11.4.6. Pedestrian priority on campus

Within the framework of its sustainable development strategy, the University of Economics Ho Chi Minh City (UEH) continues to implement the prioritization of pedestrian spaces and walkways across its entire campus. Restricting motor vehicles not only helps mitigate noise and air pollution, improving air quality, but also enhances safe and convenient experiences for students, faculty, and visitors. This initiative reflects UEH’s commitment to creating a modern, green – clean – sustainable learning environment, while simultaneously promoting an active lifestyle and environmental responsibility within the university community

Green University Regulations

In July 2023, UEH officially issued the Green Campus Practice Regulations, laying the foundation for building a sustainable learning and working environment. These regulations apply broadly to all students, faculty, staff, and stakeholders, encouraging practical actions to reduce negative environmental impacts – from saving energy and enhancing resource efficiency to maintaining green, clean, and safe spaces within the campus.

Under the Green University Regulations, UEH particularly encourages prioritizing pedestrians and using stairs, minimizing motor vehicles on campus. Intuitive initiatives like calorie-counting stickers on stairs not only raise awareness of health benefits but also create a dynamic, environmentally friendly working and learning experience. Thereby, the Green University Regulations are not merely a code of conduct but also a strategic commitment from UEH to create a sustainable campus and propagate a green lifestyle to the entire community.

UEH Promotes Walking and Green Transportation Towards a Sustainable Campus

In the context of increasing urbanisation and challenges related to pedestrian infrastructure in Ho Chi Minh City, the University of Economics Ho Chi Minh City (UEH) implements the project “Developing an interconnected equity framework to encourage walkability”. The project surveys and analyzes the needs of pedestrians, especially vulnerable groups, to propose solutions for improving infrastructure, redesigning routes, ensuring road safety, and creating friendly public spaces. International cooperation with many prestigious universities helps the project expand its vision and apply advanced research methods, while affirming UEH’s commitment to promoting a sustainable, safe, and community-friendly urban environment.

Building on walking research outcomes, UEH continues to expand its sustainable initiatives with the  “Route2school Education” project, developing an intelligent traffic safety education system integrating gamification and Virtual Reality (VR). This system helps high school students enhance their knowledge, observation skills, and traffic situation handling, while forming safe, proactive, and responsible commuting habits. The project not only improves education quality and traffic safety awareness (SDG 4, SDG 11) but also promotes technological innovation in education and international cooperation (SDG 9, SDG 17), contributing to building a dynamic, civilized, and socially responsible young generation.

Based on research and education, UEH continues to promote the trend of green transport, prioritizing pedestrians and environmentally friendly vehicles such as bicycles, electric buses, and internal walking routes. These initiatives not only reduce pollution and save energy but also enhance the quality of life and safe, convenient experiences for students, faculty, and visitors. The UEH Shuttle Bus service and appropriately designed pedestrian infrastructure demonstrate UEH’s strategic commitment to building a green, sustainable campus, while spreading an active, environmentally responsible lifestyle to the entire university community.

Green transportation trend

Electric buses in Vietnam (Source: VinBus)

By prioritizing pedestrian spaces and promoting green commuting habits, UEH not only creates a safe, clean campus but also inspires the learning community to live an active, sustainable life. Every step taken on campus is not only an environmentally friendly action but also an experience that enhances health, connecting students, faculty, and visitors with the campus’s green spaces. Initiatives like using stairs, vibrant decorations, and encouraging daily physical activity reflect UEH’s strategic commitment to building a green – sustainable university environment, contributing to spreading a responsible, environmentally conscious lifestyle to the entire community. This is a vivid demonstration of UEH’s sustainable development vision, where learning, working, and experience blend with nature, enhancing the quality of life for all members.

UEH Green Campus Calories Stair “Power-Up Steps” (Source: https://ueh.edu.vn/en/news/launching-ueh-green-campus-calories-stair-power-up-steps-every-step-is-a-source-of-energy-for-the-environment-and-health-73045 )

Compared to 2024, the pedestrian-prioritizing initiatives in the UEH campus in 2025 not only continue to minimize motor vehicles and enhance the green spaces experience but also expand in scale and impact depth. While 2024 focused on the Green University Regulations, decorating stairs, and encouraging walking, in 2025, UEH integrates research outcomes on urban areas and green transport, deploying projects like “Developing an Interconnected Equity Framework to Encourage Walkability”, “Route2school Education”, and the UEH Shuttle Bus system. These initiatives facilitate safe, convenient walking within the campus while spreading green commuting habits to the wider community, combining research, education, technology, and international cooperation, demonstrating UEH’s comprehensive sustainable development strategy.

With comprehensive initiatives on pedestrian prioritization, green transport development, and sustainable education, UEH is not only creating a safe, clean, and environmentally friendly campus but also spreading an active, responsible lifestyle to the broader community. Every small action, from walking on campus to participating in educational programs and using green vehicles, contributes to building a sustainable learning-working environment, enhancing the quality of life, and laying a solid foundation for the young generation to become conscious and responsible citizens. Thereby, UEH affirms its strategic vision: combining research, education, and practice to create a green – modern – sustainable future.

Open related links:

1. December 30th, 2024 – Project Developing an Intersectional Equity Framework to Encourage Walkability – https://future.ueh.edu.vn/chi-tiet-knowlege/podcast-du-an-phat-trien-khung-cong-bang-giao-thoa-nham-khuyen-khich-kha-nang-di-bo/ 

2. December 10th, 2024 – “Route2school Education” online smart traffic safety education system project – https://future.ueh.edu.vn/chi-tiet-knowlege/podcast-du-an-he-thong-giao-duc-an-toan-giao-thong-thong-minh-truc-tuyen-route2school-education/ 

3. August 4th, 2023 – Towards a Sustainable Green Lifestyle: UEH Encourages Walking on Campus – https://ueh.edu.vn/en/news/towards-a-sustainable-green-lifestyle-ueh-encourages-walking-on-campus-72897

4.November 16th. 2024 – LAUNCHING UEH GREEN CAMPUS CALORIES STAIR “Power-Up Steps” –  Every Step Is a Source of Energy for the Environment and Health – https://ueh.edu.vn/en/news/launching-ueh-green-campus-calories-stair-power-up-steps-every-step-is-a-source-of-energy-for-the-environment-and-health-73045