Opening Ceremony of the International Conference "IMAGINE! Shaping Tomorrow: Work and Well-Being

11 Dec, 2025

On the evening of December 10, 2025, the UEH Honours College.ISB, part of the University of Economics Ho Chi Minh City (UEH), hosted the Opening Ceremony of The 2nd Joint Congress of ICOH-WOPS & APA-PFAW 2025, themed “IMAGINE! Shaping Tomorrow: Work and Well-Being.” The event brought together over 300 international delegates from six continents, serving as a multidimensional forum to discuss solutions for the major challenges of the modern workplace.

An overview of the conference's opening ceremony

Following the success of the first conference in Tokyo in 2023, which gathered 302 delegates from 34 countries, this year's event convened over 300 international delegates from organizations, universities, and research institutes across 25 countries on six continents.

Attending the conference from UEH were: Assoc. Prof. Dr. Bui Quang Hung – UEH Interim President; along with representatives from member colleges, departments, and schools.

In the opening remarks, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Bui Quang Hung – UEH Interim President emphasized: “UEH has identified human happiness and well-being as central to its 21st-century university development strategy. The 'Happy University' is not merely a slogan but an orientation based on the scientific foundations of happiness economics, positive psychology, and organizational science. Today's conference is not only an academic forum but also a significant milestone in UEH's journey to realize the Happy University model. Furthermore, this event kicks off the annual conference series on Well-Being in Business, hosted by the UEH Honours College.ISB, making a tangible contribution to international knowledge and policymaking for Vietnam and the region."”

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Bui Quang Hung speaking at the opening ceremony

Representing the partner organizations, Prof. Seong-Kyu Kang – President of the International Commission on Occupational Health - Work Organisation and Psychosocial Factors (ICOH-WOPS), highlighted the growing mental health challenges in the workplace, such as overload leading to adjustment disorders, depression, burnout, and trends of early retirement in many countries. He also emphasized the importance of interdisciplinary and knowledge-based international cooperation, underscoring the mission of ICOH-WOPS in promoting occupational health and safety and shaping a sustainable future for labor well-being.

Prof. Seong-Kyu Kang, President of ICOH-WOPS, emphasizing the role of interdisciplinary cooperation and international knowledge connectivity in achieving sustainable labor well-being

Following this, Prof. Akinori Nakata – President of the Asia Pacific Academy for Psychosocial Factors at Work (APA-PFAW), shared that the Asia-Pacific region faces unique challenges related to psychosocial risks in the workplace, requiring a sustainable platform for scientific collaboration. He recounted the conference series' journey from New Zealand and Malaysia to Japan, affirming that the conference in Vietnam is another key milestone in connecting academic knowledge, enhancing research capacity, and promoting a safe, humane working environment and higher labor welfare standards across the region.

Prof. Akinori Nakata, President of APA-PFAW, affirming that the conference in Vietnam is a crucial milestone in connecting knowledge and promoting a safe and humane working environment in the region

The opening ceremony of the International Conference "IMAGINE! Shaping Tomorrow: Work and Well-Being" officially launched a journey toward creating a healthier work environment, affirming the commitment of the UEH Honours College.ISB and UEH to sustainable development, aligned with the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The conference is expected to become a strategic bridge between international academia and business practices in Vietnam, fostering research collaboration and expanding the global dissemination of knowledge in the field of Work & Well-Being.

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Bui Quang Hung and representatives of the organizing committee presenting commemorative gifts to partner organizations and speakers.