UEH held a Closing Ceremony of the Student Exchange Program of Economics Institutions “MEKONG SUMMER CAMP 2023” and awarded the program “UEH BIZTECH HACKATHON 2023”

On the morning of July 25, 2023, University of Economics Ho Chi Minh City (UEH) held the Closing Ceremony of the Student Exchange Program of Economics Institutions - Mekong Summer Camp 2023 and Awarding of the UEH Biztech Hackathon 2023 at UEH Vinh Long Campus. The program “UEH SUMMER CAMP 2023” started on June 26, 2023, to July 25, 2023, with the theme “Global mind, local life”.

Attending the Closing Ceremony, on the side of UEH, was Prof. Dr. Nguyen Dong Phong - Secretary of the Party Committee, Chairman of the University Council; Prof. Dr. Su Dinh Thanh - President; Assoc.Prof.Dr. Phan Thi Bich Nguyet - Chairman of the Advisory Council; Dr. Bui Quang Hung - Vice President cum Director of Vinh Long Campus; Assoc.Prof.Dr. Nguyen Khac Quoc Bao - Vice President; Assoc.Prof.Dr. Bui Thanh Trang - Head of UEH College of Business; Assoc.Prof.Dr. Trinh Thuy Anh - Vice Head of UEH College of Technology and Design; Dr. Nguyen Thi Hong Thu - Dean of School of International Business and Marketing UEH College of Business; MSc. Le Dong Du - Deputy Chief of UEH Office, along with lecturers in the Board of Directors and Leaders of the Schools, Departments and Centers at Vinh Long Campus, especially the participation of 200 students of Mekong Summer Camp, Hackathon and Vinh Long Campus.

On the UEH side, there was the attendance of Assoc.Prof.Dr. Bui Huy Nhuong - Vice President of National Economics University; Assoc.Prof.Dr. Truong Thi Thuy - Deputy Director of Academy of Finance and Dr. Nguyen Thi Hong Van - Deputy Head of Department of International Cooperation, Academy of Finance; Assoc. Prof. Dr. Phan Thanh Hoan - Head of Training Department, University of Economics, Hue University; Dr. Vo Hong Tam - Deputy Head of Training Department, University of Economics, University of Danang; Dr. Tran Manh Ha - Head of Department of Training Management, Banking Academy; MSc. Do Quoc Viet - Director of Center for Employment and Entrepreneurship, Nha Trang University.

Overview of the closing ceremony

Speaking at the closing ceremony of the program, Prof. Dr. Nguyen Dong Phong - Secretary of the Party Committee, Chairman of the UEH Council, thanked the Leaders and lecturers of the Institutions and Academies for taking the time to attend the closing ceremony of the Summer Camp Program in 2023. The professor also expressed his pleasure to be the first unit to implement the student exchange program between the universities. He believes that up to that time, the student exchange program had achieved respectable results and created momentum for activities in the following years. He congratulated the students of the schools and academies who had completed each training and inherited benefits from the program, such as knowledge, skills, and access to regional culture. He believes the students would accumulate knowledge and skills useful for their future career path through the study period and the exciting experiences they learned during the summer at the University of Economics Ho Chi Minh City - Vinh Long Campus.

Prof. Dr. Nguyen Dong Phong - Secretary of the Party Committee, Chairman of the UEH Council delivered at the Closing Ceremony of the Student Exchange Program "MEKONG SUMMER CAMP 2023"

Following the program, Dr. Bui Quang Hung – Vice President of UEH, gave an overview of the results of Summer Camp and UEH Biztech Hackathon 2023. “The program includes activities that UEH thoughtfully organized and achieved according to the plan. Accordingly, two modules (in English) of Logistics & Supply Chain Management have 100% of students achieved excellent results. For the UEH Biztech Hackathon, there are 13 teams, 20 hours of training with 7 workshops from domestic and foreign experts, 01 office hour session – exchanging with experts, 52 mentoring sessions with a team of 12 experts in entrepreneurship, innovation, technology, and agriculture. This program is a practical innovation activity that helps students from 10 schools and international exchange students learn new technology and innovation and identify problems in the field of Agriculture in the Mekong Delta, thereby proposing innovative and highly applicable ideas, contributing to the value chain of Vietnam's agriculture. Participating in the series of Mekong Summer Camp 2023 programs, students also participate in a day as a volunteer in Mang Thit district, Vinh Long province, and exchange activities of the Arts and Sports Club, English Club, International Business and Marketing Research Club. In addition, students can visit historical sites and experience the Mekong Field Trip to understand more about the Southwest region's culture, people, and local cuisine.

Dr. Bui Quang Hung – Vice President of UEH cum Director of Vinh Long Branch reported the results of the Summer Camp 2023 Program

At the Closing Ceremony, Assoc.Prof.Dr. Bui Huy Nhuong - Vice President of National Economics University said that the report on the program results and the students' excitement proved that the Mekong Summer Camp 2023 program was a great success. Assoc.Prof.Dr. Bui Huy Nhuong, on behalf of the schools, thanked University of Economics Ho Chi Minh City for pioneering the organization of a student exchange program to create opportunities for students of universities and facilitate them to fully absorb the three goals of the program: knowledge, simulation, and skills. This was the best opportunity for students to fully experience soft skills, teamwork, communication skills, etc. Through the program, they had more capacity and knowledge to apply well. He thought this program was a valuable opportunity for the children. Assoc.Prof.Dr. Bui Huy Nhuong also informed that National Economics University would be the host next year, so it would have more experience from the first organizer to organize on a larger scale and more advantages. He hoped that Mekong Summer Camp 2023 would spread the exchange of students among 10 economic universities in the country.

Assoc.Prof.Dr. Bui Huy Nhuong - Vice President of National Economics University gave a speech

On behalf of the students of the Summer Camp 2023 Program, Nguyen Pham Hai Dang - National Economics University shared in the ceremony: "When participating in two main courses, Logistics & Supply Chain Management and International Business Project Simulation, we gained a lot of useful knowledge, consolidated and developed more base knowledge that helps us in our future career path. We both learned how to link previously gained knowledge and new knowledge. Although we had to study in a short time with an extremely large amount of knowledge, thanks to the support and enthusiastic guidance of teachers during the courses, we have fully absorbed the specialized knowledge and applied the value of the subject maximally into practice”. Participating in the Biztech Hackathon, Hai Dang considered it a rare and memorable experience. “The 28-hour Hackathon helps us practice teamwork, cohesion and teambuilding spirit to strive towards results with the highest practical value. The program has allowed us to work together and compete with students nationally and internationally.” Hai Dang also confided: “In a month of participating in the program, we have been allowed to participate in many experiential and extra-curricular activities such as participating in the Economic Student Volunteer Campaign, participating in seminars and workshops of the Foreign Language Club, Marketing and International Business Research Club, participating in cultural and sports exchanges, in addition, we can visit historical sites, explore and learn about culture, people and enjoy local cuisine in the Southwest region. All of these are imprints and memories that will forever remain in our memories today and forever.” Before concluding the speech, he also sent a message to the students: “Just a month ago, when we just stepped into the gate of the University of Economics Ho Chi Minh City - Vinh Long Campus, we were still strangers who had never met. Today, after a month of studying, living together, laughing together, and crying together, we become close friends who can't bear to leave. Only tomorrow, we will part; we are always proud and always remember a special summer in our youth; we were here and loved each other like a family".

Nguyen Pham Hai Dang - National Economics University shared his sentiments

At the end of the sharing, the students, on behalf of the Mekong Summer Camp program participants, deeply thanked the University of Economics Ho Chi Minh City teachers for teaching and supporting them and gave flowers as a substitute for their gratitude and farewell greetings.

Ms. Nguyen Thi Thy Lieu - Standing Deputy Director of UEH Vinh Long Campus, on behalf of UEH teachers, received fresh flowers from students of the Summer Camp 2023 Program to express her gratitude to the teachers organizing the program.

At the closing ceremony, the President of UEH signed the Decision to reward the students with the most outstanding and positive achievements during the Mekong Summer Camp 2023 journey.

Prof. Dr. Nguyen Dong Phong - Secretary of the Party Committee, Chairman of the UEH Council, presented certificates of merit and awards to students with outstanding achievements in the Mekong Summer Camp 2023 program

Following the closing program is the awarding of the UEH Biztech Hackathon 2023 program, within the framework of Summer Camp 2023. The activity was an opportunity for students to experience creative and inspirational presentations. It was also an opportunity for students to grasp the latest solutions and promote the development of Vietnam's agricultural industry. Among the total 13 participating teams, there were 4 best teams, winning prizes of the program, the first prize winning team received 25,000,000 VND, the second winning team received 5,000,000 VND and 02 third prize winning team. Each team received a prize of 2,500,000 VND. In addition, the competing teams and the final Top 4 will receive the support of the UII Institute of Innovation to continue to perfect and develop ideas within the framework of the Incubation Program at UII.

Prof. Dr. Su Dinh Thanh – President of UEH awarded the first prize to the winning team

Assoc.Prof.Dr. Phan Thi Bich Nguyet - Chairwoman of the UEH Advisory Council, Director of the Institute of Innovation and Assoc.Prof.Dr. Truong Thi Thuy - Deputy Director of the Academy of Finance awarded the second prize to the team that won the second prize

Assoc.Prof.Dr. Nguyen Khac Quoc Bao - Vice President of UEH and Assoc. Bui Huy Nhuong - NEU Vice President, presented prizes to the team that won the third prize

At the Biztech Hackathon 2023, Lu Shaoqin, a student of Computer Science, the National University of Singapore (NUS) shared: “The UEH BizTech Hackathon brought wonderful experiences in technology and innovative advancements in the field of agriculture. I had the opportunity to participate in 7 useful workshops conducted by experienced speakers, along with 28 hours of Hackathon implementation. Lu Shaoqin thanks the organizers for creating a meaningful platform and providing many benefits. Thank you to all the organizers for giving us such a valuable opportunity.”

Lu Shaoqin from National University of Singapore shared at the program

The Mekong Summer Camp 2023 is an important event, the first time that economic schools across the country have coordinated to organize at the University of Economics Ho Chi Minh City - Vinh Long Campus. The program has brought a meaningful summer experience to the students of Summer Camp 2023 and UEH Bitech Hackathon.

Prof. Dr. Su Dinh Thanh – President of UEH presented flowers to Assoc.Prof.Dr. Bui Huy Nhuong – Vice President of National Economics University was the host organizing the Student Exchange Program in 2024