A Journey, 6 Awards - 20 UEH Representatives Excel in Connecting Heritage and Urbanism towards Sustainability

From April 19th to April 24th, 2024, 20 students along with 5 professors from the Architectural and Urban Design inclusive Smart City Program represented the University of Economics Ho Chi Minh City (UEH) at the 14th National Architecture Student Festival in Hue City. Besides honing skills and knowledge, the journey 'Youth with Heritage' in Hue also served as a platform for exchange and connection among architecture students from various institutions.

Organized biennially, the National Architecture Student Festival is an event for the architecture student community and related fields, organized by the Vietnam Architects Association. As a professional event, it encompasses competitions related to architectural and urban design, graphic design, sketching, and photography. Additionally, the program includes team-building activities, cultural performances, seminars, and discussions relevant to the discipline. This year, under the theme 'Hue - Youth with Heritage', the activities aimed to promote and preserve the traditional beauty and heritage of the ancient capital of Hue.

Participating for the first time in the National Architecture Student Festival, students from the 47th, 48th, and 49th batches of the Architectural and Urban Design inclusive Smart City Program under the Institute of Smart City and Management (UEH - ISCM) achieved significant milestones, marking their presence on the national architecture student festival map. Aligned with the goal of 'connecting heritage and urbanism towards sustainability', ISCM students actively engaged, showcasing their creative prowess and modern perspectives to the beautiful and ancient city of Hue. Moreover, the trip fostered strong bonds not only among UEH - ISCM students and the local community but also among students across different cohorts.

Demonstrating creative prowess for success

Confident, innovative, and dedicated students from the Architectural and Urban Design inclusive Smart City Program seized the opportunity to collaborate and compete with students from over 29 universities nationwide and abroad. With a mindset rooted in practicality, sustainability, and continuous innovation, they shone brightly at the National Architecture Student Festival, securing 6 awards across different categories.

Specifically, in the Graphic Design category themed 'Hue Heritage and Tourism', Tran Dao Son Truc and Nguyen Ha Giang, two students from the 48 batch of the BAUD program, excellently achieved the third prize. Similarly, in the Fast Design category A themed 'Public Utilities Integrated with Heritage Landscape', the project 'Di qua bon mua - Passing through Four Seasons' by Group 5, with the participation of Nguyen Ngoc Quoc An - a student from K48, splendidly secured the third prize overall.

Additionally, in the Fast Design category A, Nguyen Thi Thu Huong (from Group 08 with the project 'Giao Hoa - Harmony') and Tran Minh Quan (from Group 14 with the project 'Long An Van - Hidden Dragon in the Clouds') achieved second place in the category. Nguyen Thi Thu Huong also excellently won the First Prize in the Comprehensive Design group of the entire program. Furthermore, groups mentored by UEH - ISCM faculty members also garnered awards in various categories.

Community integration with local residents

Throughout the journey of connecting heritage and urbanism towards sustainability in Hue, the UEH students had many discoveries and experiences alongside their peers from other architectural institutions locally and internationally. Through team-building activities and cultural performances, students had the opportunity to meet and connect with each other. The 5-day journey not only provided memorable moments at the traditional student architecture festival but also offered new perspectives and knowledge through random grouping in the Fast Design categories A and B.

Moreover, during the more than 8-day journey, students from 3 cohorts of the Architecture and Urban Design Program for Smart Cities journeyed together, overcoming challenges, especially exploring over 5 special locations not only in Hue City but also in Quy Nhon and Tuy Hoa (Phu Yen). Engaging in various connectivity-oriented activities, the UEH students learned, played, and 'paved the way' together, creating the first impressions of the University of Economics Ho Chi Minh City at the traditional national architecture student festival, showcasing the vigor and forward-thinking mindset towards smart and sustainable urbanism.

These special connections among students are one of the specific goals that the Institute of Smart Cities and Management and the University of Economics Ho Chi Minh City continuously foster. This forms the foundation of a creative and sustainable community for the future.

The journey of connecting heritage and urbanism towards sustainability has officially concluded, leaving much anticipation for the next journey at the 15th National Architecture Student Festival. Stay tuned with ISCM to await the next special moments on the #ShapingtheUnknownFuture journey ahead.

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