The University of Economics Ho Chi Minh City (UEH) affirms a strong commitment to embed the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) throughout its teaching, research, and community activities.
This commitment is operationalised in the UEH Sustainable Strategy, with “Education as the central pillar” among the five strategic pillars (Training – Research – Governance – Operations – Community), to realise the mission “a launchpad for a generation of global citizens – creating sustainable development.” The vision is detailed across several dimensions:
+ Policy and educational orientation: UEH integrates the SDGs across the entire curriculum. All programmes are designed to connect knowledge, technology, and sustainable development, aligned with international standards and global socio‑economic trends.
+ Integration into formal programmes: UEH has incorporated sustainable‑development knowledge into more than 70 programmes, including mandatory core courses for all students and elective specialised courses on Sustainability & SDGs (a comprehensive list of related courses is provided HERE). Notably, the “Sustainable Development” course – one of six courses linked to global trends – is a compulsory foundational module that equips students with the mindset and skills to address global sustainability challenges. These courses are offered at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels.
+ Specialised and continuous training programmes: At the postgraduate level, UEH has developed 15 master‑level courses and specialised programmes that include sustainability content, such as a Master’s in Economics and Environmental Management, Agribusiness, a dual‑degree Smart and Creative Urban Management programme, and Human Ecology and Technology. In addition, UEH organises short‑term training for managers and business leaders in Dong Nai, the Mekong Delta, EVN, the Rubber Group, Hoa Sen, Fahasa, etc., to enhance sustainable‑development capacity.
+ Innovative teaching methods and experiential learning: UEH strengthens project‑based learning and real‑world experiences, enabling learners to apply knowledge in projects, research topics, or client‑driven assignments from companies, local authorities, or international organisations. This approach empowers learners, helping to shape a dynamic generation of global citizens capable of acting for sustainable development.
+ Extracurricular and experiential education: Hundreds of extracurricular activities, competitions, seminars and workshops are held each year on topics such as green economics, sustainable cities, environmental protection and the SDGs (e.g., STEM Mekong, ArtTech Fusion, Green Campus, Sustainable Startup). These activities develop students’ green‑action competencies and disseminate SDG values to the wider community.
+ Research on the 17 SDGs: UEH runs a Green Research Community programme for learners, encouraging students to research topics from the UEH Green Campus Living Lab and the 17 SDGs. In 2024, UEH produced nearly 100 student‑led studies on these topics, accompanied by a Green Research Community Newsletter that communicates academic outputs.
+ Sustainable career orientation: UEH transformed the “Admissions‑Career Guidance” model into “Sustainable Career Guidance,” helping learners choose professions that match their abilities, personal values and SDG goals. This model builds a learning community with a long‑term perspective and a focus on sustainable development.
With a comprehensive system of policies, programmes and activities, UEH has become one of the pioneering Vietnamese universities meeting international standards for SDG integration in education. These efforts underline UEH’s leading academic role in converting knowledge into sustainable‑development outcomes, while directly contributing to Vietnam’s goal of becoming a responsible, globally integrated developed nation.
Here are some results we have achieved.
| Activity | Target/ Partner | Activity description | Level | SDG contribution | Result |
| Green Research Program at UEH | Students, researchers, lecturers, businesses and the local community | Conducting research projects aimed at solving practical problems in the environment, sustainability and related fields, from everyday life to the global level.
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School | 17 | Promoting green solutions to address society’s environmental challenges and move towards sustainable development. |
| UEH College of Business (COB) Student Activities | International partner universities from Taiwan, Indonesia, Malaysia, Switzerland, New Zealand | Extracurricular/optional courses: International exchange activities are integrated with workshops on sustainable development training, combined with community activities
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Students/International | 4, 17 | Helping students develop holistically, raising awareness of social responsibility and sustainability to become global citizens |
| UEH College of Business Strategy for Disseminating Knowledge and Community Impact | Corporations, international organisations, governments and relevant stakeholders | Integrated throughout the curriculum / specialised programmes: Strengthening cooperation to organise seminars and forums on sustainable development and SDGs in the business sector; implement community‑awareness education projects; and expand free training courses.
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Global/Community | 4, 8, 17 | Disseminating sustainable knowledge, contributing to comprehensive development.
Contributing to UEH’s overall strategy to become an academically renowned and sustainable university in the Asian region. |
| Sustainable Entrepreneurship for Economic Development (SEED) 2024 Project | Students, businesses, society. Specifically:
Local officials of Vinh Long province; University of Applied Sciences and Arts of Northwestern Switzerland (FHNW), together with other international universities (Thailand, Australia, the US) and domestic institutions (BUH, USSH‑VNUHCM, FTU). |
The practical project focuses on sustainable entrepreneurship, economic development and technology application in agricultural areas. Students are equipped with knowledge on social entrepreneurship, business models and financial management.  |
International and regional | 1, 8, 9, 12, 17 | Enhancing students’ awareness of the state of the agricultural economy and urgent issues to be addressed; creating a foundation for sustainable entrepreneurship projects and generating long‑term positive impact
Fostering a global‑citizen perspective. |
| Short-Term Training Programme for Individuals/Businesses/Organizations | Businesses, individuals | Specialized courses / continuous training: courses (CEO, financial management, governance) help senior leaders/managers update their knowledge of emerging development trends, aiming toward sustainable development. | National and business | 4, 8, 12, 17 | Training a critical human‑resource pool for the economy, raising leadership capacity, and improving planning and policy‑implementation abilities to achieve sustainable development. |
| UEH Brand Merchandise Design Competition | Students, Canadian Wood, Upgreen Vietnam, and design/manufacturing experts. | Competition and a series of seminars/workshops (e.g., SEMINAR 05: Decoding Sustainable Materials) require designs to be linked to the sustainable‑development strategy and environmentally‑friendly criteria.
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National | 4, 9, 12 | Seeking creative design ideas that align with UEH’s Sustainable Development strategy. Participants receive training and a short‑term certificate in “Brand Commercial Design.” The initiative promotes the use of sustainable materials such as wood in design. |
| ArtTech Fusion 2024 (International Event Series) | Domestic and international students, artists, and 11 international partner universities from Asia, Europe and the US. | More than 30 seminars, exhibitions and performances on art‑technology topics linked to the SDGs.
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4, 9, 11, 17 | Promoting the creative and innovative potential of the younger generation toward building a sustainable society. Organising over 30 academic, exhibition and art activities. Publishing the international academic volume “Fusing Art and Technology: Co‑Creating Futures for New Generations.” | |
| Workshop Training on Circular Economy in the Southern Region | Enterprises, researchers. Specifically: Strategy and Policy Institute – Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment; Southeast and East Asian Economic Research Institute (EEPSEA) | Training workshop on knowledge and legislation for implementing a circular economy
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National/Southern region | 12, 13, 17 | Communicating and disseminating knowledge and laws on the circular economy, helping regulatory agencies identify priority action areas and develop appropriate strategies. Standardising the methods for measuring and evaluating the value of the circular economy. |
| Presentation at the Long Thanh International Airport Human Resources Conference | Provincial People’s Committee and Provincial People’s Council of Dong Nai, Department/Sector of Dong Nai Province, Vietnam Airports Corporation (Vietnam Airport Authority) | Policy advisory: Proposing five essential human‑resource training fields (logistics, tourism, development planning and smart urban planning, economic leadership/management, investment project valuation/appraisal) to support the sustainable economic development of the airport sector.
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Local/ Regional | 8, 9, 11, 17 | Promoting sustainable economic growth in Dong Nai. UEH commits to expanding cooperation in the development of specialised training programmes. |
| Workshop Bridging Horizons – English teaching | High school teachers | Community activity: Program equipping teachers with the latest teaching methods (including the use of technology, AI), to inspire and teach the next generations of students effectively
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Region | 4, 17 | Improving the quality of English teaching and learning. Training 176 participants. Continuing the mission of contributing to the sustainable development of a sustainable Mekong |
| STEM Mekong 2024 | Teachers, students of the Mekong Delta | Creating a playground to spark creativity, promote STEM education. STEM models embody a spirit of sustainable development.
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Mekong Delta region | 4, 9, 17 | Selecting promising STEM projects for incubation in the “Mekong Entrepreneurship Incubator”. The competition brings practical STEM models with a local context, embodying the spirit of sustainable development. |
| International Course on Environmental Valuation Using Discrete Choice Experiments (DCE) Method | International students, lecturers (Southeast Asian Environmental Economics Institute (EEPSEA), Environment for Development (EfD) Center in Vietnam, Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida), University of the Basque Country (Spain), Berlin School of Economics and Law (Germany), University of Alberta (Canada)) | Intensive course focused on environmental valuation and sustainable‑development strategy
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International / Southeast‑Asia region | 12, 13, 15, 17 | Equipping 30 participants from ASEAN countries with valuable tools and knowledge (Discrete Choice Experiment method), contributing to the promotion of research and sustainable development. Encouraging participants to develop research ideas. |
| National Seminar on Economics – Law – Management – Sustainable Development | Scientists, businesses, and government (Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment – Land Department, leaders of provincial departments and agencies in the Mekong Delta region, scientists and experts from universities) | Seminar focusing on the impact of law on sustainable development, land resource economics, and real‑estate business.
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National/Regional – Mekong Delta | 8, 11, 16 | A significant contribution to promoting sustainable development in Vietnam and the Mekong Delta region. The seminar serves as a forum for discussing the optimisation of land management, exploitation and use, meeting the requirements of industrialisation, modernisation, fairness and social stability, and adapting to climate change. |
| Podcast: A New Approach for Sustainable Universities | Students, lecturers | Podcast sharing sustainable education methods from the Times Higher Education (THE) Global Sustainable Development Conference.
Developing courses on sustainable‑development knowledge such as climate change, biodiversity, gender equality. Global |
Global | 3, 4, 5, 13, 17 | Equipping learners with comprehensive skills and knowledge for sustainable development. |
| CEO VRG 2024 Professional Development Programme | Vietnam Rubber Group (VRG) | The course is specially designed for senior executives, focusing on corporate governance.
Co‑developing short‑term training programmes that update knowledge for senior leaders and managers, aiming at a sustainable development strategy. |
Enterprise | 4, 8, 12 | Training senior personnel for the corporation, applying knowledge to leadership tasks.
Striving to meet high‑quality human‑resource needs in the public sector capable of implementing a robust socio‑economic development strategy. |
| UEH Green Campus – Green Partner: Spreading the Green University Model to Vietnam-German University (VGU) | Vietnam‑German University, students | Using the university campus as a Living Lab to test measures that influence students’ awareness and daily actions.
Transfering the specialised model: share and disseminate the Green University model to the community and other institutions. |
National | 4, 11, 12, 13, 17 | Implementing a multidisciplinary and sustainable strategy. Disseminating the Green University model. Focusing on waste‑management (Zero‑Waste Campus) and shifting learners’ perception from short‑term campaigns to sustained action. |
| Dong Nai Province Leadership Development Programme 2024 | Provincial People’s Committee of Dong Nai, the People’s Councils of districts/cities, and provincial departments/sectors of Dong Nai | Leadership‑development programme linked to the SDGs
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Local | 4, 8, 11, 16, 17 | Enhancing the capacity of leaders and managers to design and implement sustainable‑development policies related to green growth, innovation and digital transformation. |
| RTD – UEH GreenZone Exhibition: Green Space Blooming at UEH and Green Enterprises | Businesses, students (Asia Clean Capital Vietnam (ACCV), UPGREEN) | Project under UEH’s Sustainable Strategy; showcasing Green‑University guidelines; employing gamification in training students’ waste‑management competencies.
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Community | 4, 7, 12, 13 | Communicating positive environmental messages and the journey of building Green Citizens at UEH.
Providing students with a glimpse of future careers in the environment and sustainable development. |
| E-Commerce Training Course for Hoa Sen Group Leaders | Enterprise (Hoa Sen Group – HSG) | Specialised module (17.4.2) / training tailored to corporate needs: a short‑term course designed specifically to accompany enterprises in sustainable development.
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Enterprise | 4, 8, 9, 17 | Applying knowledge to leadership tasks within units. This represents a successful step for UEH in its journey of disseminating knowledge to the community and partnering with businesses for sustainable development. |
| Closing Ceremony of the 2024 Professional Development Programme for Officials with International Work Skills in Kien Giang Province | Organising Committee of Kien Giang Provincial People’s Committee, Kien Giang Provincial School of Politics, and Kien Giang provincial departments/sectors | 9 training topics on sustainable‑development policy planning, high‑quality ecotourism, marine‑island tourism, and high‑technology agriculture
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Local | 4, 8, 11, 16, 17 | A training programme that helps leaders and managers improve their competitiveness and promote sustainable development for the locality in the context of integration. The course is designed to align closely with the province’s socio‑economic development reality. |
| Short-Term Training Programmes for Individuals, Organizations and Businesses | Provincial People’s Committees, city and provincial People’s Councils, Ho Chi Minh City People’s Procuracy, the Health sector, the Vietnam General Confederation of Labour, Vietnam Electricity (EVN), Hoa Sen Group, OCB Bank, UOB, etc.
Training partners are renowned universities worldwide |
Certificate/credential courses focusing on fields such as management, strategy, economics, law, technology and design, meeting market‑trend knowledge requirements and aiming at sustainable‑development goals | National | 4, 8, 17 | Training a crucial workforce for the economy, enhancing leadership capacity, policy planning and administration to achieve sustainable‑development objectives in the context of global economic integration. |
| Department of Student Affairs Activities (UEH English Zone, UEH Experience, Career Fair) | 100 businesses participated in the Career Fair, high‑school students, and the community inside and outside UEH. | Organising programmes to nurture a lifelong‑learning spirit, improve English proficiency, and shape the image of confident, creative global learners. | Community/Local | 4, 8, 17 | Attracting thousands of participants, connecting school knowledge with professional practice. Building an open learning community. |
| UEH Global Learning Project: Short-Term Training on Digital Transformation, Innovation, STEM Knowledge and Sustainable Development | Provincial Departments, Bureaus, Sectors | Short‑term courses certified by UEH on sustainable development.
Creating a comprehensive educational development environment, establishing a useful playground (STEM).
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Region | 4, 9 | Creating a community that collectively raises knowledge on innovation, STEM and sustainable development. Attracting more than 7,000 students and parents preparing for high‑school graduation exams and career orientation. |
| EU4Sustainability Project (Funded by the European Union) | European Union (through Erasmus), partner universities and businesses | Specialised module/integrated in postgraduate programmes: compiled and taught 7 courses for undergraduate and graduate students on sustainable‑development topics.
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International | 4, 12, 17 | Providing in‑depth knowledge on Sustainable Development, the Sustainable Development Goals in the European programme, sustainable finance and investment, and the European Union Green Protocol. |
| Research/Knowledge Transfer Activities Linked with SDGs | State agencies, government, ministries and local authorities | Integrating research into training / specialised programmes: Nearly 50 % of UEH’s international publications are linked to the Sustainable Development Goals. There are 42 scientific research projects related to the SDGs. UEH has organised 22 international conferences and seminars connected to sustainable development. | Global | 1, 17 | Affirming the effort to increase academic reputation, disseminate and transfer knowledge to the community to address social challenges.
Contributing knowledge for the sustainable development of society through in‑depth conferences such as ICYREB 2023. |
| UEH Mekong Development Strategy: “For a Sustainable Mekong Delta” | Regulatory agencies, businesses, local community | Integrating into the full curriculum: Embedding international standards and incorporating global sustainability elements into teaching. A five‑pillar development strategy with the 5 Ps (People, Prosperity, Planet, Peace & Justice, Partnership) aimed at the SDGs.
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Regional | 4, 17 | Becoming a high‑quality knowledge hub, training human resources and applying knowledge to solve specific environmental and social issues, aiming for long‑term prosperity and sustainability for the region. |
Compared with 2023, the year 2024 marks a breakthrough development for the University of Economics Ho Chi Minh City (UEH) in integrating the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) into education. While 2023 only achieved partial integration in 56 programmes and a few courses such as Sustainable Development, in 2024 UEH implemented a comprehensive (full‑curriculum) integration of sustainability & SDGs for all students, including both compulsory and elective courses, applied at every level from undergraduate to postgraduate and short‑term training. The number of specialised programmes on sustainable development increased sharply, with more than 15 new subjects and postgraduate programmes such as ESG Finance, Green Innovation, and Circular Economy Management, clearly reflecting a focused and expanded orientation. The teaching methodology was also fully revamped, shifting from “learning through activities” to “learning through real‑world action” via project‑based learning, problem‑based learning and service‑learning, linked to nearly 100 extracurricular SDG‑related activities each year. Notably, UEH affirmed its pioneering position by making “Education” the central pillar of the UEH Sustainable Strategy, tightly connected to the other four pillars: Research, Governance, Operations, and Community. The university not only expanded the scale of programmes but also heightened its academic influence with hundreds of policy‑relevant research studies and numerous SDG training courses for businesses and local authorities.
Thus, in 2024 UEH transformed from “content integration” to a “system‑wide restructuring for sustainable development,” confirming its role as a leading university driving SDG education in Vietnam and contributing to the mission “A launchpad for a generation of global citizens – Creating sustainable development.”
Open related link:
1. UEH Green Researcher Community
https://gogreen.ueh.edu.vn/en/living-lab/ueh-green-researcher-community
2. UEH College of Business Journey to Improve Education and Training of High-Quality Human Resources in the Field of Business Research and Cooperation for Sustainable Goals
3. UEH College of Business Strategy for Disseminating Knowledge and Community Impact
4. Sustainable Entrepreneurship for Economic Development (SEED) 2024
https://ueh.edu.vn/en/news/sustainable-entrepreneurship-for-economic-development-seed-2024-72249
5. University of Economics Ho Chi Minh City (UEH) Launching Short-Term Training Courses for Individuals, Organizations and Businesses
6. University of Economics Ho Chi Minh City Launching the UEH Brand Merchandise Competition
7. The Return of the International Event Series ArtTech Fusion 2024 (ATF24): ArtTech – A New Fusion for the Future Generation for Sustainability
8. Workshop Training on Circular Economy in the Southern Region
https://ueh.edu.vn/en/news/training-workshop-on-the-circular-economy-for-the-southern-region-75213
9. UEH Attended and Presented at the Conference on Human Resources Training for Operating Long Thanh International Airport
10. UEH Organizing the Workshop “Bridging Horizons – Empowering English Language Teaching and Learning for Teachers of High Schools in the Me kong Delta Region”
11. University of Economics Ho Chi Minh City (UEH) Organizing a Training Course on STEM Teaching and Opening the Contest “The STEM UEH Mekong 2024”
12. A Memorial Summer School on Discrete Choice Experiments Organized at UEH
13. National Economics – Law – Management – Sustainable Development Seminar
14. Podcast: A New Approach for Sustainable Universities
15. Opening Ceremony of the 3rd Knowledge Supplement Course CEO VRG 2024 for Vietnam Rubber Group (VRG)
16. UEH Green Campus – Green Partner: Spreading the Green University Model to Vietnam-German University (VGU) – Green Inspiration
17. Opening Ceremony of the Fostering Course on Leadership and Management Capacity for Leaders and Managers of Dong Nai Province 2024
18. RTD Workshop – UEH GreenZone Exhibition: Green Space Blooming at UEH and Green Enterprises
19. Opening Ceremony of the Training Course on E-Commerce for Leaders of Hoa Sen Group
20. Closing Ceremony of the 2024 Fostering Program for Officials with Skills to Work in International Environments in Kien Giang Province
21.UEH English Zone, UEH Experience, Career Fair – Department of Student Affairs Activities
22. UEH Global Learning Project: Knowledge Transfer on Digital Transformation, Innovation, STEM Knowledge, and Sustainable Development
23. UEH Has Been Striving Towards Connecting the Community, Spreading Knowledge, Sustainable Actions (EU4Sustainability Project)
24. UEH Has Been Striving Towards Connecting the Community, Spreading Knowledge, Sustainable Actions (Research/Knowledge Transfer Activities Linked with SDGs)
25. UEH Mekong Development Strategy: “For a Sustainable Mekong Delta”
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