Republic Polytechnic - University of Economics Ho Chi Minh City International Exchange Workshop 2023

From September 20th to 21st, the School of Tourism of UEH College of Business (COB) successfully organized the exchange program to welcome international students from Republic Polytechnic University, Singapore (RP). This program is part of practical activities for students enrolled in programs related to Hospitality, Management, and Technology at RPU. The program's aim is to exchange experiences and engage in discussions with UEH School of Tourism on topics related to design thinking in sustainable tourism management and development, as well as community-based tourism in the Mekong Delta.

The "RPU - UEH International Exchange Workshop" is a significant initiative designed to create a valuable platform for students from both Vietnam and Singapore. The program also focuses on providing a precious opportunity for interaction between two universities, namely the University of Economics Ho Chi Minh City (UEH) in Vietnam and Republic Polytechnic (RP) in Singapore. Through this program, students have the opportunity to exchange knowledge and experiences in the fields of management, sustainable tourism, and community-based tourism. This not only enhances their academic skills but also broadens their global perspective. The program demonstrates the commitment of both universities to education and the future development of students, as well as international cooperation in the field of education.

On the first day of the program, students embarked on a field trip to Vinh Long, one of the highlights in the development of sustainable tourism in the Mekong Delta region. This excursion not only exposed students to theoretical knowledge but also ensured their active participation in exciting and hands-on activities in the Western riverside region. It allowed students to bridge the gap between their acquired knowledge and a practical understanding of how sustainable and community-based tourism is implemented within the local community. This tour expanded their awareness of how sustainable tourism can benefit communities and facilitated the creation of memorable experiences and connections among the students through engaging activities in Vinh Long.

On the second day September 21^st , students had the chance to delve deeper into the School of Tourism at UEH and the School of Hospitality at RP. This allowed them to gain a better understanding of the potential and learning opportunities at both institutions, fostering an understanding of the academic environment and educational culture in both Vietnam and Singapore.

The program continued with a series of research presentations and discussions on essential topics in the tourism industry, including community-based tourism, sustainable tourism, and the development of tourism trends in Southeast Asia. These insights helped build a solid knowledge base for participating students.

The program also emphasized the application of Design Thinking tools in sustainable tourism development projects, enabling students to understand problem-solving approaches and create innovative solutions.

Finally, participants engaged in team-building games using tools like user journey mapping, the crazy 8s, and mind map sketching to exchange ideas about sustainable tourism development. This provided an exciting opportunity to share ideas and foster relationships among students from both institutions and countries.

The "RP - UEH International Exchange Workshop" created exciting and valuable experiences for all participants. The program offered a unique opportunity for international and Vietnamese students to learn from each other and share knowledge about sustainable tourism, community-based tourism, and tourism project management. The organizing committee hopes that the results and knowledge gained will be applied to contribute to the development of sustainable tourism in both Vietnam and Singapore. The relationships formed during the program will continue to develop, opening up new opportunities for collaboration in the future.