MOU Signing Ceremony between the College of Business UEH and Swiss Tourism for Sustainable Development Project in Vietnam

16 Dec, 2025

On the afternoon of December 13, 2025, the College of Business (COB) solemnly hosted the Signing Ceremony of the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between COB and the Swiss Tourism for Sustainable Development Project (ST4SD). The event marked an important milestone in UEH’s strategy to internationalize its training activities and contribute to the sustainable development of Vietnam’s tourism and hospitality industry.

At the signing ceremony, on behalf of UEH, there was the participation of: Dr. Tran Anh Hoa – Vice Rector of the College of Business, Dr. Nguyen Duc Tri – Dean of the School of Tourism, together with faculty members from the School.

Representatives from ST4SD included: Mr. Olivier Messmer – Project Team Lead, Ms. Dang Phuong Anh – Human Resource Development Component Manager, and Ms. Le Thi Huong Lien – Communication Manager of the ST4SD Project.

The event also welcomed distinguished guests: Mr. Andri Meier – Deputy Head of Cooperation, Embassy of Switzerland in Vietnam, and Mr. Do Quang Huy – Senior Program Officer, Swiss State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO).

Speaking at the signing ceremony, Dr. Tran Anh Hoa – Vice Rector of the UEH College of Business, emphasized: “The Swiss EHT program, UEH gains access to a Swiss-standard training model that harmoniously integrates theory, online learning, practical experience, and industry networks. The project not only supports the development of internationally qualified instructors but also expands capacity-building programs tailored to Vietnam’s tourism and hospitality enterprises. I strongly believe that with the combined strengths of both sides, this collaboration will establish a sustainable talent-development ecosystem where universities, businesses, and international partners can share knowledge, foster innovation, create long-term value for the community, and contribute meaningfully to the advancement of Vietnam’s tourism and hospitality sector”.

Dr. Tran Anh Hoa – Vice Rector of UEH Business School, shared at the signing ceremony

At the signing ceremony, Mr. Olivier Messmer, Team Lead of the Swiss Tourism for Sustainable Development Project, introduced the project funded by the Swiss State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO), implemented during the period 2023–2027, with the objective of supporting the sustainable and inclusive development of Vietnam’s tourism sector. The ST4SD project focuses on three main pillars: supporting the formulation and implementation of sustainable tourism policies at national and local levels; enhancing capacity for tourism education and training institutions in Vietnam; and promoting destinations and tourism enterprises to improve sustainability in operations and investment. The program is designed and delivered with the participation of Swiss partners, including EHL Hospitality Business School, aiming for international training standards and strong practical applicability.

Mr. Olivier Messmer – Head of the ST4SD Project sharing at the signing ceremony

Representing College of Business, Dr. Nguyen Duc Tri – Dean, School of Tourism shared insights into UEH’s capacity to implement international-standard training programs and reaffirmed the university’s strong commitment to closely accompany the Swiss Tourism for Sustainable Development project.

Dr. Nguyen Duc Tri – Dean, School of Tourism delivering remarks

Under the cooperation agreement, COB and ST4SD agreed to jointly implement the Swiss Executive Hospitality Training Scheme (Swiss EHT) – a tourism and hospitality management training program funded by the Swiss Government and SECO, and developed by ST4SD in collaboration with EHL Hospitality Business School (Switzerland). This cooperation not only creates important opportunities for UEH to enhance the quality of its tourism and hospitality training programs through the transfer of training standards, expertise, and Swiss international management models, but also contributes to the development of an internationally oriented workforce and supports the sustainable growth of Vietnam’s tourism industry in the future.

UEH College of Business and the Swiss Tourism for Sustainable Development Project in Vietnam signing the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU)

At the ceremony, representatives of ST4SD also expressed their expectations for long-term cooperation with UEH, particularly in the successful implementation of a sustainable training model that generates widespread value for the business community and the tourism sector as a whole.

Through this signing ceremony, the UEH College of Business and the Swiss Tourism for Sustainable Development Project in Vietnam (ST4SD) officially launched a strategic partnership aimed at long-term sustainable development and a shared goal of building a human resource development ecosystem for the tourism and hospitality industry. Accordingly, the University continues to enhance its mission in education and create solid stepping stones to help future generations of students become increasingly confident, resilient, and ready for integration and development, while also strengthening management capacity for middle and senior managers in Vietnam’s tourism and hospitality enterprises.

Dr. Tran Anh Hoa – Vice Rector of the UEH College of Business and Dr. Nguyen Duc Tri – Dean, School of Tourism presenting souvenirs to the partners

The MOU signing ceremony between the UEH College of Business and the Swiss Tourism for Sustainable Development Project in Vietnam concluded successfully, laying a solid foundation for cooperation in developing the international-standard Swiss EHT training program in Vietnam. This represents a strategic step contributing to the enhancement of UEH’s position within the regional and international tourism and hospitality education network.

The MOU Signing Ceremony between UEH College of Business and ST4SD concluded successfully, establishing a solid foundation for the implementation of the internationally recognized Swiss EHT training program in Vietnam. This marks a strategic step toward elevating UEH’s position within the regional and international hospitality education landscape.

Pillar: Community Connection

Project: UEH Connecting

News, photos: School of Business UEH