Maker Space serves as a creative hub for students and community members interested in design, assembly, and craftsmanship, regularly hosting workshops and training sessions that spread green knowledge and foster innovation for sustainable development.
Shared Creative and Development Spaces – Transparent Community-Based Fee Model
UEH maintains free access to green spaces within public opening hours. For special, large-scale, or safety-sensitive events, a small, transparent fee is applied to manage capacity, ensure security and hygiene, and maintain public experience quality. Fees are non-commercial, and community groups or student organizations are eligible for exemptions or reductions according to UEH regulations. Outside event hours, the spaces remain freely open as usual.
Through the “Shared Creative and Development Space” program, organizations, enterprises, schools, and community groups are allowed to use UEH’s green and smart campus hubs for academic, cultural, and community events. In 2024, UEH collaborated with 30 partners to co-host or lease event spaces under transparent fee principles—green use, safety compliance, and clear registration, appraisal, agreement, publication, and post-event monitoring processes. A portion of revenue is reinvested in green area maintenance, lighting systems, public seating, restrooms, and community engagement programs such as Campus Tours, the English Zone, and the Green Community initiative.
Governance, Operations, and Public Safety
- Transparent Access Procedures: Activity schedules, open zones, and service hours are publicly updated.
- Green Conduct Code: No littering, noise, or plant damage; “Green Volunteer” teams provide on-site guidance.
- Feedback Mechanism: The community can submit feedback via online forms, and the university responds within 48 hours.
Measuring Impact and Continuous Improvement
The open-space initiatives of UEH have generated significant impact on both the community and the learning environment:
- Accessibility: Over 95% of users accessing green spaces do so for free, including students, faculty, alumni, high school students, partners, and local residents.
- Green Index: UEH’s green coverage increased by 12% compared to 2023, enhancing microclimate and biodiversity within the campus. The number of green and community activities held in open areas grew 1.5 times.
- Social Impact: Community satisfaction levels exceeded 90%, reflecting the effectiveness of the “Green – Smart – Community Campus” model in promoting sustainable living, social interaction, and improved quality of urban public spaces.
Evidence
Compared with 2023, which primarily focused on opening green public spaces and organizing initial engagement activities such as Campus Tours, Alumni Tours, and the English Zone, UEH in 2024 achieved a significant advancement in both scale and depth of implementation. In 2023, activities mainly centered on experiential learning and career orientation for high school students, along with the open access of the English Zone for students from other universities. However, in 2024, UEH expanded its initiative into a comprehensive green–smart–community ecosystem, integrating multiple layers of sustainable and community-driven activities such as UEH Green Community 2024, UEH Sharing – Career Fair, and the “Shared Creative and Development Space” program, which enables partners to rent or co-utilize campus facilities for academic, cultural, and social purposes. Furthermore, UEH officially disclosed quantitative data related to its green area coverage, free-access rate, and community satisfaction index, while simultaneously expanding accessibility and engagement to the UEH Mekong Campus in Vinh Long Province. These efforts illustrate a strategic transition from merely providing open campus experiences toward a model of sustainable governance, emphasizing transparency, data-driven management, and measurable social impact. In summary, the year 2024 demonstrated distinct progress compared with 2023 in three key dimensions: (1) Expansion in scale and frequency of community engagement and outreach activities; (2) Integration of governance mechanisms, data transparency, and quantitative evidence to ensure accountability and continuous improvement; and (3) Extension of the green campus model into creative spaces and regional campuses.
| Content group | Description | Source |
| Policy & Message “Green – Smart – Community” – Permanent Free Access to Open Green Spaces | UEH’s commitment to developing a green and smart university, providing open and inclusive access to community spaces and promoting a sustainable learning model. |
UEH and the Effort to Build a Green–Smart University |
| Free Access by Time Frame / Event | Campus Tour
Alumni Tour NEU delegation visited UEH Nguyen Van Linh campus
|
Career Orientation – Kick-off Campus Tour with 2K6 Students: UEH Mekong welcomes 1,000 high schoolers
UEH Summer Camp 2024: Student Exchange Programme UEH Reunion 26 – Celebrating 20 years of graduation Looking back at the colorful November at UEH English zone Autumn reunion at UEH English zone Ready for UEH Green Community 2024 UEH Green Day – Understanding and spreading the message of green living with UEH students UEH – Vinh Long Branch: A creative and modern innovation space for learners |
| Transparent and Public Fee Policy | “Acrylic Painting Workshop Series” – A themed workshop series conducted weekly for both UEH students and the public.
“Shared Creative and Development Space Programme” – An initiative that allows organizations, enterprises, and schools to co-use UEH’s green–smart hubs for academic, cultural, and community activities. |
Launch of the Acrylic Painting Workshop Series at UEH |
| Media & Social Recognition | The Nhan Dan Newspaper (Vietnam’s national newspaper) featured and recognized the UEH Green University model as a successful example of higher-education institutions contributing to sustainable urban development and community engagement. |
Nhan Dan Newspaper – UEH Green University Model |
UEH Green Community 2024: Organize green activities at UEH green space for the community to participate
Compared with 2023, which primarily focused on opening green public spaces and organizing initial engagement activities such as Campus Tours, Alumni Tours, and the English Zone, UEH in 2024 achieved a significant advancement in both scale and depth of implementation. In 2023, activities mainly centered on experiential learning and career orientation for high school students, along with the open access of the English Zone for students from other universities. However, in 2024, UEH expanded its initiative into a comprehensive green–smart–community ecosystem, integrating multiple layers of sustainable and community-driven activities such as UEH Green Community 2024, UEH Sharing – Career Fair, and the “Shared Creative and Development Space” program, which enables partners to rent or co-utilize campus facilities for academic, cultural, and social purposes. Furthermore, UEH officially disclosed quantitative data related to its green area coverage, free-access rate, and community satisfaction index, while simultaneously expanding accessibility and engagement to the UEH Mekong Campus in Vinh Long Province. These efforts illustrate a strategic transition from merely providing open campus experiences toward a model of sustainable governance, emphasizing transparency, data-driven management, and measurable social impact. In summary, the year 2024 demonstrated distinct progress compared with 2023 in three key dimensions: (1) Expansion in scale and frequency of community engagement and outreach activities; (2) Integration of governance mechanisms, data transparency, and quantitative evidence to ensure accountability and continuous improvement; and (3) Extension of the green campus model into creative spaces and regional campuses.
Open related links:
1. January 22nd, 2025 – UEH and the Effort to Build a Green–Smart University: https://ueh.edu.vn/en/news/ueh-and-efforts-in-building-a-green-smart-university-from-facilities-to-eco-friendly-campuses-73379
2. January 22nd, 2024 – Career Orientation – Kick-off Campus Tour with 2K6 Students: UEH Mekong welcomes 1,000 high schoolers: https://ueh.edu.vn/ueh-mekong/tuyen-sinh-va-huong-nghiep/khoi-dong-campus-tour-cung-2k6-ueh-vinh-long-don-hon-1000-hoc-sinh-cac-truong-thpt-trong-va-ngoai-tinh-vinh-long-den-tham-gia-chuong-trinh-huong-nghiep-tu-van-tuyen-sinh-nam-2024-71331
3. July 20th, 2024 – UEH Summer Camp 2024: Student Exchange Programme: https://www.ueh.edu.vn/en/news/ueh-summer-camp-2024-student-exchange-program-between-campuses-of-university-of-economics-ho-chi-minh-city-and-partner-schools-in-mid-semester-2024-at-ueh-vinh-long-campus-72164
4. October 2nd, 2024 – UEH Reunion 26 – Celebrating 20 years of graduation: https://alumni.ueh.edu.vn/cuoc-song-ueh-alumni/hoi-ngo-khoa-26-ueh-ky-niem-20-nam-ra-truong-49
5. November 23rd, 2024 – University management experience exchange visit between UEH and NEU: Solidarity – Cooperation – Development: https://ueh.edu.vn/en/news/a-visit-on-university-management-exchange-between-ueh-and-neu-solidarity-cooperation-development-73040
6. December 21st, 2024 – Program “International Student Exchange with Lincoln University New Zealand at University of Economics Ho Chi Minh City 2024”: https://ueh.edu.vn/en/news/highlights-of-the-lincoln-university-student-exchange-program-at-ueh-2024-73248
7. December 2nd, 2024 – Looking back at the colorful November at UEH English zone: https://ueh.edu.vn/en/news/looking-back-at-the-colorful-november-at-ueh-english-zone-73070
8. October 1st, 2024 – Autumn reunion at UEH English zone: https://www.ueh.edu.vn/en/news/english-websitefalling-into-family-an-autumn-gathering-at-ueh-english-zone-72567
9. May 24th, 2024 – Ready for UEH Green Community 2024: https://gogreen.ueh.edu.vn/en/breaking-news/ready-for-ueh-green-community-2024
10. April 1st, 2024 – UEH Green Day – Understanding and spreading the message of green living with UEH students: https://gogreen.ueh.edu.vn/en/events/ueh-green-day-understanding-and-spreading-the-green-living-message-to-ueh-students
11. June 5th, 2024 – UEH Inaugurating the Mekong Delta Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship (MCIE) and organizing the contests “THE STEM UEH MEKONG 2024” and “DRONE CHAMPION VINH LONG 2024”: https://ueh.edu.vn/en/news/ueh-inaugurating-the-mekong-delta-center-for-innovation-and-entrepreneurship-mcie-and-organizing-the-contests-the-stem-ueh-mekong-2024-and-drone-champion-vinh-long-2024-71962
12. June 20th, 2024 – UEH – Vinh Long Branch: A creative and modern innovation space for learners: https://www.ueh.edu.vn/ueh-mekong/cuoc-song-ueh-mekong/ueh-phan-hieu-vinh-long-khong-gian-doi-moi-sang-tao-va-hien-dai-danh-cho-nguoi-hoc-71982
13. June 5th, 2023 – Official launch of UEH MakerSpace art creation space: https://www.ueh.edu.vn/en/news/official-launch-of-an-art-creation-space-ueh-makerspace-70356
14. April 4th, 2024 – UEH SHARING – CAREER FAIR 2024: https://ueh.edu.vn/en/news/the-success-of-ueh-sharing-career-fair-2024-nearly-6-billion-vnd-contributed-to-future-generations-connecting-more-than-5-000-job-opportunities-71642
15. May 23rd, 2024 – Launch of the Acrylic Painting Workshop Series at UEH: https://www.ueh.edu.vn/en/news/starting-the-acrylic-painting-workshop-series-at-ueh-71882
16. Sharing Creative and Development Spaces with UEH: https://ueh.edu.vn/hop-tac/chia-se-khong-gian-ueh/chia-se-khong-gian-sang-tao-va-phat-trien/
17. August 7th, 2024 – Nhan Dan Newspaper – UEH Green University Model: https://www.ueh.edu.vn/en/news/[nhan-dan-newspaper]-green-university-model-72244
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