Regulations Of Green Campus Practices: UEHer Is Ready For Green Action

As one of the orientations of the UEH Multidisciplinary and Sustainable strategy, “From a Circular Campus to a Green University”, the UEH Green Campus project wishes to embark on solving environmental problems right at the campuses of the university. To build a clean and beautiful university campus and to aim to be “green” in a comprehensive way, in July 2023, University of Economics Ho Chi Minh City (UEH) officially issued the Regulation of Green Campus Practices for the entire campus of UEH and Vinh Long, encouraging officials, employees, learners and units relevant to practices today.

UEH – Pioneering changes in the journey to build a Green University

Green living is becoming a trend pursued by prestigious universities in the world: Harvard University, MIT, Cornell University, Stanford University, etc. This both helps protect the environment and motivates students – the young generation – that has a greener, healthier lifestyle, and good for the environment.

In Vietnam, UEH is the pioneer university in the Green Campus Practice and is gradually making efforts to lead and spread green living values to UEHers, the community, and the society. This is the first step to be preparing for the transformation of the whole society. To be more specific, from January 1, 2025, individuals, organizations, and households that do not classify domestic solid waste at their sources will be fined for administrative violations, according to information from the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment.

On the basis of reference and compliance with current domestic and international legal documents (United Nations Environment Program Green University Toolkit V2.0, Greening Universities Toolkit V2.0, UNEP), the relevant units, under the direction of the Board of Management, the Sustainable University Project Board and the advice of leading environmental experts, have completed and officially issued the Regulation on Green Campus Practices. The regulation has been implemented synchronously for all UEHers and related units at all campuses, dormitories of the University and Vinh Long Campus since August 2023.

Details of Regulations of Green Campus Practices can be found here

Regulations of Green Campus Practices: Small Actions – Big Meanings

This Regulation is issued for the purpose of building awareness and practices of Green Campus for officials, employees, and learners at UEH. Besides, developing a set of rules and regulations for Green Campus is an important content in the implementation of UEH University’s sustainable strategy.

This Regulation consists of 5 chapters, stating general information/basic concepts, specific regulations for the Green Campus Practice at UEH, regulations for each stakeholder, management mechanism, appointment of tasks, and organization. Specifically:

Chapter 1: Regulations on general information regarding purposes, basis of issuance, subjects, scope of application, and concepts of approaches to Green Campus

Thanks to the new modern and international approaches, the Regulations clearly state specific actions so that UEHer can: (i) Practice waste classification at source, (ii) Practice the 3R principle (Reduce, Reuse, Recycle), (iii) Green University principles. Special emphasis is placed on classifying waste at source at UEH Go Green Stations (garbage sorting stations, standardized trash bins) at campuses, forming green habits on campuses and in daily life.

Chapter 2: Detailed regulations on the UEH Green Campus Practices include 3 main parts:

Practice waste classification in accordance with Model 3 (Food scraps, recyclables, residual trash) or Model 7 (liquids, food scraps, metals, recycled plastics, paper, milk cartons, and remaining trash ) at UEH Go Green Stations located at UEH Campuses;

3R practices include Reduce, Reuse and Recycle;

Practice Green University principles are as follows: Dissecting and classifying garbage; Keeping the academic space and environment clean; Protecting and preserving facilities and equipment at UEH campus; Saving resources: Electric lights, air conditioners, water, office printing paper; Increasing trees at desks, offices, living rooms; Increasing physical activities and using stairs within facilities; Choosing and using public transportation, UEH Shuttle Bus.

Chapter 3: Regulations for related parties, specifically units under UEH, Member UEH Colleges, and Units under Vinh Long Campus; UEHer’s responsibilities; Units related to waste collection, classification and transportation; Units involved in procurement of goods and services; Goods and service providers (canteens, supermarkets, etc.); Event and festival organizers.

Chapter 4: Management of task appointment prescribed for the Department of Facilities, Vinh Long Campus; Department of Human Resources Management, Department of Marketing and Communication, Department of Student Affairs, Department of Inspectorate, Youth Union – Student Association to implement the contents of Green Campus Regulations

Chapter 5: Implementation includes sanctions and enforcement provisions related to the Regulations

Dr. Bui Quang Hung – Vice President of UEH – emphasized: “After the period of communication, education and raising awareness, the issuance of the Green University Practice Regulations is the next practical action of UEH to gradually change the behavior and habits of UEHers and related units. UEH Green Campus is a long-term project, “real people, real things”, not just a movement or communication activity. Since then, UEH hopes to contribute to changing the habits of the UEH community, towards a green and environmentally friendly lifestyle. Right at UEH University‘s campuses, UEHers is empowered and proactively finds solutions and hands-on practice to become a global citizen acting for sustainable development. Therefore, the University hopes that UEHers will join hands, act together, protect the environment, and spread a green lifestyle within the school, creating positive values for the environment and society.”

News, photos: UEH Department of Marketing and Communication