UEH Vinh Long Campus holding a Founding Conference of the Student Cooperative

03 May, 2022

Over the years, to create an environment for students in starting a business, applying the acquired knowledge in practice, promoting creativity and a sense of responsibility at work, train skills, and creating jobs and income for students; University of Economics Ho Chi Minh City (UEH) and Vinh Long have invested in facilities and supported students to deploy and implement the Cooperative operating model. Simultaneously, the campus invited representatives from Saigon Co.op units, Co.op Extra Hypermarket and Vinh Long Coopmart Supermarket to contribute to the draft of Cooperative charters, orient some activities for the Cooperative, and get “Developing student cooperative model and business startup ideas among students” Talkshow so as to share, exchange experiences, and inspire students in the campus. On 27th April 2022, at Auditorium A, Vinh Long Campus organized the Founding Conference of Student Cooperative on this campus.

At the conference, on behalf of the delegates, there were representatives of the following units: Vinh Long Cooperative Alliance, Vinh Long Department of Planning and Investment, Vinh Long Youth Union, and Vinh Long Coopmart Supermarket. Representing the University of Economics Ho Chi Minh City and Vinh Long Campus, there were the appearances of Dr. Bui Quang Hung - Vice President of UEH and Director of Vinh Long Campus, Board of Directors of the campus, representative of leaders of the units; the Executive Committee of Youth Union, Student Association of the campus, the Personnel Committee, the Executive Committee of the campus, and the members of the Cooperative.

Overview of the Founding Conference of Student Cooperative in Vinh Long Campus

Some students attending the conference via an online platform

Stating at the conference, Dr. Bui Quang Hung - Vice President of UEH and Director of the campus emphasized: “The student Cooperative and the start-up incubator models at Vinh Long Campus (UEH will be deployed at the Campus in May 2022), with the model of clubs, groups, especially the Scientific Research Club of students, will become an ecosystem in the university, and a place for experimentation; and use the trained knowledge and skills to help students develop ideas, business projects. Besides, these turn business ideas and projects into experimental models in reality, thereby developing and bringing them to market. These models catch the leaders' and teachers’ eyes and get support from outside units (Saigon Co.op, Vinh Long Coopmart Supermarket,...). Saigon Co.op also had a talk show with students at the campus to comment on Cooperative Charter and share experiences for developing the Cooperative model; simultaneously, Saigon Co.op and Vinh Long Coopmart Supermarket also committed to support for the Cooperative to carry out business projects, importantly, the system of mini supermarkets which serve the daily necessities of the campus”.

On behalf of the heads of the university, Dr. Bui Quang Hung thanked the support of Vinh Long Cooperative Alliance, Vinh Long Department of Planning and Investment, Vinh Long Youth Union, Saigon Co.op, Vinh Long Coopmart Supermarket, and UEH - Vinh Long Campus and expected that the units, partners and lecturers will continue to support the Student Cooperative Campus to turn this model into a typical one in Vinh Long province.

Dr. Bui Quang Hung - Vice President of UEH cum Director of Vinh Long Campus - stating at the conference

After the speech of the Heads of UEH, the conference is carried out the main contents, including giving the approval to the Cooperative Charter (the Cooperative), the production and business plan of the Cooperative, the list of Cooperative members; election of the Board of Directors, Chairman of Directors, Board of Supervisors, Head of Supervisory Board and approving the Resolution of the conference.

Approving the Cooperative Resolution of the conference

Approving the draft of the Cooperative business plan at the conference

A representative of the Department of Planning and Investment speaking at the conference

A representative of Vinh Long Cooperative Alliance stating at the conference

After exchanging and discussing, members of the Cooperative have agreed that the minimum capital contribution when registering a cooperative member is 200,000 VND and accepted to register a cooperative’s business lines, including food service and souvenirs; general business stores ( mini-supermarket Co.op); travel agency (tour organization); supporting research, providing research products and applications of units in the university; organization of introduction and trade promotion (organization of events, commercial services); operation of sports facilities (soccer, volleyball,...); printing and photocopying of documents; car-washing services, oil changes; laundry services; dedicated design activities (phone decoration); tutoring services; repairing computers and peripherals, repairing communication equipment;...

Student Cooperative is a legal entity with its seal and account, operating under the Law of Cooperatives. Participants in the Cooperative are students, trainees, officials, and employees of UEH. The number at the beginning was 141 members, of which 124 members were students and 17 remainings were officers and employees of the campus.

Start-up Coffee is one of the main operating models of Student Cooperative

After the candidates of the Board of Directors presented their business ideas, the conference proceeded to elect the Board of Directors (including 5 members), and the Supervisory Board (including 3 members) for the term 2022 - 2024; the Chairman of the Board of Directors, and the Heads of the Supervisory Board. After the election, Nguyen Vo Phuong Nguyen - K46 Student Business Administration held the position of Chairman of the Board of the Directors cum Directors of the Cooperative, and Pham Hoang Dinh - K46 Student of International Business kept the position of Head of the Supervisory Board of the Cooperative.

Students running for the Board of Directors presenting their business ideas

Members of the Cooperative voted by secret ballots to elect the Board of Directors, Chairman of the Board of Directors, Supervisory Board, and Head of Supervisory Board

Board of Directors and Supervisory Board for the term 2022 - 2024 launching the conference

Student Nguyen Vo Phuong Nguyen - Chairman of the Board of Directors and Director of the Cooperative - stating promisingly at the conference

With the purpose of supporting the Cooperative to quickly stabilize its organization, Dr. Bui Quang Hung - Vice President of UEH and Director of the campus - assigned several tasks to the Cooperative in the first year of its establishment as follows: [1] Quickly completing the organizational structure of the Cooperative, and assigning duties to the Board of Directors, Executive Board, Supervisory Boards and members; [2] Reviewing the activities being carried out in the early days of the establishment of the Start-up Coffee model, and evaluating its effectiveness and making the appropriate adjustment to develop this model; [3] Continuing to receive and develop business ideas of Cooperative members and those who are not yet members of the Cooperative; simultaneously, combining with the operation of the startup incubator at the campus to turn ideas into reality. [4] Continuing to mobilize and attract members to join and contribute capital to the Cooperative and enlist the support of external units and partners.

After the establishment of the conference, the Cooperative Board of Directors will carry out the procedures for registration of the establishment of the Cooperative under the Law of Cooperatives, and implement activities according to the Charter of the Cooperative.