UEH's Unwavering Efforts to Provide Free Learning Resources to the Community

27 Nov, 2023

For nearly 50 years, the University of Economics Ho Chi Minh City (UEH) has embraced its mission as a multi-disciplinary, sustainable institution dedicated to serving the community. Among its many contributions, UEH has continuously worked to provide free learning resources through a series of impactful initiatives.

Offering Unlimited Free Courses, Free Access to Online Resource to Faculty, Students, and the Community

Launched in March 2021, the UEH Global project aims to share and transfer digital transformation practices in teaching and learning, especially for high schools in remote areas with limited access to online learning. The project offers six key resources: (1) online teaching and learning, (2) online essay and multiple-choice exams, (3) paper-based test and answer randomization, (4) online high school graduation exam prep, (5) career-oriented personality tests, and (6) admission counseling.

Since its launch, UEH Global has supported over 8,000 students and parents in preparing for high school graduation exams and career orientation. The online teaching and learning system has been successfully transferred to high schools in 13 provinces of the Mekong Delta, with the participation of more than 2,000 teachers.

In 2023, the UEH Global project was actively implemented with several notable activities, including a STEM teaching program designed to equip high school teachers and students with knowledge related to Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics through an interdisciplinary approach. This aims to support career guidance, inspire scientific research among students, improve teacher competencies, and identify promising projects in robotics and Artificial Intelligence for development at UEH's innovation hubs. STEM education is a curriculum based on the idea of providing learners with knowledge and skills related to the fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. This interdisciplinary approach enables students to apply what they learn to solve real-life problems. The knowledge and skills within the STEM education program are integrated and complementary, helping students not only to understand fundamental concepts but also to apply them in practice and create real-life products.

The first STEM curriculum program was implemented in Vinh Long, attracting more than 186 teachers and students from 34 high schools in the province. The UEH RoboCon 2023 - UEH Dancing Robot Competition is a vibrant and engaging event, introducing inspiring robot creations in line with the themes of "Robots and Artificial Intelligence" and "Technology and Innovation".

Building on the success of the program in Vĩnh Long, these activities will be expanded on a series of STEM teaching sessions for high schools in Khánh Hòa province. These sessions will feature products that integrate multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary knowledge and an unforgettable RoboCon UEH 2023 contest.

UEH also supports the younger generation in selecting majors, choosing careers, and developing career pathways through the Personality Test Tool, Career Interest Exploration, and the "Understand Yourself" major selection program. This support extends to a series of tours, career counseling sessions, and career aptitude tests for high school students, including: Hoang Thai Hieu High School, Tam Binh High School, Ethnic Boarding High School - Vinh Long, and Nguyen Minh Quang High School - Hau Giang (February 12, 2023), Binh Minh High School and Long Phu Secondary-High School - Vinh Long (February 26, 2023), Tan Quoi High School, Dong Thanh Secondary-High School, Tan Luoc High School, My Thuan High School – Vinh Long (February 25, 2023 – March 12, 2023), Luu Van Liet High School, Nguyen Thong High School – Vinh Long (March 16, 2023), participating in the 2023 University Admission and Career Counseling Fair organized by Tuổi Trẻ Newspaper, the Higher Education Department (Ministry of Education and Training), the Directorate of Vocational Education and Training (Ministry of Labor, Invalids, and Social Affairs), and the University of Technology (Vietnam National University, Ho Chi Minh City).

In 2023, UEH, in collaboration with the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) and the Vietnam Association of Accountants and Auditors (VACPA), to organizae a free training course on the ACCA-VACPA Certificate in International Financial Reporting (CertIFR) for students in Southern schools. The program is designed to be scientific and detailed, including the current application of IFRS in Vietnam, the nature and activities of the International Accounting Standards Board (IASB), and key differences in standards. It also includes practice exams to help instructors evaluate their understanding of the course material. The course is presented by experienced ACCA members who are also university lecturers with expertise, passion, and credibility in the field.

Notably, UEH also hosts centers offering high-quality, specialized short- and long-term training courses. A prime example is the ATD Information Technology and Design Center under UEH’s School of Technology and Design (CTD-UEH), which provides training in technology, data analytics, multimedia design, and more. In 2023, courses at the center equipped learners with proficiency in tools like Excel, Python, and Power BI, and SQL language, under the guidance and instruction of CTD-UEH’s experienced faculty and specialists. The aim is to empower learners to excel across diverse fields in the digital transformation era.

Providing Learning Materials and Tools for the Community

In addition to providing unlimited free learning platforms for the community, UEH has also extended substantial support in infrastructure, educational materials, and learning tools, especially to underprivileged, remote areas. In 2023, UEH constructed service housing for staff and faculty in Ten Hon Village, Tênh Phông Commune, Tuần Giáo District, Điện Biên Province, with funding of 35,000,000 VND, and another facility for teachers at Võ Nguyên Giáp High School in Thôn 12, Ea Ô Commune, Ea Kar District, Đắk Lắk Province, with funding of 50,000,000 VND. These projects not only serve the teachers but also benefit the local community, enhancing quality of life and encouraging educational pursuits. Additionally, through the "Computers for Students" program, UEH donated 30 computers to Phan Điền Primary and Secondary School in Bắc Bình, Bình Thuận, valued at 280,000,000 VND, and gifted a “Bookshelf of Love” to Tân Long Commune, Mang Thít District, Vĩnh Long Province as part of the 2023 Economic Student Volunteer Campaign.

Facilitating Free Access to School Facilities

UEH is committed to upgrading and creating artistic innovation spaces for students and the community. An example is UEH MakerSpace, which officially opened on June 1, 2023, located on the ground floor of Building B2 (279 Nguyễn Tri Phương, District 3). UEH MakerSpace is a creative hub for UEHers and community members who are passionate about activities related to design, assembly, and woodworking. It also provides an excellent environment for group activities aimed at developing thinking and skills through workshops and short training programs.

UEH MakerSpace Design

UEH MakerSpace is designed in an open and airy style, featuring two main areas:

Indoor Area: This houses various machines, tools, and products to support the creative process.

Outdoor Area: Includes woodworking tables for activities related to woodworking, as well as regular work tables to accommodate a variety of other student activities.

In collaboration with partner Papa Maker, UEH MakerSpace supports the school’s training activities and organizes short courses, workshops, and more, fostering a community dedicated to spreading creativity. This initiative represents one of UEH's core values: Unbounded Creativity.

Additionally, UEH supports partners by offering free use of its auditoriums for community-oriented events, such as hosting the "Accompanying Children to School" career counseling program organized by Tuổi Trẻ Newspaper in Auditorium A.116, which attracted over 1,500 parents, and the "Wings of Dreams" talk show on green entrepreneurship, aimed at fostering creativity and sustainable development among students.

Beyond serving students, staff, experts, and scientists, UEH also shares its creative and developmental spaces with organizations and individuals seeking to host events, training sessions, meetings, and conferences. With modern facilities, spacious rooms, and high-quality audiovisual systems, UEH provides an ideal experience at centrally located venues in Ho Chi Minh City at reasonable rates. In 2023, the "Creative and Developmental Space Sharing" program hosted 27 rentals across A, B, N, and V campuses for entities like Like Lion Co., Ltd., ILACS Language and International Studies Institute, ISB International School, An Bình Commercial Joint Stock Bank, the HCMC office of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants, Yaho Lab Co., Ltd., Misa Corporation, P2P Marketing Communications Company, Long Hoang Investment Trading Services Training Skills Center, and other individuals.

This reflects UEH’s flexibility in contributing to the community and supporting educational and entrepreneurial initiatives through the appropriate use of its facilities, tailored to partner needs.

UEH remains committed to empowering learners and the community, driving innovation, and inspiring creativity. These efforts exemplify UEH's meaningful contributions in creating value for the community.