11.4.4. Affordable housing for employees

11.4.4. Affordable Housing for Employees

UEH Implements Housing and Accommodation Support Policies for Faculty, Staff, and Employees

The University of Economics Ho Chi Minh City (UEH) is committed to fostering a stable, supportive, and sustainable working environment through welfare policies for faculty members, administrative staff, experts, and employees. Among these policies, facilitating access to reasonably priced accommodation is especially important for employees relocating from other provinces or undertaking teaching and research assignments at UEH campuses.

UEH provides several forms of housing and accommodation support, including direct provision of accommodation in dormitories for faculty and staff; a housing rental allowance of VND 1,500,000 per eligible employee per month; and free or discounted accommodation through UEH Hotel and UEH Mekong Hotel.

These measures help reduce housing-related financial pressures, enabling employees to settle into their living arrangements and concentrate on teaching, research, administration, and community service.

1. UEH Directly Provides Housing for Faculty and Staff at UEH Mekong

At the UEH Vinh Long Branch (UEH Mekong), the university provides dormitory accommodation for faculty and staff, meeting the accommodation needs of employees working at the branch.

The dormitory offers facilities for daily living, rest, study, and research. Accommodation close to teaching and work facilities makes daily routines more convenient and reduces commuting time and costs.

This represents direct housing assistance through accommodation arranged by UEH, rather than financial support alone or referrals to external rental services.

The policy is particularly valuable for faculty and staff moving to the branch from other provinces, easing the challenge of finding accommodation and helping them settle into their roles.

UEH Mekong Dormitory – accommodation for faculty and staff.

2. Rental Housing Assistance for Employees Living Outside the Dormitory

In addition to directly providing accommodation, UEH offers rental housing assistance to eligible staff members who need to live outside the dormitory.

According to the housing policy information published by UEH, the rental housing allowance is VND 1,500,000 per eligible employee per month . This policy gives employees an additional option when they do not use dormitory accommodation and helps reduce their out-of-pocket rental expenses.

Combining direct accommodation provision with rental assistance demonstrates UEH’s flexible approach to employees’ housing needs. The allowance of VND 1,500,000 per person per month is a form of direct financial assistance specifically tied to housing costs, rather than a general allowance or benefit unrelated to accommodation.

3. UEH Hotel – Accommodation Support for Faculty, Experts, and Employees on Official Assignments

Alongside housing support at UEH Mekong, the university has developed UEH Hotel to accommodate lecturers, researchers, experts, and domestic and international delegations carrying out professional assignments at UEH. UEH Hotel provides convenient access to academic facilities, libraries, self-study areas, conference rooms, and research spaces, allowing guests to combine their stay with professional, teaching, and research activities.

The accommodation support arrangements described by UEH include:

• 100% coverage of accommodation and associated amenities for international experts, guest speakers, and researchers collaborating with UEH under applicable programmes.
• Full coverage (100%) of accommodation costs for staff, lecturers, and delegations from UEH branches undertaking assignments in Ho Chi Minh City.
• A 20% discount on accommodation for UEH students, staff, employees, and their family members, subject to the facility’s preferential policy.

These arrangements help reduce the costs incurred during professional assignments, particularly for employees travelling between campuses or working temporarily in Ho Chi Minh City.

Unlike dormitory accommodation and rental housing assistance, UEH Hotel primarily serves short-term accommodation needs during official assignments. It therefore provides an additional employee welfare measure rather than replacing long-term housing policies.

Exterior view of UEH Hotel

The hotel staff

4. UEH Mekong Hotel – Accommodation Cost Support for Employees and Delegations in Vinh Long

In the Mekong Delta region, UEH has developed UEH Mekong Hotel to accommodate experts, partners, lecturers, and delegations visiting the UEH Vinh Long Branch for professional assignments.

The facility provides guest rooms, communal areas, and meeting rooms, supporting stays combined with professional activities.

According to the preferential arrangements described by UEH, UEH Mekong Hotel offers:

• Accommodation discounts ranging from 20% to 100%, depending on the duration and purpose of the assignment, for staff and students from other UEH campuses.
• Discounts of up to 40% for parents accompanying students during enrollment procedures.
• A 20% discount for UEH community members and their relatives during their stay.

Like UEH Hotel, UEH Mekong Hotel primarily meets accommodation needs during official assignments and serves as a supplementary measure alongside housing provision and rental support.

UEH Mekong Hotel, featuring green surroundings and fully equipped guest rooms and meeting facilities

UEH Mekong Hotel offers green surroundings, guest rooms, and meeting facilities.

5. Combining Support Measures to Reduce Employees’ Housing Costs

UEH implements several forms of assistance to address the different needs of employee groups.

Of these measures, the dormitory accommodation provided for faculty and staff and the rental housing allowance are the two measures most directly related to providing affordable housing for employees.

Preferential accommodation programmes at UEH Hotel and UEH Mekong Hotel provide additional access to lower-cost lodging during professional assignments.

Together, these support measures give employees more accommodation options and help reduce some of the living costs associated with their work.

6. Policy Continuity and the Scope of Evidence for 2025

The housing and accommodation assistance arrangements published by UEH reflect its commitment to maintaining housing-related benefits for lecturers, staff, and employees.

For the assessment year 2025, the details requiring confirmation through the university’s implementation records include whether the policies remained in effect, the number of employees housed in dormitories, the number receiving rental assistance, and the accommodation subsidies provided during the year.

The currently available information describes the forms of support announced by UEH but is insufficient to establish the number of beneficiaries or the total expenditure specifically for 2025. Therefore, this article does not present the policies as quantified 2025 outcomes without corresponding data.

Publishing annual implementation information would help demonstrate policy continuity and actual support outcomes while facilitating assessment against THE Sustainability Impact Ratings evidence requirements.

Conclusion

Through dormitory accommodation, rental housing allowances, and preferential lodging services, UEH seeks to alleviate housing-related costs for faculty, staff, and employees, particularly those travelling from other provinces for work.

The direct provision of accommodation at UEH Mekong and financial assistance for rental housing are measures aligned with SDG 11.4.4 – Affordable Housing for Employees.

These policies also contribute to employee welfare, job stability, and a green, smart, and inclusive university working environment, supporting SDG 8 – Decent Work and Economic Growth.

UEH continues to pursue a sustainable working environment in which employees’ living conditions and housing needs are addressed as part of its long-term human resource development strategy.