“UEH Zero Waste Campus” Project – Looking back at the pioneering journey in green and sustainable lifestyle at UEH in 2021

With the goal of orientating to a Multidisciplinary and Sustainable University in the period of 2021-2030, University of Economics Ho Chi Minh City (UEH) cooperates with partners to implement the UEH Zero Waste Campus Project. The main target of the project is to apply the 3R Model, to educate knowledge, to raise awareness of UEHers with ‘Rethink and Be Green’ message; concurrently, to connect the community, to spread knowledge, and to look forward to the future of developing towards a Multidisciplinary and Sustainable University. In 2021, this Project created platforms and deployed many activities to impart knowledge, spreading green living values and the ‘Rethink & Be Green’ message to UEHers, the community, and society.

One of the main goals of the Living Lab project “UEH – Zero Waste Campus” is to be aware of how to properly classify waste at source and apply 3R model (Reduce – Reuse – Recycle) in sustainable waste management, bringing back the learning environment and a greener and cleaner life. In addition to the companionship of Artist Trong Hieu, the project made a mark of success when it became the champion of the international competition “Thử Thách Thành Phố Không Rác thải” (Challenge of a Zero Waste City) organized by NGO Waste Aid and many other international sponsorship organizations, with a 10,000 euros prize and 06 months of professional advice from the world council of experts on the environment and circular economy. With what the project has been bringing, UEH believes that ‘Rethink and Be Green’ message will have a great influence not only on UEHers but also a positive impact on the community and young people in the society.

Looking back at the pioneering journey in green and sustainable lifestyle at UEH in 2021

In 2021, the project has completed the ‘foundation’ with typical products: the “Me - a Green UEHer Citizen” handbook, the design of the zero-waste UEH University platform that integrates a smart education platform UEH Zero Waste Platform (UEHZW), initially implementing the following activities:

Developing regulations/processes for sustainable waste management: UEH has step by step reviewed the current Waste Classification and Management Regulations of Vietnam and the City and discussed the introduction of University Regulations on zero-waste;

Improving the trash bin system: Reviewing the trash bin system at UEH, changing the identifier, guiding garbage classification as well as integrating the ‘way finding’ system showing the location of trash bins at UEH Campuses;

Knowledge education, awareness raising, behavior changes towards a green UEH community: catching up with the trend of digital communication, UEH has launched the Podcast series “Rethink and Be Green” at Spotify application with a series of articles, videos spreading knowledge regarding “Zero-waste practice”, waste separation at source and multi-channel 3R model. Besides, UEH cooperated with Tipsy Art, Recycle One and Fablab to successfully organize the Creation+ workshop with the following topics: Painting garbage-sorting pictures, Recycling paper boxes from flash sale days. In particular, Living Lab UEH Zero Waste Campus is an attractive topic in the 2021 UEH Cultural Communication Ambassador Contest.

Producing communication products acting for the future of developing sustainably: Apart from the companionship of Singer Trong Hieu, the project received many comments from experts and developers in the field of environment and society with positive feedback from students of various schools during the Orientation Week. The Story of Waste Creation Contest organized by UEH Youth Union - Student engaged a huge number of students to join, those stories were told through mischievous descriptions, investment products, and the contents focused strongly on the current issues of Waste. In addition, the “Zero Waste, Hero You” Communication Campaign, officially launched on December 20th, 2021, is a campaign providing all UEH students as well as the young generation with knowledge about a green and zero-waste lifestyle through “challenges” for them to express their personal views, therefore, contributing to raising awareness and action of the community. Thanks to that, it should be stated that communication activities and products are always carefully developed by UEH, conveying ‘Rethink and Be Green’ message in the most profound way.

In 2022, UEH will continue to deploy groups of activities - solutions towards a Sustainable University listed as UEH Living Lab, UEH Zero Waste Station Model - Classifying waste at source and promoting mutual communication for UEHer and Young people to join hands to actively spread and practice the “green and zero-waste lifestyle” not only within UEH.

Dr. Bui Quang Hung – Vice President of UEH emphasized: “With the message “Rethink – Be Green”, UEH does hope to bring not only the best learning environment but also a place to give opportunities for students to become global citizens acting for sustainable development. Therefore, spreading the green lifestyle to other schools in Ho Chi Minh City in particular and Vietnam in general, positively impacting the economy, environment, and society”.

News, photos: Department of Marketing and Communication.