UEH College of Technology and Design (CTD): Co-Creating for a Beautiful and Sustainable Future

20 Feb, 2026

In the 50-year journey of formation and development of the University of Economics Ho Chi Minh City (UEH), 2025 marks a special milestone for the UEH College of Technology and Design (CTD) – a year of co-creation, of synergy between knowledge, creativity, and social responsibility aimed at building a beautiful and sustainable future for people and communities. With the theme "Co-Creation for a Beautiful Future," CTD not only celebrates a year of vibrant activities but also affirms an academic declaration: knowledge is only truly meaningful when it is co-created, disseminated, and transformed into sustainable value for society.

Top 10 Achievements and Notable Figures of 2025

Achieved 100% of enrollment targets, with many units exceeding 120% of their plans.
The first two cohorts of students in Technology Management & Innovation and Architecture & Smart Urban Design programs graduated.
Multiple training programs approaching QS Asia Top 250, FIBAA, and ASIIN standards.
62 international publications in ISI/Scopus/ABDC, of which 36 articles ranked in the Q1 category.
43 research projects completed and approved during the 2023-2025 period.
27 cooperation documents (MOU/MOA) signed with domestic and international partners.
101 CTD students studied abroad and 214 international students came to UEH (an increase of approximately 38%).
89 short-term training courses with 2,624 participants in digital technology and innovation fields.
Organized ArtTech Fusion 2025 with over 1,500 visits from experts, artists, and scientists.
Launched Living Lab UEH Green Campus 2025 and participated in developing the Happy University Initiative.

Development Milestones Across the Five Pillars

Training – Co-Creating to Elevate Quality and International Integration

In 2025, CTD continued to affirm its interdisciplinary training orientation in Technology - Design - Innovation, with positive enrollment and accreditation results across multiple training programs. Building on the Glocal Education philosophy, CTD advanced the Project-based Learning model, where enterprises participate in co-designing courses and accompanying learners, helping students progressively develop professional competencies, innovative thinking, and international integration capabilities right from the classroom.

Concurrently, CTD effectively implemented short-term training programs on AI, data, and digital transformation, while supporting students through the CTD Inspiring series, contributing to building an inspiring, learner-centered educational environment.

CTD faculty and students on graduation day

Research – Co-Creating Knowledge with Academic Depth and Social Impact

CTD's scientific and technological activities continued to be promoted in an interdisciplinary, integrative direction linked to sustainable development, through research projects at various levels and high-quality international publications.

Beyond academic research, CTD emphasized research linked to policy and social impact through academic forums, international seminars, and large-scale scientific events, such as organizing the Vietnam-Belgium Cooperation Seminar on traffic safety, chairing ArtTech Fusion 2025, and the National Scientific Conference on Technology and Design 2025 — progressively establishing CTD as a prestigious academic hub in the technology-design field at both national and international levels.

UEH-CTD strengthens international connections and cooperation through conferences, academic forums, and exchange activities with domestic and international partners and experts

Governance: Consolidating Internal Strength, Co-Creating to Spread the UEH and CTD Brand

In 2025, CTD focused on perfecting its governance system and developing its team through the CTD Learning & Sharing series with 22 activities (04 short-term professional development training courses, 05 short-term training/intensive courses on technology and design, and 13 academic seminars for CTD faculty, staff, and students, extended to the entire UEH community).

Communications efforts made a significant mark with nearly 400 articles published on official channels, the fanpage reaching nearly 6,000 followers; simultaneously, CTD completed CTD's Book photo album, upgraded the website, and launched the brand anthem, progressively building the image of a dynamic, creative training and research unit with a distinctive identity.

Faculty participating in professional development training at the CTD Learning & Sharing program

Operations and Sustainable Development – Co-Creating a Happy University Environment

CTD launched Living Lab UEH Green Campus 2025, spreading the message "Green Culture – Living in Harmony with Nature" within the community of faculty, students, and partners. Living Lab is not only a space for testing technology and design solutions oriented toward sustainable development but also a platform connecting training, research, and practice, contributing to forming a green culture linked to daily behaviors and lifestyles within the university campus.

Concurrently, CTD coordinated to complete the Happy University Initiative, affirming its commitment to building a humane learning and working environment that respects diversity and enhances mental well-being for learners and staff.

Green space at UEH

Community – Co-Creating to Expand Networks and Strengthen Global Presence

In 2025, CTD signed a total of 27 cooperation documents (MOU/MOA) with universities, enterprises, and education-research organizations domestically and internationally. Academic and student exchange activities grew strongly, with 101 CTD students participating in overseas studies and 214 international students coming to UEH for exchange, with a total of 25 outbound delegations and 48 inbound delegations throughout the year.

CTD also served as the focal point for organizing and participating in numerous large-scale international cooperation events such as the DS2S Conference with GIZ, ICIA Global 2025, Global Youth Innovation Marketers, and iTECH EXPO 2025, contributing to positioning UEH-CTD as a hub for knowledge, innovation, and social responsibility in the region.

CTD participating in iTECH EXPO 2025, connecting domestic and international cooperation

10 Notable Activities Aligned with the 17 SDGs in 2025
The year 2025 marks a vibrant and colorful picture of activities at the UEH College of Technology and Design through a network of key programs and events of an interdisciplinary nature, strongly connecting academia - creativity - community, with scale ranging from national to international levels. Beyond individual events, these activities have created spaces for co-creating knowledge, where people, technology, design, and sustainable values intersect.

Activity / Program	Implementing Unit	SDGs
Project-based Learning training linked with enterprises, integrating AI, data, and innovation	CTD & Schools/Institutes	SDG 4, SDG 8
Interdisciplinary research on technology, design, smart transportation, linked to social impact	CTD & Schools/Institutes	SDG 9, SDG 11
Team development, nurturing a lifelong learning culture	CTD	SDG 4, SDG 16
Academic forums and international cooperation such as ICIA Global 2025, DS2S Networking Event, iTECH EXPO, 5th Anniversary Celebration of ISCM	UII, ISCM	SDG 9, SDG 11, SDG 17
Organizing creative and innovation platforms for youth such as Global Youth Innovation Marketers, UEH BizTech Hackathon, Creative Robot Contest, CTD Scholars Awards, and National Informatics Olympiad	CTD, UII, 3I	SDG 4, SDG 9
Organizing cultural-humanistic programs such as Dream Concert Vietnam, CTD Inspiring, building a creative, diverse, and cohesive academic community	CTD, SMD	SDG 4, SDG 11, SDG 17
Organizing ArtTech Fusion 2025 (ATF25) — a space for the intersection of technology, art, and international academia	CTD	SDG 4, SDG 9, SDG 17
National Scientific Conference on Technology and Design 2025 (NCTD 2025)	CTD	SDG 4, SDG 9
Implementing the Living Lab UEH Green Campus 2025 initiative	CTD	SDG 12, SDG 13
Participating in the UEH Happy University Initiative	CTD in coordination with UEH units	SDG 3, SDG 8

Five Strategic Directions and Objectives for 2026 of the UEH College of Technology and Design

Entering 2026 – the milestone marking 50 years of formation and development of the University of Economics Ho Chi Minh City, the UEH College of Technology and Design continues to promote its pioneering role in connecting technology - design - creativity for sustainable development, with five key strategic directions:

Elevating training quality standards linked with technology, design, and future skill: Developing interdisciplinary training programs in Technology - Design - Innovation, standardizing learning outcomes aligned with global professional competencies. Integrating design thinking, digital competency, and AI into training programs; promoting digital learning materials, micro-credentials, summer experience programs, summer camps, and practice-linked learning models, aiming to develop learners comprehensively in knowledge, creative capacity, and global integration resilience.
Promoting academic research and applied research for the community: Forming strong research groups under the "Research for All" orientation; promoting scientific publications, interdisciplinary research, and applied research linked to urban, environmental, technological, and social issues. Focusing on effectively implementing research fellowship programs; international conference series connecting domestic and international scholars; while expanding the research - project - living lab model to transform academic knowledge into practical solutions for enterprises, localities, and communities.
Developing the Living Lab - Green Campus - Creative Studio ecosystem: CTD identifies Living Lab and Green Campus as core spaces for co-creating knowledge, experimenting with ideas, and spreading sustainable values. In 2026, the College continues to operate and expand studio models, creative labs, pilot projects on sustainable urbanism, green technology, and design for community happiness; thereby connecting training, research, creativity, and experience within an open ecosystem centered on learners and the community.
Expanding international connections and the strategic partner ecosystem: Promoting cooperation with universities, research institutes, creative technology enterprises, international organizations, and localities through student exchange programs, study tours, internships, innovation immersion, hackathons, and co-creation projects. The College aims to build a sustainable strategic partner network, promoting academic exchange, knowledge transfer, and high-quality human resource development in the context of globalization.
Consolidating the CTD brand and spreading community values: Positioning the CTD brand with the image of "Technology – Art – Innovation for a Happy Society," through academic, creative, and community connection activities, actively contributing to UEH's 50-year development journey.

Building on the achievements of 2025, the UEH College of Technology and Design enters 2026 with a spirit of innovation, creativity, and stronger connections, aspiring to become a pioneering center for technology, design, and innovation linked to people and sustainable development.

On the occasion of the Lunar New Year of the Horse, CTD respectfully extends gratitude to the UEH Board of Management, faculty, staff, employees, learners, and partners who have always accompanied, co-created, and spread innovative values throughout the College's development journey. Wishing everyone a new year of prosperity, happiness, abundant creative energy, and joining hands to build a sustainable future through knowledge, technology, design, and the aspiration to contribute to the community.