[UEH 50th Anniversary] UEH Partnerships Summit 2026: An Initiative to Promote Multilateral Cooperation and Co-create Value for a Sustainable Future

19 Apr, 2026

On April 18, 2026, the University of Economics Ho Chi Minh City (UEH) organized the UEH Partnerships Summit 2026, marking the 50th anniversary of the university (1976-2026). With the message “Embracing Co-Created Futures,” the event officially introduced a new initiative - the multilateral cooperation ecosystem: Co-creating value for a sustainable future (UEH Value Co-Creation Ecosystem for Sustainable Impact).

In the context of Ho Chi Minh City entering a new phase of development, the requirement is not only to connect resources, but also how these resources are operated and co-create value within a unified and sustainable ecosystem. In this context, the UEH Partnerships Summit 2026 marks the transition from the cooperation program “Connecting Community - Sharing Knowledge - Sustainable Action” (2020-2025) to the multilateral cooperation ecosystem: Co-creating value for a sustainable future (UEH Value Co-Creation Ecosystem for Sustainable Impact).

Overview of UEH Partnerships Summit 2026 at Hall A.103 - Campus A, UEH

Attending the conference, representing the People’s Committee and departments, agencies, and sectors of Ho Chi Minh City were: Mr. Nguyen Manh Cuong - Alternate Member of the Party Central Committee, Member of the Standing Committee of the City Party Committee, Vice Chairman of the Ho Chi Minh City People’s Committee; Mr. Lam Dinh Thang - Director of the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Science and Technology.

Representing UEH were: Prof. Nguyen Khac Quoc Bao - Secretary of the UEH Party Committee; Assoc. Prof. Bui Quang Hung - Interim President of UEH; Dr. Dinh Cong Khai - Vice President of UEH; Prof. Nguyen Dong Phong - Chairman of the UEH Strategic Advisory Council; Prof. Su Dinh Thanh - Chairman of the Scientific and Training Council, Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Asian Business and Economic Studies; Assoc. Prof. Phan Thi Bich Nguyet - Chairwoman of the UEH Alumni Executive Board; along with leaders of member colleges, departments, faculties, and institutes.

The conference was honored to welcome Mr. Nguyen Manh Cuong - Alternate Member of the Party Central Committee, Member of the Standing Committee of the City Party Committee, Vice Chairman of the Ho Chi Minh City People’s Committee

In his opening remarks, Assoc. Prof. Bui Quang Hung - Interim President of UEH, emphasized: “The value of collaboration lies not only in the number of activities or measurable outcomes, but in the quality of relationships and especially in the values created throughout the journey and sustained beyond it. Therefore, UEH Partnerships Summit 2026 is not merely a closing event but the starting point for a new development phase - where education, businesses, and government co-create value, contributing to innovation and sustainable development for the city, the future, and the community.”

Assoc. Prof. Bui Quang Hung emphasized the program's practical significance

50 years of connection and collaboration, 50 outstanding partners spreading sustainable values

Launched in 2020 and running for over five years, the program “Connecting Community - Sharing Knowledge - Sustainable Action” has become a guiding principle for bilateral cooperation among the university, businesses, and professional organizations, both domestically and internationally. In appreciation of the trust and long-term partnership from collaborators, within the conference framework, UEH honored 50 partner organizations that have made significant contributions to co-creating practical values for the community.

Prof. Nguyen Khac Quoc Bao and Assoc. Prof. Bui Quang Hung presented commemorative plaques to corporate partners including Orient Commercial Joint Stock Bank (OCB), Ho Chi Minh City Power Corporation, Vietnam Oil Corporation (PVOIL), United Overseas Bank (Vietnam) Limited (UOB), Truong Tuoi Group, Military Commercial Joint Stock Bank (MB), Nha Be Garment Corporation,Ho Chi Minh City Development Joint Stock Commercial Bank (HDBank), Saigon Union of Trading Cooperatives (Saigon Co.op), and Hoa Sen Group

Prof. Nguyen Dong Phong and Prof. Su Dinh Thanh presented commemorative plaques to corporate partners including D&L Technology Integration and Consulting Joint Stock Company, Saigon Trading Group (SATRA), Vietnam Prosperity Joint Stock Commercial Bank (VPBank), Motives Vietnam Joint Stock Company, Asia Commercial Joint Stock Bank (ACB), Ben Thanh Corporation (Benthanh Group), Fahasa Joint Stock Company, Suntory PepsiCo Vietnam Beverage Company Limited, Vietnam Export Import Commercial Joint Stock Bank (Eximbank), Vietnam Rubber Group (VRG), and Saigon Thuong Tin Commercial Joint Stock Bank (Sacombank)

Dr. Dinh Cong Khai and Assoc. Prof. Phan Thi Bich Nguyet presented commemorative plaques to corporate partners including 4M Joint Stock Company, Nhan Kiet Human Resources Supply Company Limited, MISA Joint Stock Company, Phu My Hung Development Company Limited, Korea IT Cooperation Center in Ho Chi Minh City, BDO Consulting Vietnam Company Limited, Song Hanh Advertising Investment Joint Stock Company, Mirae Asset Securities (Vietnam), Viet Tin Valuation Joint Stock Company, Nam Long Group, and TESOL Simple Education

Assoc. Prof. Nguyen Phong Nguyen - Rector of UEH College of Business and Dr. Tran Thi Tuan Anh - Vice Rector of UEH College of Economics, Law and Government presented commemorative plaques to corporate partners including Vietcombank -Tan Binh Branch, Ho Chi Minh City Innovation and Technology Incubation Center (ISC Saigon), Everpia Joint Stock Company, Au Lac Technology Application and Communication Company Limited (Alta Media), Paldo Vina Company Limited, MoMo Mobile Service Joint Stock Company, Bosch Vietnam Company Limited, Vietnam Restaurant Association, Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW), Ho Chi Minh City Tax Consultants Association, CPA Australia, and CFO Vietnam Club

In addition, the Giving to UEH program has awarded more than 213 billion VND in scholarships, supporting over 16,000 learners; nearly 150 international and national scientific conferences have been organized; hundreds of research projects, knowledge transfer initiatives, and community projects have been implemented with partners; and activities in innovation, entrepreneurship, sustainable development, and internationalization have continued to expand.

At the conference, representatives of partner organizations conducted a symbolic sponsorship ceremony, marking the continuation and expansion of cooperation activities in the new phase, especially in the year of UEH’s 50th anniversary.

Prof. Nguyen Khac Quoc Bao and Assoc. Prof. Bui Quang Hung received contributions and presented commemorative plaques to diamond sponsors, including Vietnam Oil Corporation (PVOIL), Orient Commercial Joint Stock Bank (OCB), Golden Asia Media Joint Stock Company, Truong Tuoi Group, and Nha Be Garment Corporation

Prof. Nguyen Dong Phong and Prof. Su Dinh Thanh received contributions and presented commemorative plaques to diamond sponsors, including Ho Chi Minh City Power Corporation, London Stock Exchange Group, Tierra Joint Stock Company (Tierra Diamond), Vietnam Prosperity Joint Stock Commercial Bank (VPBank), and Military Commercial Joint Stock Bank (MB)

Dr. Dinh Cong Khai and Assoc. Prof. Phan Thi Bich Nguyet received contributions and presented commemorative plaques to diamond sponsors, including D&L Technology Integration and Consulting Joint Stock Company, United Overseas Bank (Vietnam) Limited (UOB), Ho Chi Minh City Development Joint Stock Commercial Bank (HDBank), Saigon Trading Group (SATRA), and Fahasa Joint Stock Company

Assoc. Prof. Nguyen Phong Nguyen received contributions and presented commemorative plaques to gold sponsors, including Sky High Production - Trading - Service Company Limited, Saigon Thuong Tin Commercial Joint Stock Bank (Sacombank), Motives Vietnam Joint Stock Company, and Hoa Sen Group

Dr. Nguyen Thi Thy Lieu - Director of UEH Mekong received contributions and presented commemorative plaques to silver sponsors and partners, including Oxi Plus International Company Limited, AIM Academy Joint Stock Company, Asia Commercial Joint Stock Bank (ACB), and Sun Hospitality Group - North Bai Khem Branch (New World Phu Quoc)

Panel discussion “From Partnership to Co-Creation”: the journey from cooperation to co-creation

Moderated by Assoc. Prof. Trinh Tu Anh - Director of the UEH Institute of Smart City and Management, the panel “From Partnership to Co-Creation” gathered representatives from government agencies, international organizations, and major enterprises including Mr. Lam Dinh Thang - Director of the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Science and Technology; Ms. Pham Quynh Tran - representative of ICAEW; Mr. Pham Hong Hai - CEO of OCB Bank; Mr. Pham Quang Chien - Deputy CEO of Citek; and Ms. Dao Khanh Chi - Head of Human Resources at Sun Group.

From the perspectives of government, business, and international organizations, speakers agreed that “co-creation” is no longer a theoretical concept but is becoming a practical requirement:

- Businesses need to engage deeply in education to develop adaptability and lifelong learning capabilities;

- Universities and businesses must collaborate early to build a competent talent pipeline;

- Research needs to be linked with policy and urban development challenges;

- Innovation operates under open, multi-stakeholder models;

- Investment in education needs to shift toward long-term, sustainable impact.

Speakers exchanged and discussed insights during the panel “From Partnership to Co-Creation”

Mr. Lam Dinh Thang emphasized that the greatest value of collaboration lies in forming a multi-stakeholder ecosystem

Ms. Pham Quynh Tran - Head of Market Development, the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW), shared insights on long-term investment activities for developing learners’ capabilities

Mr. Pham Hong Hai - CEO of OCB shared about the transformation in the partnership between OCB and UEH

Ms. Dao Khanh Chi - Head of Human Resources at Sun Group, shared insights on new business requirements in workforce training

Mr. Pham Quang Chien - Deputy CEO of Citek Comprehensive Technology Solutions Company, proposed strengthening project-based learning models and deeper business engagement in the training process

Strategic orientation for multilateral cooperation in the new phas

Based on insights from the panel and practical demands in the new phase, in 2026 - marking UEH’s 50th anniversary - UEH officially announced the Multilateral cooperation ecosystem: Co-creating value for a sustainable future (UEH Value Co-Creation Ecosystem for Sustainable Impact). This is a multilateral cooperation model connecting Government - University - Business - Community - Environment to jointly identify problems, co-design solutions, co-implement, and co-create value.

Through the Keynote on the development strategy for cooperation between UEH and partners for the 2026-2030 period, Assoc. Prof. Bui Quang Hung introduced a framework of five co-creation pillars:

- Co-Education - Joint education and practical learning experiences

- Co-Research & Knowledge Transfer - Joint research and knowledge transfer

- Co-Talent Pipeline - Joint development of human resources and career ecosystem

- Co-Innovation - Joint incubation of initiatives and innovative solutions

- Co-Investing & Giving for Future Impact - Joint investment and contribution for the future

In this framework, the university serves as the knowledge hub, leading knowledge through education, research, and transfer; government agencies create policies and institutional frameworks for innovation; businesses act as drivers of economic development, bringing business and technological solutions into practice; the community provides feedback on needs for adjustment and co-creation of value; and the natural environment ensures sustainable development and balance among economic, social, and environmental dimensions.

Assoc. Prof. Bui Quang Hung presented the keynote on the development strategy for cooperation between UEH and its partners for the 2026-2030 period

A new journey has been opened with new strategies at the UEH Partnerships Summit 2026. Building on its 50-year foundation, past connections are extended into the present. UEH, together with government, businesses, community, and nature, is co-creating value for a sustainable future in a new development phase.

Delegates took commemorative photos

Some other photos from the event:

Exhibition and reception space for delegates at the UEH Partnerships Summit 2026

Delegates took commemorative photos before the opening ceremony

Partners presented congratulatory floral arrangements

Prof. Dr. Nguyen Khac Quoc Bao presented souvenirs to panel speakers

A musical performance was delivered by Meritorious Artist Pham Khanh Ngoc - UEH alumnus

Toward the 50-year milestone (27/10/1976 - 27/10/2026), the UEH 50+ Global Partners in 5 Continents “Embracing Global Connection” program, held throughout 2026, is a strategic initiative to connect 50 partners across 5 continents, expand and deepen UEH’s global cooperation network, promote transnational academic, training, and research collaboration, and affirm UEH’s role as a multidisciplinary, sustainable university in the global knowledge ecosystem.

This program is part of the series of 22 key activities aimed at repositioning and assigning new roles to the 8 heritage values created over UEH’s 50-year journey: Unity - Compassion - Dedication - Community - Pioneering - Creation - Sustainability - Internationalization.

Stay tuned for the special milestone:

UEH Grand Anniversary - "Embracing Future Together"

27/10/2026 | A.116 Hall & Livestreamed on Multi-platform

Explore more at https://ueh50.ueh.edu.vn/ or view the UEH 50th Anniversary Booklet at LINK.

Pillar: Connecting Community
Project: UEH Connecting

News, photos: Department of Communications and Partnerships