UEH College of Technology and Design (CTD) – Laying the Foundation for the Future Journey

01 Feb, 2025

In a world undergoing a profound transformation driven by the power of technology and boundless innovation, the UEH College of Technology and Design (CTD) has established a solid foundation across key areas, including education, scientific research, international collaboration, entrepreneurship, innovation, and community engagement. Step by step, CTD is contributing meaningfully to UEH’s journey toward becoming a reputable multidisciplinary and sustainable university recognized on the global stage.

Highlights of CTD in 2024

Education – Pioneering Programs to Meet Societal Demands

CTD successfully developed and launched new academic programs, namely Art Technology (ArtTech), Smart Control and Automation, Integrated Urban Design and Planning, and Technology Management (master’s level). Additionally, CTD introduced dual-degree and dual-major programs in collaboration with prestigious universities worldwide, including the University of Auckland (New Zealand), Kwangwoon University (South Korea), and Saint Joseph University (Macau). These initiatives not only enhanced the quality of education but also provided students with access to advanced educational systems and multicultural learning environments. The excellence and diversity of these new programs have led to positive enrollment outcomes, attracting approximately 437 businesses to participate in corporate internships and integrate their projects into courses and capstone projects.

Scientific Research – Advancing Publications and Securing Partnerships

In 2024, CTD made remarkable strides in scientific research. Faculty members published 65 papers in reputable international journals indexed by ISI, Scopus, and ABDC, including 22 in SSCI Q1, SCIE Q1 (Web of Science), and A*/ABDC. Notably, 19 of these studies focused on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), underscoring CTD’s strong commitment to contributing to a greener and more sustainable future. Additionally, 44 research projects at the national, ministerial, provincial, institutional, and Nafosted levels were registered throughout the year. At the institutional level, CTD completed the evaluation of 18 prior research projects and launched two registration phases for new institutional research projects, with 33 projects approved.

CTD has achieved remarkable success in attracting funding from both domestic and international partners for research and entrepreneurship activities. Approximately 1.6 billion VND was secured for research projects, academic works, and collaborations with domestic partners. At the same time, international projects contributed around 13 billion VND, accounting for about 65% of UEH’s total foreign funding in 2024. This demonstrates the growing recognition and high regard for the research capabilities and reputation of UEH in general, and CTD in particular, on the international stage.

Beyond faculty contributions, student research activities at CTD are also steadily taking shape. The CTD-Scholar scientific research competition attracted around 70 student projects. In total, 130 student research projects were carried out at various levels, with 52 earning awards at the ministerial and institutional levels. Among these, 25 student projects were directly related to sustainable development, showcasing CTD’s commitment to fostering young talent and promoting sustainability-focused innovation.

Enhancing Domestic and International Collaboration

CTD has actively expanded its global collaboration network by signing agreements with numerous domestic and international partners. In 2024, CTD formalized partnerships (MOU/MOA) with 31 enterprises and educational organizations: 5 at the unit level, 16 at the college level, and 10 at the university level. Additionally, CTD welcomed 66 visits from international faculty and experts for in-person and online engagements and facilitated 32 outbound visits by UEH faculty and staff to foster international relations, enhance professional expertise, and explore opportunities for scholarships, faculty/student exchanges, and participation in prestigious international academic conferences.

In 2024, CTD also prioritized international student exchange programs. A total of 137 CTD students studied abroad, while 120 international students participated in academic exchanges and cultural interactions at UEH. Notably, three CTD students received support through UEH’s international exchange scholarship program, and two students were awarded full scholarships from international partners, each valued at 15,000 EUR. These efforts highlight CTD’s dedication to cultivating a globalized educational environment and fostering cross-cultural academic opportunities.

Figure 1. Developing collaborative relationships and formalizing partnerships (MOU/MOA) with 31 businesses and educational organizations both domestically and internationally.

Successfully Organizing National and International Scientific Conferences

In 2024, CTD successfully hosted several national and international scientific conferences, solidifying UEH and CTD's reputation in the academic community:

The international scientific conference "Resilience by Technology and Design" focused on the theme "Fostering Sustainability" in Ho Chi Minh City and "For a More Sustainable Mekong Delta" in the Mekong Delta region from July 15 to July 18, 2024. Hosted by UEH and organized by CTD in collaboration with 18 prestigious universities worldwide, the event attracted over 1,000 participants, including delegates, lecturers, graduate students, and undergraduates, as well as more than 200 leading scientists and global experts who shared their insights. A total of 129 research papers and presentations were delivered (30% of which were international), covering topics related to technology and sustainability. The conference featured 60 sessions, including special sessions, parallel discussions, and international cooperation meetings, all centered around promoting sustainability through technology and design.

Figure 2. International Scientific Conference RTD 2024 on the Theme "Fostering Sustainability"

The ArtTech Fusion 2024 (ATF24) International Series organized by UEH and hosted by ArtTech Hub CTD in collaboration with 15 universities worldwide, ArtTech Fusion 2024 (ATF24) provided a dynamic platform to explore the intersections of art, technology, and sustainability. Held over three days (October 22–24, 2024), ATF24 featured 37 academic activities, exhibitions, and programs, attracting more than 4,500 participants.

Figure 3. The ArtTech Fusion 2024 (ATF24) International Series

Glocal Partnership for Carbon Neutrality 2024 Series: The “Glocal” concept emphasizes applying and integrating interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary thinking, along with global solutions, through a “Think Globally - Act Locally” approach tailored to specific local contexts. This is achieved via collaboration and co-creation with both domestic and international partners. The series also included two international short courses, more than 15 seminars, workshops, and webinars, as well as the integration of carbon neutrality goals into over 10 student projects, teaching activities, academic initiatives, extracurricular programs, and research endeavors. These efforts contribute to advancing green transformation and sustainable development across various regions in Vietnam and the world, aligning with Vietnam’s goal of achieving net-zero emissions by 2050.
Implementation of the GIZ International Project – Digital Skills to Succeed in Asia (DS2S) Commissioned by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development, the DS2S project aims to enhance digital skills among university students, with a particular focus on women in Bangladesh, India, and Vietnam. In Vietnam, CTD is responsible for developing and delivering certificate courses in the field of Digital Entrepreneurship. These include foundational courses for beginners as well as advanced, specialized programs designed to enhance knowledge and skills for diverse learner groups across Asia. The project, scheduled to run until 2026, involves collaboration with universities from the three participating countries.

Figure 4. Assoc. Prof. Dr. Phan Thi Bich Nguyet – Chairwoman of the Strategic and Policy Advisory Council, and Assoc. Prof. Dr. Trinh Thuy Anh – Vice Principle of UEH College of Technology and Design, shared insights on developing digital skills in the context of international integration at a workshop under the GIZ International Project.

In addition, CTD and their affiliated faculties/institutes participated in numerous national and international scientific conferences in 2024, further solidifying UEH's pioneering role and global reputation.

On the global knowledge stage, CTD took part in major events that gathered top experts in urban planning, communication design, technology, and innovation, including the Smart Melaka 2024 International Conference and Exhibition (Malaysia), the 12th World Urban Forum (Cairo, Egypt), the Digital Skills to Success Forum (Bangalore, India), the International Design Conference on Integrated Interdisciplinary Innovation 2024, and ARTeFACTo2024 (Macau).

Domestically, CTD made significant contributions to scientific forums on digital transformation, the digital economy, and heritage conservation. These included the "Solutions to Promote Digital Transformation in Smart Urban Development" workshop, the "2024 Ho Chi Minh City Digital Transformation Week", the "Mathematics and Statistics Tools" conference, the "Review of Inventory, Assessment, and Classification of Old Villas for Preservation in Ho Chi Minh City and Policy Mechanisms for Conservation" workshop, and the Vietnam Urban Forum 2024.

*Startup Incubation Activities

In 2024, CTD implemented 3 incubation programs through the UII Startup Incubation Program, supporting 32 startup projects with 24 training sessions and 28 expert networking meetings. Notably, the total investment for innovative startup activities surpassed 120,000 USD.

The Fintechnovation program chain includes specialized training courses and project incubation for over 300 students from 24 universities.

The Future Founders Fest 2024 event was lively, featuring an exhibition of 15 startup booths, the announcement of the National Research on the Youth Startup Ecosystem in Vietnam, in collaboration with the United Nations Development Program (UNDP Vietnam). As part of the event, the UIIxBASIC Demo Day awarded Seed Grants totaling 6,600 USD to 4 promising startups.

Figure 5. Startup incubation activities at CTD in 2024

*Connecting the Community

Over the past year, CTD has made efforts to organize meaningful activities to connect the community through artistic inspiration, including:
A series of diverse and impressive art exhibitions titled “TẾT ART - Next Gen Art: Sustainability through Art-Tech and Spring Art”, which provides an artistic space reflecting modernity and sustainability, where technology is integrated into traditional artworks.
Kicking off on May 19, 2025, the series of “Relaxing Acrylic Painting Workshops” has become a familiar activity every weekend at the Studio Lab (B2.215) of UEH. With the purpose of creating an artistic space that contributes to spreading creative inspiration in the UEH community specifically and the art-loving community in general, the Workshop series has expanded to UEH Vinh Long branch on June 22, 29, and 30, 2024. This is not only a place for endless creativity but also a place to connect, to build a more cohesive and friendly UEH community.
The Creative Fashion Workshop opened at the Creative Design Space (B2.110) on August 3, 2024, starting with a series of Upcycling technique workshops - transforming old items into new, complete, and more useful products, in line with the spirit of sustainable fashion.
For the first time at UEH, an art exhibition themed “Artworks by Female Artists in the Collection of the Ho Chi Minh City Museum of Fine Arts” displayed 30 paintings by Vietnamese female artists, creating an open perspective that breaks gender biases in creativity to appreciate the diverse beauty of art and cultural heritage, which took place from November 12 to November 16, 2024; this is a follow-up activity within the cooperative relationship between UEH - CTD and the Ho Chi Minh City Museum of Fine Arts.
In collaboration with the Vietnam Cultural Heritage Conservation Fund, the successful program “The Áo Dài Heritage with the Younger Generation” & the Seminar “Honoring and Preserving Cultural Heritage on Digital Platforms” included activities to explore the history of the áo dài through the collection of the Áo Dài Museum, discovering the value of heritage through the photo collection “Heritage Around Us” and a seminar on preserving cultural heritage on digital platforms, encouraging the younger generation to participate in digitizing and preserving heritage values through modern technology.

Figure 6. Numerous efforts to connect the community with inspiring artistic activities at CTD in 2024

Extracurricular Activities and Student Movements

In 2024, CTD students actively participated in various extracurricular activities and movements, notably:

The CTD Scholars - Student Award 2024 was hosted for the first time, attracting 76 student projects from UEH with research on technology and sustainable development. The UEH Computing Team, consisting of six students, achieved significant results at the National Student Informatics Olympiad, winning one-third prize and one encouragement prize in the non-specialized category. Students participated in the 14th National Architecture Student Festival, where they won several prestigious awards: two third prizes in the Graphic Design category, one-third prize, two-second prizes in the Quick Design A category, and impressively secured the first prize in the Multidisciplinary Design group. Additionally, international student exchange programs in Thailand (Rajamangala Lanna University of Technology), Malaysia (Universiti Sains Malaysia), Taiwan (National United University), Belgium (KU Leuven University), South Korea (Handong Global University), and Italy (University of Trieste) offered opportunities for cultural experiences, professional learning, and global connections.
The second season of the CTD Inspiring program (11/2024-9/2025) features a range of activities designed to foster connections, provide training, and offer guidance and support. These include monthly one-on-one meetings, Cross Inspiring sessions, a series of workshops, and business connection tours. The program brings together 57 Inspirers (individuals with valuable knowledge and experience) and 59 Inspirers (students seeking personal and professional development).

Figure 7. Numerous extracurricular activities and diverse movements for CTD and UEH students

Capacity Building of the Team

CTD has implemented 04 short-term training courses for lecturers, staff, and students with the goal of organizing classes, training, and professional development throughout the year, along with 08 short-term training courses/skill enhancement programs with certification included in the CTD Learning and Sharing Series, aimed at improving the professional capacity and soft skills of CTD lecturers, staff, and students, while expanding to UEH. Among these, CTD successfully conducted short-term training courses/skill enhancement programs specifically for UEH lecturers and staff, equipping them with new and practical knowledge and skills in technology, design, and communication. In addition, UEH students had the opportunity to participate in specialized skill enhancement courses: "Is Design Thinking the Answer to Everything?", "Application of AI in Engineering," and "3D Kinematics Design and Simulation on Inventor." Notably, the course "VR Development in Unity" was designed for both lecturers and students, facilitating exchange, learning, and collaboration between teachers and students. Furthermore, in the past year, CTD also successfully organized a series of two thematic workshops: "A Practical Guide for Publishing Success: An Editorial View" for lecturers and staff, providing knowledge and practical experience in academic publishing; and the workshop "The Journey to Finding Happiness: From Science to Reality" for students, aiming to enhance awareness and positive living skills.

Figure 8. CTD organized various short-term training courses/skill enhancement sessions as part of the CTD Learning and Sharing activity series.

Strategic Orientation and Goals for 2025

To build on past achievements and to progress on the path of development, UEH College of Technology and Design sets forth 7 strategic orientations and goals for 2025 as follows:

Strengthening Education: International collaboration and partnerships with businesses need to be enhanced to improve the quality of education and job opportunities for graduates. New programs, especially in the fields of technology and design, will be studied and implemented.
Promoting Scientific Research and International Cooperation: CTD encourages interdisciplinary research directions, connecting multiple units linked to sustainability, creative design, and technology; actively participating in research projects both nationally and internationally with funding sources. The continuation of expanding cooperation networks with partners ranked high in QS, THE and so on will be emphasized. Key activities will include student and faculty exchanges, joint training programs, collaboration on scientific research projects, and participation in international conferences.
Enhancing Student Experience: CTD will focus on creating a friendly and dynamic learning environment and providing numerous experiential opportunities for students. Extracurricular activities, clubs, and competitions will be regularly organized to help students hone soft skills and problem-solving abilities. Support will be given to students participating in exchange programs, internships, and projects with domestic and foreign partners.
Application of Technology in Teaching: The integration of digitalization and artificial intelligence into the curriculum will be prioritized. Online courses, digital resources, and smart classroom models will be developed to enhance educational quality. Instructors will also be trained to proficiently use technology and update new teaching methods.
Promoting Innovation: CTD will build an ecosystem and entrepreneurial culture to foster creativity and innovation among students. Activities like idea competitions, startup clubs, and business incubators will be promoted. Students will be connected with a network of mentors, investors, and startup funding sources to realize their projects.
Sustainable Management: CTD will enhance green initiatives on campus to contribute to environmental protection and sustainable development. Solutions for energy saving, waste reduction, and pollution prevention will be promoted. Training will be provided to elevate the skills of 100% of faculty and staff; ongoing efforts will be made to attract and to develop talent, creating a professional and dynamic working environment, and facilitating faculty participation in domestic and international courses and conferences; outstanding contributions of individuals and teams will be recognized and honored.
Building an Inspiring Artistic Community and Creating Change: A strong connection between CTD, businesses, and the community will be established through diversifying activities, including festivals, events, and joint projects to promote the development of an artistic community that inspires change and progress in society.

With solidarity and determination, UEH College of Technology and Design promotes its leading role in fostering innovation in the fields of technology and design, laying a foundation for development, and aiming toward a sustainable future.

News and photos: UEH College of Technology and Design