UEH in Mang Thit: Joining hands to innovate for the sustainable development of the entire Mekong Delta Region

Opting for a Multidisciplinary and Sustainable University strategy, besides Education and Research, University of Economics Ho Chi Minh City (UEH) aims to spread strongly at the local level the motto "Connecting communities to act for sustainable development". UEH's efforts in the Mekong Delta, in general, in recent times and the current meaningful project in Mang Thit District, Vinh Long Province are a typical example of this orientation.

The presence of UEH in the Mekong Delta

With the responsibility of a Key University in Vietnam, since its establishment in 1976 until its transformation into a Multidisciplinary and Sustainable University today, University of Economics Ho Chi Minh has always made strong efforts and commitments to contribute to the sustainable development of society and education. In particular, through the program "Community Connection - Spreading Knowledge - Sustainable Action" launched in 2020, UEH has joined with businesses and local authorities to create positive values in accordance with the message “Thinking globally, Acting locally", contributing to the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the United Nations.

Determining that participating in high-quality human resource training, expanding scientific research and consulting and criticizing policies contribute to the development of the Mekong Delta, which is a key task in the long-term development strategy and also an honorable responsibility, in 2019, UEH established a Campus in Vinh LongProvince - a place considered the focal point of the Mekong Delta region. Nearly 4 years after its establishment, UEH Vinh Long Campus has gradually affirmed UEH’s mission and brand, becoming a prestigious and quality training address, providing key human resources not only for the Mekong Delta Region but the whole country. To date, the Campus has been educating more than 7,500 students at all levels and modes. More than 10 regional and international workshops with meaningful research contributing to the development of the Mekong Delta have been organized listed as: the Sustainable Mekong Workshop Series (SM); the conference on The role of Science, Technology and innovation activities in economic growth in Vinh Long Province in the context of the 4.0 Revolution; Climate change adaptation policy in the Mekong Delta, etc. In addition, there are efforts to carry out community activities, including the UEH Global project to transfer the online learning system to the community for middle and high schools; Training and spreading knowledge regarding "Electronic Instructional Design", "STEM Teaching" for Lecturers - Teachers of more than 500 schools in Mekong Delta. Recently, UEH successfully organized a Summer Camp to connect local youth with the national and international youth community.

Many regional and international conferences with meaningful research contributing to the development of the Mekong Delta being organized by UEH.

Acting locally and joining hands to innovate Mang Thit for the sustainable development of the entire Region

* Sustainable development requiring synchronization

Mang Thit District is located in the East of Vinh Long Province and has a tropical monsoon climate, hot and humid all year round, with relatively high heat and abundant radiation. The economy is mainly agricultural, including multi-cropping, intensive cropping, ceramic and tile production. Under the impact of recent climate change, combined with the exploitation of water resources by countries upstream of the Mekong River, climate extremes and unusual developments in water levels on the Mekong River have increased, saltwater intrusion deepening into the mainland will cause a gradual decrease in favorable factors in terms of climate - weather, hydrological conditions - water resources and increase potential risks due to the impact of climate change in the coming decades. Therefore, the natural - economic - social barriers of Mang Thit in particular, and the Mekong Delta in general require the cooperation of the whole community to be partly resolved, aiming to bring about a stable life for the local people and the economy.

With the orientation of bringing global thinking and knowledge to action and solving local problems, UEH has made pioneering efforts to connect the community of businesses, organizations, students, alumni, etc. with the local area to act together to help Mang Thit increasingly improve challenges in the development process, towards a better life, leading to the contribution to the overall development of the Mekong Delta.

Accordingly, from June 30 to July 25, 2023, UEH and related parties implemented: (i) upgrading and building infrastructure projects in 7 communes of Mang Thit District; (ii) spreading innovative knowledge to localities; and (iii) implementing environmental projects with a total estimated cost of nearly 2.31 billion VND. Funds are donated by UEH's budget sources, businesses and counterpart capital from local authorities.

Groundbreaking ceremony of Dal Road in Hoa My 2 supported by UEH and reciprocated by the Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee of Mang Thit on September 7, 2023

*Comprehensive infrastructure upgrade in Mang Thit district

Significant infrastructure projects have been implemented in the recent time as follows:

- Constructing roads in Mang Thit District (reinforced concrete roads) at My An Commune with a length of 1,280m; Binh Phuoc Commune with a length of 1333m; Hoa Tinh Commune with a length of 1,500m; Nhon Phu Commune with a length of 300m; My Phuoc Commune with a length of 200m.

- Implementing "Reinforcing the roads in Vam Lich" in Chanh An Commune - UEH provides human resources to overcome the consequences of landslides in 07 Communes.

- Building 01 bridge between Hoa Tinh - My An Communes to serve traffic.

- Implementing youth projects "Lighting up the countryside" at Tan An Hoi Commune with a length of 1,000m; Chanh An Commune with a length of 1600m; Binh Phuoc Commune is 1,300m long.

- Carrying out roof construction projects in Tan An Hoi Commune and Hoa Tinh Commune.

- Funding to build 01 gratitude house after storms for 1 household in Nhon Phu Commune.

- Implementing the project of upgrading sidewalks in Tan An Hoi Commune.

- Implementing a mini soccer field project in Binh Phuoc Commune.

Inauguration ceremony of "Dal road construction project" at Hoa My 2, My An Commune, Mang Thit District, Vinh Long

Inauguration ceremony of "Dal road construction project" at Phuoc Chi and Phuoc Tuong, Binh Phuoc commune

Inauguration ceremony of the "Rural Route" project at Phu Thanh C, Nhon Phu Commune, Mang Thit District, Vinh Long

Inauguration ceremony of the project "Hoa Tinh - My An inter-commune bridge" at Binh Hoa 1, Hoa Tinh, Mang Thit, Vinh Long with the presence of UEH representatives, local leaders and Nhan Kiet Human Resources Supply Co., Ltd.

Groundbreaking ceremony of the project "Reinforcing the roads in Vam Lich" in Chanh An Commune

Inauguration ceremony of the youth project "Lighting up the countryside" in Tan An Hoi Commune

Inauguration ceremony of the youth project Rural Route

Human Resources supporting to overcome landslide consequences in 07 communes

*Spreading "Innovation" knowledge to localities

In addition to actively improving facilities, within the framework of the Project, knowledge spreading activities also take place with the topics "for the environment", "digital transformation", "social security", and culture, arts and sports exchange, awarding scholarships to disadvantaged children, organizing summer review classes and summer activities serving and improving the spiritual life of local children. Specifically:

- The theme "Volunteering for the environment" with 9 activities attracted 690 children to participate in performances, plays, especially booths and games to educate children about protecting the environment, instruct children how to classify waste and to keep their living area clean, limiting waste.

- The theme "Volunteer to participate in digital transformation" with 12 activities on computer skills classes for high-school students, instructing them on tools listed as Google Sheet, Google Docx, Google Drive, etc., creating conditions for students to practice and quickly become familiar with utilities so they can apply them to work and daily life. These activities attracted 262 children.

- The theme "Volunteer to commemorate the ancestors, participate in ensuring social security" with 11 meaningful activities listed as visiting and giving gifts to policy families in 7 communes in Mang Thit District; activities as visiting and commemorating at Martyrs' Cemeteries in each commune, etc., taking care of 61 policy families.

- The training session with the topic "Innovative thinking - Entrepreneurship for the youth generation" provided the most basic and practical knowledge on the topic of entrepreneurship for 35 young participants, leading to the creation of a foundation for startups to develop.

- Organizing review classes, summer activities, and soft skills guidance for children in 7 Communes of Mang Thit District with more than 50 sessions.

- Awarding a total of 115 scholarships to local children with difficult circumstances.

The festival "Volunteering for the environment - Children and the environment" held on July 9

Opening summer review classes for students at Nhon Phu A Primary School

* Accompanying local environmental issues

Aiming to raise the local people' awareness of the urgency of environmental issues for sustainable development, within the framework of the Campaign, 03 plastic waste prevention projects have been implemented in Mang Thit, at the same time, supporting human resources to clear, to clean and to take care of 63,300m long flower routes throughout 07 stationed communes.

Projects performed for the local environment

It can be affirmed that the projects and activities that UEH built in Mang Thit have brought extremely practical values in innovating and upgrading local infrastructure, helping to link regions together for more convenient transportation, improving economic efficiency, minimizing accident risks and supporting the improvement of quality of life and education for local people. UEH's efforts in Mang Thit District in particular and the Mekong Delta, in general, will be a typical example of attracting investment of resources in the cause of innovation, building the homeland and the country through programs connecting stakeholders from businesses - schools - localities listed as "Connecting the community - Spreading knowledge - Sustainable action" that UEH is implementing.

“We believe that more than anything else, Universities will be a suitable central factor to connect relevant parties in society to jointly solve specific problems that continuously arise in the local development process. Mang Thit District in particular or the Mekong Delta is one of the pioneering efforts of this direction, with the expectation that it will spread and connect more communities with the same ideals, which is action for a sustainable future", Prof.Dr. Nguyen Dong Phong - Chairman of UEH Council confirmed.

Prof.Dr. Nguyen Dong Phong - Chairman of UEH Council - emphasizing the concept of sustainable development for the community that the University always pursues.

Additional images of meaningful activities that UEH has been carrying out in Mang Thit District: