Opening Ceremony of the Sustainable Entrepreneurship for Economic Development Project

Opening Ceremony of the Sustainable Entrepreneurship for Economic Development Project – SEED 2025

12 Jul, 2025

Within the framework of collaboration between the University of Economics Ho Chi Minh City (UEH) and the University of Applied Sciences and Arts Northwestern Switzerland (FHNW), the “Sustainable Entrepreneurship for Economic Development – SEED 2025” project was officially launched in Ho Chi Minh City and will run from July 10 to July 18, 2025. This annual initiative aims to promote the spirit of sustainable entrepreneurship and contribute to long-term economic development, particularly in rapidly transforming regions such as Ho Chi Minh City and Khanh Hoa Province.

Building on the success of the SEED 2024 project, SEED 2025 continues to promote the spirit of sustainable entrepreneurship while attracting the participation of a large number of faculty members and students from both domestic and international universities. These include: University of Economics Ho Chi Minh City (UEH), Banking University of Ho Chi Minh City (BUH), Foreign Trade University (FTU), University of Agriculture and Forestry – Hue University (HUAF), University of Applied Sciences and Arts Northwestern Switzerland (FHNW, Switzerland), Singapore University of Social Sciences (SUSS, Singapore), Bandung Institute of Technology (Indonesia), University of Kuala Lumpur – Malaysian Institute of Information Technology (UniKL MIIT, Malaysia), De La Salle University and San Beda University (Philippines).

Delegates and Faculty Delegation of SEED 2025 Project

Attending the opening ceremony were Dr. Dinh Cong Khai – Vice President of UEH; Assoc. Prof. Dr. Bui Thanh Trang – Acting Rector of the UEH College of Business; Dr. Tran Anh Hoa – Vice Rector of the UEH College of Business; Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Phong Nguyen – Standing Vice Head of the Department of Research – Development and Global Engagement; MSc. Truong Minh Kiet – Standing Vice Head of the Department of Communications and Partnerships; Dr. Nguyen Thi Hong Thu – Acting Dean of the School of International Business – Marketing; Assoc. Prof. Dr. Hoang Cuu Long – Vice Dean of the School of International Business – Marketing; Dr. Nguyen Tan Trung – Chief of Office of the UEH College of Business; Dr. Do Thi Hai Ninh – Director of the Undergraduate Marketing Program / Head of the SEED Project Organizing Committee at UEH; Dr. Nguyen Tran Phuoc – SEED Project Coordinator; and MSc. Le Anh Huyen Tram – Local Expert.

The SEED 2025 Project was also honored to welcome international delegates, including: Dr. Teresa Freiburghaus and Prof. Dr. Wache Holger – University of Applied Sciences and Arts Northwestern Switzerland (FHNW); Dr. Norby Roque Salonga – De La Salle University (Philippines); Mr. Joel Filamor and Mr. Greg Emmanuel Baniaga – San Beda University (Philippines); Assoc. Prof. Dr. Andika Putra Pratama – Bandung Institute of Technology (Indonesia); Dr. Pham Hoang Son Hung – University of Agriculture and Forestry – Hue University (Vietnam).

Representatives of the UEH Board of Management and the Executive Board of the UEH College of Business (COB) presented gifts to the international delegates.

A representative from FHNW presented a gift to the delegate from UEH.

At the Opening Ceremony, students were provided with an overview of Vietnam’s economic development context - particularly in the South Central region. They also explored the local startup ecosystem, current policies supporting small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), as well as potential business models within the region.

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Tuan Kiet delivered a presentation on “An Overview of Vietnam’s Economy.”

MSc. Vuong Khiet delivered a presentation on “Social Entrepreneurship in Vietnam.”

The SEED Project Organizing Committee introduced the business partners participating in the SEED 2025 Project.

Throughout the project, students will participate in intensive training sessions on business model development, strategic planning, financial management, and brand building - equipping them with essential foundations to implement sustainable entrepreneurial initiatives.

In addition to academic activities, the delegation also enjoyed a vibrant cultural immersion in the afternoon, including traditional craft experiences such as tò he (figurine sculpting) and calligraphy writing. In the coming days, students will continue their exploration of cultural and historical sites, including Cham heritage, traditional weaving, and other local cultural highlights as part of the project’s itinerary.

The delegation participated in traditional craft experiences, including tò he figurine sculpting and calligraphy writing.

A key highlight of SEED 2025 lies in its cross-national team-based collaboration. Students are divided into multicultural groups and paired with one to two international and UEH faculty members acting as mentors. Each group will partner with a local enterprise in Khanh Hoa Province to conduct fieldwork, analyze the business context, and propose strategic solutions aimed at sustainable development. The focus areas include business model innovation, green marketing, value-added enhancement, and market expansion.

These proposals will integrate academic research with practical consultancy, while also considering environmental and social dimensions to ensure long-term value for the local community.

SEED 2025 promises to be an inspiring journey—offering meaningful opportunities for learning, collaboration, and deep international engagement for both students and faculty across participating countries.

More highlights from the event: