In 2025, the University of Economics Ho Chi Minh City (UEH) continued the active promotion of good mental health for staff, including lecturers, administrative staff and employees, through stress prevention education, emotional management training, the promotion of a happy workplace culture and ongoing physical activity and peer connection programmes. These activities are organized by UEH’s functional units and the UEH Trade Union, in line with the University’s commitment to sustainable human resource development and a workplace that cares for the health and well-being of its people. This commitment is reflected in UEH’s 2025 organizational and human resource development policy, under which the Happy University Initiative (UEH Well-being Initiative) places employee well-being and happiness alongside academic development, and is reinforced by the UEH Trade Union, which made “happiness” a core goal of its 2025–2030 term.

In 2025, UEH actively promoted good mental health among its staff through three groups of activities: equipping staff with mental health knowledge and skills with the participation of experts; enabling staff to co-create solutions for a “Well-being University”; and maintaining physical and team-building activities that reduce work-related stress.

The 2025 activities both actively promoted good mental health and gave staff access to free mental health support. Highlights include the seminar “Building capacity to recognize and care for mental health” (October 31, 2025), attended by more than 500 staff and learners; the “Emotional Management” training course for staff (September 25–26, 2025); and the talkshow “Connecting through Smiles” at UEH Mekong (March 8, 2025). The UEH Trade Union ran the “Well-being UEH Challenge” series, the 2025 Staff Sports Festival (October 4–18, 2025) with 477 staff members, a dance class (44 participants) and a Pickleball class (March 26 – June 26, 2025). Seminar participants were signposted to the in-person and online psychological counselling channels of the Department of Student Affairs (DSA).

Equipping staff with mental health knowledge and skills

On October 31, 2025, at Hall A.116 (Campus A), the Department of Student Affairs (DSA) held a free seminar, “Building capacity to recognize and care for mental health – A journey towards balance and happiness in the UEHer community” for staff, employees and learners, aimed at strengthening their ability to recognize mental health concerns early and take proactive care of their mental health. The speaker, Dr. Phạm Minh Triết, MD, PhD (PhD in Psychology, Australian National University), discussed the causes and signs of stress, anxiety disorders and burnout, levels of risk and self-care tools, followed by a live Q&A session. The programme attracted more than 500 staff and learners; participants were signposted to DSA’s free in-person and online counselling channels so that they could seek support when needed.

UEH staff, employees and learners attend the mental health care seminar on October 31, 2025

Dr. Phạm Minh Triết, MD, PhD, speaks at the seminar “Building capacity to recognize and care for mental health – A journey towards balance and happiness in the UEHer community” on October 31, 2025, Hall A.116, Campus A

On September 25–26, 2025, UEH, through the Department of Organizational and Human Resource Development (HOD), held a free training course on “Emotional Management” for staff and employees to strengthen their ability to recognize and regulate their emotions at work. Participants learned the basic concepts of emotions and emotional management, how emotional management works, and practised several emotion regulation techniques. The course helped staff reduce work-related pressure and improve their emotional balance.

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The “Emotional Management” training course, September 25–26, 2025

“Connecting through Smiles – Spreading Positive Energy for a Happy Educational Environment” at UEH Mekong

On March 8, 2025, the UEH Mekong Trade Union, in coordination with UEH Mekong management, organized the psychological and mental health counselling talkshow “Connecting through Smiles – Spreading Positive Energy for a Happy Educational Environment” for staff and employees, especially female staff.

The programme featured Dr. Hồ Nhật Quang, a laughter yoga trainer, and covered positive thinking, recognizing and regulating emotions, reducing work-related stress, improving adaptability and building positive relationships. Participants were guided through laughter yoga exercises and positive connection techniques that they can practise in daily life and work.

Through this activity, UEH Mekong enabled staff and employees to access mental health knowledge and practise stress-reduction skills under expert guidance, contributing to a happy educational environment.

Dr. Hồ Nhật Quang shares knowledge and skills for connecting through smiles to spread positive energy at work and in life

Staff co-creating a “Well-being University”

In 2025, the UEH Trade Union ran the series “Strengthening a creative culture for a Well-being University”, centred on the “Well-being UEH Challenge” competition, to encourage staff and employees to identify factors affecting the quality of their working environment and jointly propose solutions to improve well-being.

The series included the workshop “Generating ideas for a Well-being University” on September 10, 2025, a team-based idea development phase, and a poster exhibition from October 27 to 31, 2025. According to the Trade Union’s report, the programme engaged 137 staff and employees and received 33 team ideas from units across UEH, of which 8 outstanding ideas were selected for the exhibition.

The ideas were organized into thematic groups, including mental health care and emotional balance, bringing employee happiness into creative initiatives to improve the workplace. The programme not only gave staff an opportunity to share their aspirations and challenges at work but also broadened their participation in proposing initiatives to improve well-being.

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The workshop “Generating ideas for a Well-being University” on September 10, 2025 at Campus B, UEH Nguyen Tri Phuong

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The “Well-being UEH Challenge” poster exhibition showcasing ideas for building a well-being university, October 27–31, 2025, Hall A.116 lobby and floor B1 lobby

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Awards were presented to 8 teams comprising 45 staff and employees

Physical exercise and team-building activities to reduce stress

From October 4 to 18, 2025, the UEH Trade Union organized the 2025 UEH Staff Sports Festival at UEH campuses to encourage physical exercise, improve physical and mental health, and strengthen solidarity and team spirit across units. The festival included table tennis, Chinese chess, Pickleball, mini football, tug of war, team events and an online running and walking marathon. In total, 477 staff and employees from 36 trade union branches took part, with more than 800 entries; the online marathon alone attracted 403 participants from 35 units.

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UEH staff and employees compete at the 2025 UEH Staff Sports Festival (October 4–18, 2025)

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Closing and award ceremony of the 2025 UEH Staff Sports Festival, morning of October 18, 2025, Nguyen Van Linh Campus

From May 15 to July 22, 2025, the UEH Trade Union, in collaboration with the Physical Education Center, organized a basic dance class for staff and employees at Campus B, UEH Nguyen Tri Phuong, to improve their health, enrich their cultural and emotional life and strengthen team bonds. The class comprised 20 sessions of 90 minutes each during the lunch break (11:45–13:15) on Tuesdays and Thursdays, led by Ms. Nguyễn Thị Hồng Vân, MSc (Physical Education Center) and Mr. Đặng Đình Sơn (Vice Head of the Dance Club, Ho Chi Minh City Workers’ Cultural Palace). Participation was free, with the Trade Union covering VND 1,000,000 per participant. The class had 44 staff and employees; according to participants, it helped them stay in shape, relax after work and connect with colleagues.

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UEH staff and employees practise at the basic dance class organized by the UEH Trade Union and the Physical Education Center (May 15 – July 22, 2025)

In addition, from March 26 to June 26, 2025, the UEH Trade Union organized a Pickleball training class for staff and employees at lunchtime every Wednesday and Friday at Ky Hoa 2 Club (District 10). Participation was free, funded by the Trade Union with support from the UEH Institute for Human Resource and Business Development, with the aim of improving physical and mental health and strengthening interaction and connection among colleagues. The opening session was attended by more than 20 staff and employees, most of whom expressed satisfaction.

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Opening session of the Pickleball training class for UEH staff and employees, March 26, 2025, Ky Hoa 2 Club (District 10)

What is new in 2025 compared with 2024

Whereas activities in 2024 were mainly cultural performances, commemorative events and general seminars, in 2025 UEH further developed mental health care for staff and employees by combining preventive education, emotional management training and the building of a positive workplace. Thematic programmes with physicians and experts, together with Trade Union-led activities, enabled employees to recognize pressures, gain self-care knowledge and practise methods to improve their mental health.

A highlight of 2025 was the direct involvement of staff and employees in proposing initiatives to build a Well-being University through the “Well-being UEH Challenge”. At the same time, physical activity and peer connection programmes were maintained, helping to develop a workplace that attends to people’s physical and emotional needs and social connection.

The UEH Trade Union’s choice of the slogan “Democracy – Solidarity – Innovation – Developing a multidisciplinary, sustainable and happy UEH” for its 2025–2030 term shows that staff mental health has become a long-term goal rather than a series of one-off activities.

Through coordination between functional units, University management and the Trade Union, UEH continues to promote staff mental health as part of its human resource development strategy and its vision of a well-being university, in line with SDG 3 – Good Health and Well-being.

List of evidence