UEH welcoming the Mayor of Rotterdam (Netherlands)

31 Jul, 2022

On the afternoon of July 27th, 2022, University of Economics Ho Chi Minh City (UEH) was honored to welcome the Mayor of Rotterdam (Netherlands) to visit and work. Mayor Aboutaleb shared his ideas on leadership, economic sustainability, and resilience with lecturers and students of graduate programs on the topic “Leadership, sustainable economic development and resilience.”

On the afternoon of July 27, 2022, University of Economics Ho Chi Minh City (UEH) was honored to welcome the Mayor of Rotterdam (Netherlands) to visit and work.

On behalf of Mayor’s Delegation, there were: Mr. Ahmed Aboutaleb - Mayor of Rotterdam City; Ms. Roeleke Seinstra - Deputy Head of International Affairs, Office of the Mayor, City of Rotterdam; Mr. Johan Verlinde - Climate Adaptation Program Director, Urban Management, City of Rotterdam; Mr. Daniël Stork - Consulate General of the Netherlands in Vietnam, Mr. Christoph Prommersberger - Deputy Embassy of the Netherlands in Vietnam.

Welcoming the delegation, on the UEH side, there were Prof. Dr. Nguyen Dong Phong – Chairman of the University Council; Dr. Bui Quang Hung – Vice President of UEH; Assoc.Prof.Dr. Phan Thi Bich Nguyet – Chairwoman of Strategy and Policy Advisory Council; Prof. Dr. Nguyen Trong Hoai – Editor-in-Chief of JABES; Dr. Pham Khanh Nam – Vice Head of UEH College of Economics, Law and Government; Assoc.Prof.Dr. Nguyen Phong Nguyen - Head of Department of Scientific Management and International Relations.

UEH welcoming the Mayor of Rotterdam (Netherlands) to visit and work

At the meeting, UEH and the Mayor discussed and wished to continue developing cooperation in various aspects related to research, teaching, and international projects.

Prof. Dr. Nguyen Dong Phong shared: “The Netherlands and Vietnam have a long and reliable relationship. The Netherlands is Europe’s second-largest trading partner and one of the major direct investors in Vietnam. For this reason, UEH University is willing to work with Dutch institutions to strengthen this partnership in relation to research, teaching, and international projects. UEH and Erasmus University Rotterdam have co-developed the Vietnam-the Netherlands Program since 1994, with the number of 50 students per year. UEH lecturers are also pursuing their PhD degrees at Erasmus University Rotterdam. I believe this program will be maintained for a long time and further developed in the coming years. Vietnam and the Netherlands will celebrate 50 years of diplomatic relations in 2023. Together we will promote dynamism, innovation, and community connection, spreading knowledge and values for sustainable development of both Vietnam and the Netherlands.”

Mr. Ahmed Aboutaleb - Mayor of Rotterdam - remarked: “We respect the bilateral cooperation relationship between Vietnam and the Netherlands and look forward to seeing more investment projects from the two countries in HCMC and Rotterdam. As Mayor of Rotterdam and a member of the board of directors of the Resilient City Network, I do hope to share with you my ideas on leadership, sustainable economic development and resilience.”

Prof. Dr. Nguyen Dong Phong and Mayor Ahmed Aboutaleb exchanging souvenirs

In accordance with the frame of the visit, the Mayor of Rotterdam Mr. Aboutaleb, Winner of the 2021 World Mayors Award and a Board member of the Resilient Cities Network shared his ideas on leadership, sustainable economic development and resilience to lecturers and students of Vietnam - Netherlands graduate programs, economic disciplines, public management, smart city management and creativity with the theme: Leadership, Sustainable Economic Development and Resilience.

Overview of the sharing session of Mr. Ahmed Aboutaleb - Mayor of Rotterdam (Netherlands) – meeting students of UEH Graduate programs

Mayor Ahmed Aboutaleb presenting the theme “Leadership, Sustainable Economic Development and Resilience” with lecturers and students of UEH graduate programs.

Mayor Aboutableb defined leadership in a very special way. He emphasized the natural leadership ability, which can push society towards civilization through the self-motivation of people. He told stories of leadership from Mahatma Gandhi and Nelson Mandela. According to him, leadership comes from crises and crisis resolution.

Resilience reflects the ability of a system to respond to a crisis. Leadership for sustainable economic development in a locality must be able to build systems that are highly resilient to shocks such as climate change, epidemics, and war.

Mayor Aboutableb also assumed that a smart city should be understood essentially as the smart people that shape a city. The local leadership management in the current era should focus on the concept of a resilient city rather than a smart city. Smart city development is not enough to withstand future shocks of uncertainty. A resilient city, in terms of its environmental, socioeconomic, and cultural dimensions, can help its inhabitants respond and weather shocks much better. The future belongs to resilient cities.

Dr. Pham Khanh Nam – Vice Heaf of UEH College of Economics, Law and Government - presenting flowers to thank Mr. Aboutableb - Mayor of Rotterdam City

Additional photos

The Delegation visiting, working, and learning UEH Digital Traditional Room

Mayor Ahmed Aboutaleb presented the theme “Leadership, Sustainable Economic Development and Resilience” with lecturers and students of UEH Graduate programs

UEH students and learners exchanging and inquiring

News, photos: Department of Marketing and Communication, Department of Scientific Management and International Relations, School of Economics.