[Final Round of the Gen Z & ESG: Promoting Sustainable Development 2026 Competition] The Rise of the Young Generation in Building a Sustainable Future

18 May, 2026

On May 17, 2026, the inspiring journey of the Gen Z & ESG: Promoting Sustainable Development 2026 (ZESG 2026) competition, organized by the Sustainable Finance Institute (SFI) under the University of Economics Ho Chi Minh City (UEH), officially came to a close. The Final round was a resounding success, leaving many deep impressions and affirming the role of the younger generation in implementing ESG values.

Overview of the ZESG 2026 Final Round

Powerful attraction with record-breaking scale

ZESG 2026 demonstrated the strong appeal of the ESG (Environmental - Social - Governance) wave among students in Ho Chi Minh City. This year's competition recorded a record-breaking number with 555 teams, bringing together 2,296 outstanding students from 40 universities in Ho Chi Minh City. This is not only an academic playground but also a place to strongly disseminate the spirit of sustainable development within the Gen Z community.

At the Final event, the University of Economics Ho Chi Minh City (UEH) was honored to welcome Assoc. Prof. Dr. Bui Quang Hung - UEH President; Assoc. Prof. Dr. Bui Thi Mai Hoai - Director of the Sustainable Finance Institute (SFI); along with distinguished lecturers who are leaders of member schools and various units under UEH.

On the side of Partners and Sponsors, there were representatives from units that accompanied the competition, such as Tan Cang - Cai Mep (TCIT), Bureau Veritas, the Institute of Singapore Chartered Accountants (ISCA), DUYTAN Group, Trung Quy Textile and Garment, Yusen Logistics, and Cleantech.

Some sponsors who also served as members of the Competition's Jury

In her opening speech for the ZESG 2026 Final Round, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Bui Thi Mai Hoai stated that the competition is part of the Sustainable Finance Institute's long-term strategy for training, aimed at connecting theory and practice, and promoting the sustainable development ecosystem in Vietnam - particularly enhancing ESG capacity for the younger generation and the business community. From the outset, the Sustainable Finance Institute determined that this is not just a movement-based playground, but a highly professional competition - where students systematically approach ESG and sustainable development issues, linking theory with the practical context of businesses. As a result, the competition attracted significant interest from the student community and sponsors.

A highlight of the competition was the systematic training series delivered by leading ESG lecturers from the Sustainable Finance Institute and partner BV. Concurrently, each team received professional mentoring from a mentor who is a current student or alumnus of the Institute's Master's program in Sustainable Business and Environmental Management. These mentors are also managers and ESG experts working at leading enterprises in Vietnam. They directly accompanied, advised, and inspired the competing teams throughout the journey. After the training and mentoring series, the teams showed marked improvement in both knowledge and thinking as well as problem-solving skills. As a result, the quality of projects in the later rounds improved significantly compared to earlier rounds. The greatest value that participants gained was not the awards, but the added value from the competition experience - from in-depth ESG knowledge, interdisciplinary thinking, systems thinking, critical thinking, and logical thinking, to skills in handling practical ESG problems, as well as opportunities to connect with experts, businesses, and like-minded individuals passionate about sustainable development.

Dr. Mai Hoai also extended sincere thanks to the UEH Leadership Board, sponsors, partners, alumni and current students of the Master's program in Sustainable Business and Environmental Management, the competing teams, and especially the competition Organizing Committee, for their tireless efforts, dedication, and enthusiasm in making this Final event a reality.

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Bui Thi Mai Hoai delivering the opening speech at the ZESG 2026 Final Round

An intense and intellectual competition

In the Final Round, the Top 7 outstanding teams competed through two challenging rounds, demanding in-depth ESG knowledge, strategic thinking, and rebuttal skills under time pressure:

Round 1 - Quick Response: Teams tested their comprehensive ESG knowledge through 5 multiple-choice questions under a maximum time pressure of only 90 seconds.

A competing team in the Quick Response round

Round 2 - Breakthrough: This was the decisive round, where teams delivered a 5-minute pitch presenting solutions for Case Studies (real-world situations) from businesses. This was immediately followed by a 7-minute intense Q&A session with the Jury to defend their viewpoints.

A team's presentation at the Final Round

The Jury posing questions to competing teams in the Breakthrough round

Honoring the deserving winners

With fair and professional evaluation from the Jury Board, the most outstanding teams were announced:

- Champion (First Prize): Team FTUEH

- Second Prize: Team TEACLE

- Third Prize: Team IN5PIRE

- Consolation Prize: Team SUSTAINOVA

In addition to the main prizes, the Organizing Committee also awarded special prizes to encourage the spirit and diverse skills of the contestants:

- Most Favorite Video Prize: Team GLUCOSE

- Most Persuasive Case Handling Prize: Team FTUEH

- Most Impressive Presentation Prize: Team PINEAPPLE

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Bui Quang Hung - UEH President, extending congratulations to the Sustainable Finance Institute and the competing teams for completing all rounds of the competition

Green imprints and a sustainable message

A special highlight of the ZESG 2026 Final night was not only its high academic quality but also the realization of the "Green Campus" spirit in the event organization itself. Notably, the competition minimized resource use and reduced waste - for example, by not printing award boards, issuing digitally signed and delivered certificates, and producing commemorative medals for delegates and contestants from 100% recycled plastic - a powerful symbol of turning waste into new value and spreading the circular economy mindset.

Concluding the 2026 competition, ZESG successfully awakened the potential and sense of responsibility among students towards the nation's sustainable development and the protection of our green planet.

The UEH Sustainable Finance Institute sincerely thanks all sponsors, dedicated mentors, and all students for their collaboration in making the ZESG 2026 season a brilliant success.