From UEH Vinh Long to UEH Mekong: Championing a Sustainable Mekong Delta

31 Dec, 2024

The remarkable journey of UEH Vinh Long over the past five years (2019-2024) has laid the foundation for its transformation into UEH Mekong. This evolution affirms the presence of a key national university—ranked in the Top 501 globally by Times Higher Education—as a center for training, research, and connection, uniting stakeholders to act for a sustainable Mekong Delta and the Greater Mekong Subregion.

After five years of establishment and operation (2019-2024), the University of Economics Ho Chi Minh City Branch in Vinh Long Province (UEH Vinh Long) has steadily stabilized its activities and affirmed its position as a higher education institution in Vinh Long and the Mekong Delta. Building on this accumulated internal strength, UEH Vinh Long is officially embarking on a new journey with a greater role and a broader scope of operations—as UEH Mekong, dedicated to "a sustainable Mekong Delta and Greater Mekong Subregion."

By 2030, UEH Mekong envisions becoming a high-quality knowledge hub for UEH in the Mekong Delta and the Greater Mekong Subregion, with an international reputation for training, research, consulting, innovation, application, and community engagement, all for a prosperous and sustainable Mekong region.

To achieve this vision, UEH's mission over the next five years will be: To elevate knowledge by training high-quality, internationally integrated human resources and transferring global knowledge; to pioneer innovation and community service for a prosperous Mekong Delta; and to promote scientific research and application to build a sustainably developing Greater Mekong Subregion.

The core values that define UEH Mekong's identity include:

UEH Quality and Brand: UEH Mekong inherits the high standards of quality (in training, research, governance, and infrastructure) and the esteemed brand of UEH.
Global Mindset: UEH Mekong cultivates a global mindset and values by integrating international standards into its curriculum and research, fostering cultural understanding, and addressing issues from a global perspective, incorporating global sustainable development elements.
Local Action: UEH Mekong is committed to actively contributing to local community development, meeting market demands, and addressing the specific challenges of the region. Through applied training, research, and community projects, UEH Mekong empowers learners to connect with practice and enhance their innovative capabilities.
Unity, Dynamism, and Creativity: UEH Mekong fosters a collaborative, flexible, and innovative environment where unity among students, faculty, and staff is the foundation. Dynamism drives adaptation to change, and creativity encourages breakthrough solutions.
Community Engagement: UEH Mekong is deeply connected to the community through partnerships with organizations and businesses, addressing societal needs and promoting sustainable development. Community support activities and policy consulting build strong relationships that support comprehensive local development.
Responsible Action for a Sustainable Mekong Delta: UEH Mekong applies its knowledge to solve the unique environmental and social challenges of the region. Through research, education, and cooperation, UEH Mekong strives to protect and improve the quality of life for residents, aiming for the region's long-term prosperity.

To achieve its long-term goals and vision, UEH Mekong will develop according to a strategic model that integrates five pillars (Training, Research, Operations, Governance, and Community Connection) with the 5Ps (People, Prosperity, Planet, Peace & Justice, Partnership) to advance the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Training and Human Development for Humanity: UEH Mekong's training and human development strategy focuses on enhancing the quality of education to meet the practical needs of society and the labor market. Accordingly, UEH Mekong will develop diverse, multidisciplinary programs updated with international trends; apply modern and relevant teaching methods; emphasize the development of soft skills, innovative thinking, and teamwork; and partner with domestic and international enterprises and organizations to create internship and employment opportunities for students.

Scientific Research, Application, and Consulting to Enhance Social Prosperity: UEH Mekong will focus on scientific and applied research and consulting to generate new knowledge, apply research findings to solve economic, social, and environmental problems, and provide specialized consulting services and technology transfer to support businesses and the community, thereby contributing to both current and future social prosperity.

Building and Operating Green Spaces, from the University to the Community, Towards a Green Planet: UEH Mekong is committed to developing green, climate-adaptive spaces on campus and extending them to the community. This includes designing green architecture, applying sustainable solutions and advanced technologies, and promoting educational activities to raise environmental awareness, all in pursuit of sustainable development.

Developing and Applying Optimal Governance Systems to Promote Peace, Stability, and Social Justice: UEH Mekong will implement effective governance and management systems internally and promote them externally. It will optimize and globalize its governance systems and build an equitable and sustainable learning and working environment, contributing to the stable and prosperous development of society.

Promoting Stakeholder Engagement, Domestically and Internationally, to Optimize Resources and Transfer Knowledge: UEH Mekong will connect with government agencies, businesses, experts, scientists, and the community to build a strong network of partners for effective knowledge discovery and transfer. It will develop a diverse academic and applied ecosystem, actively contributing to the sustainable development of the Mekong region and the nation as a whole.

UEH Mekong will continue the "local mission" that UEH has undertaken in the Mekong Delta over the past five years, affirming the stature and aspiration of a key multidisciplinary university to contribute to higher education in Vietnam.

News, photos: Department of Communications and Partnerships, UEH Vinh Long