UEH News

• 24 Apr
• 2026

[UEH 50 Global Partners] UEH and Hasselt University: Building Sustainable Connections and Expanding Interdisciplinary Cooperation

24 Apr, 2026

As part of the “UEH 50 Years - 50 Partners in 5 Continents” program series, from April 13 to 17, 2026, the University of Economics Ho Chi Minh City (UEH) officially welcomed and worked with a delegation from Hasselt University (Belgium). The visit marked an important step in strengthening and expanding the strategic partnership between the two universities in the fields of transportation, urban development, and sustainable development.

During the visit, the Faculty of Architecture at Hasselt University and the Institute of Smart City and Management (ISCM), UEH College of Technology and Design, jointly organized the international workshop titled “Non-violent Communication for Architecture Students - From Dialogue to Human-Centered Design.” The workshop clearly demonstrated a shift from formal cooperation to substantive collaboration, closely connecting teaching, research, and professional practice.

The Hasselt University delegation during the workshop with the Institute of Smart City and Management (ISCM)

Under the direct guidance of Dr. Els Hannes, the workshop aimed to equip architecture and urban studies students with empathetic communication skills — an essential competency in multi-stakeholder design environments. Students were introduced to the Non-violent Communication (NVC) method developed by Marshall Rosenberg, which consists of four core components: observation, feelings, needs, and strategy. Through real-life scenarios in learning and design such as teamwork, studio critiques, and handling differing viewpoints, participants practiced active listening, clear expression, and accurate identification of relevant stakeholders’ needs.

Dr. Els Hannes directly taught at the workshop for ISCM students

In addition to theoretical sessions, the workshop also included field survey activitíe in Ho Chi Minh City. There, students directly observed, documented, and analyzed a specific urban space through the lens of non-violent communication. The groups presented their analytical findings and proposed design directions that balanced the needs of users, communities, and other stakeholders. Through this activity, students not only improved their academic presentation skills in English but also clearly demonstrated their ability to apply human-centered design thinking in practice.

A proud highlight of the event series between the two universities was the UEH Flag Journey ceremony marking UEH’s 50th anniversary, symbolizing the strategic bond and long-term commitment between UEH and Hasselt University. At the same time, it conveyed the message of a UEH that actively integrates into the global community and continuously strengthens its position within the international higher education network.

Representatives of UEH and Hasselt University together performing the Flag Journey ceremony

The success of the event series has opened prospects for expanding cooperation between UEH and Hasselt University into new fields, especially architecture and urban design. Hasselt University highly values the academic environment, the professional competence of UEH’s lecturers, and the proactive learning spirit of UEH students. This consensus provides an important foundation for the two sides to continue promoting in-depth interdisciplinary training and research projects, creating more academic value and breakthrough international experiences for learners in the future.

Other photos from the working session:

News, images: Institute of Smart City and Management (ISCM), Department of Communications and Partnerships