UEH Expands Multidisciplinary Academic and Research Cooperation with Partners in the Netherlands: Towards Developing a Circular Economy, Healthcare Economics and Management, and a Sustainable Ocean Economy

21 Oct, 2025

Within the framework of the working program in the Netherlands from October 13 to 18, 2025, a delegation from the University of Economics Ho Chi Minh City (UEH), led by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Bui Quang Hung – UEH Executive Vice President – conducted working sessions with key academic and research partners. These included the International Institute of Social Studies (ISS) and the Erasmus School of Health Policy & Management (ESHPM), both part of Erasmus University Rotterdam; Utrecht University; the Ocean Technology Company Pot Fishing Agency; the Catch Welfare Project; and the “Living Lab” model of the Blue Food Centre, located in the traditional fishing village of Wieringen.

The delegation also included Assoc. Prof. Dr. Pham Khanh Nam – Rector of the UEH College of Economics, Law and Government; Prof. Dr. Nguyen Trong Hoai – Editor-in-Chief of JABES (Journal of Asian Business and Economic Studies); and Mr. Vo Duc Hoang Vu, M.A. – Deputy Head of the Department of Research - Development and Global Engagement.

UEH and ISS: Continuing a 30-Year partnership, deepening academic cooperation

Kicking off the trip, the UEH delegation met with the International Institute of Social Studies (ISS) at Erasmus University Rotterdam - a strategic partner that has accompanied UEH for over three decades through the Vietnam - Netherlands Programme (VNP).

The delegation was welcomed by Prof. Dr. Ruard Ganzevoort – Dean of ISS; Prof. Dr. Rozalba Icaza – Vice Dean for Research; Dr. Roy Huijsmans – Vice Dean for Education; and Prof. Dr. Arjun Bedi – Former Vice Dean for Research and Co-Director of the Vietnam - Netherlands Programme.

Prof. Dr. Ruard Ganzevoort - Dean of ISS welcomes the UEH delegation.

Prof. Dr. Nguyen Trong Hoai summarized the outstanding achievements of the Double Degree Master's Programme (DDP) and the Joint Doctorate Programme (JDP) - successful models of cooperation between Vietnam and the Netherlands in higher education and research over the past 30 years.

During the meeting, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Bui Quang Hung shared UEH's internationalization orientation for its training programs in the strategic period 2025-2030 and expressed a desire for both sides to continue expanding the enrollment scale of the Double Degree Programme (DDP) at the master's and doctoral levels.

In addition, he addressed Vietnam's ongoing two-tier government restructuring and the increasing demand for training programs in the public sector to enhance policy-making and local governance capacity. Besides, he expressed his intention to collaborate with ISS, leveraging its strengths in public policy training and research, to expand cooperation in this field. As a result, both sides agreed to explore the joint development of a master's program in public policy and short-term training courses for local officials, building upon three decades of partnership and mutual understanding.

UEH and ISS will also cooperate on joint research projects, participate in the Erasmus+ program, EU funds, and other international funding sources. They also discussed establishing a UEH-ISS Research Center at the UEH Nexus Campus Nha Trang, aiming to create a research and knowledge transfer hub for sustainable development in Vietnam.

Leaders of UEH and ISS exchange commemorative gifts, marking a visit that opens many meaningful opportunities.

Cooperation with ESHPM: Develop training and research programs in Economics and Health Care Management

At the Erasmus School of Health Policy & Management (ESHPM), the UEH delegation and its partners discussed the direction of cooperation in training and research in the field of Economics and Health Care Management, playing a vital role in UEH's multidisciplinary development strategy.

The two parties agreed to:

Develop a Joint Master's Program in Health Economics & Management, inheriting existing collaborations between UEH and Erasmus University Rotterdam.
Enhance faculty and student exchanges and short-term training for healthcare management professionals.
Add a dedicated session on Health Economics and Management to the annual international ACBES conference, organized by UEH's JABES.
Collaborate on proposals for international funding under the Erasmus Mundus and Horizon Europe frameworks.
Discuss detailed plans for joint activities at the UEH Nexus Campus in Nha Trang.

Prof. Dr. Maarten MJ Ijzerman, Dean of ESHPM, introduced the "Convergence Ecosystem" model - a collaborative network between Erasmus MC, TU Delft, and Erasmus University. This model links research, training, and innovation, being considered a prime example in the Netherlands for healthcare, biomedical technology, and sustainable social transformation. This network brings together over 65,000 students, 7,000 faculty and researchers, and 450 partner universities worldwide, with a mission to "create positive societal impact through education, research, and community engagement."

Prof. Dr. Maarten MJ Ijzerman, Dean of ESHPM, introduces the "Convergence Ecosystem" model.

This model serves as a practical suggestion for UEH as it builds its interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary research and training networks in Vietnam, particularly at the UEH Nexus Campus in Nha Trang, which is envisioned as a "Global Hub" for programs on the marine economy, public health, and environmental policy.

Speaking at the meeting, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Bui Quang Hung emphasized: "UEH wishes to expand its cooperation with ESHPM to build an advanced, highly applicable training program, contributing to the development of high-quality human resources in healthcare management. We also aim to jointly establish a research center for Healthcare Economics and Management at UEH."

The delegation takes a commemorative photo at ESHPM.

Exploring the 'Living Lab' Model at Utrecht University: Opportunities for Climate Change Adaptation in the Mekong Delta

The third day's working session took place at the School of Economics, Law and Government at Utrecht University.

Discussions focused on interdisciplinary research and training cooperation, particularly on climate change adaptation, water management, and sustainable delta development. This was explored through the example of the Delta Climate Centre (DCC), a 'living lab' model and a leading Dutch center for collaborative research and education, serving as a model for co-creation that connects academia with practical development.

The DCC was founded by six organizations: Scalda, HZ University of Applied Sciences, University College Roosevelt, NIOZ Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research, Wageningen University & Research, and Utrecht University. Located in Zeeland province, the center operates as a "living lab," where climate solutions are practiced and tested through connections between research, education, and the local community.

An overview of the working session at the School of Economics, Law and Government, Utrecht University

The UEH delegation expressed its admiration for this model and viewed it as a potential direction for cooperation, especially for the UEH Mekong Campus, where UEH is implementing programs on climate change adaptation and sustainable development for the Mekong Delta region.

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Bui Quang Hung affirmed: "The experience from the Delta Climate Centre provides valuable insights for establishing a similar model in Vietnam—a 'living lab' for research, training, and practical application for the Mekong Delta."

The UEH delegation takes a commemorative photo at Utrecht University

Pot Fishing Agency, Catch Welfare, and Blue Food Centre: Connecting Technology and Co-creation Platforms for a Sustainable Ocean Economy

Concluding the working program in the Netherlands, the UEH delegation held discussions with the Blue Food Centre and the Catch Welfare Platform on cooperation in marine economic development and ocean technology. The delegation visited the Pot Fishing Agency, a Dutch company specializing in the research, development, and application of advanced technology in marine resource management, exploitation, and conservation.

Professor Martin Scholten of Blue Food Wieringen shares insights on the Blue Food Centre model.

This meeting opened up opportunities for collaboration in applied research, ocean technology, and innovation for the green economy, contributing to UEH's vision of becoming a multidisciplinary, sustainable, and globally integrated university.

The Blue Food Centre, funded by the European Union and the Dutch government, is located in Wieringen—a traditional fishing hub within the UNESCO World Heritage Wadden Sea area. The center acts as a nexus connecting knowledge, businesses, and the community, focusing on fisheries, marine technology, and tourism based on maritime cultural heritage to promote innovation and sustainable development in the "blue sectors”.

Pot Fishing Agency, a company with a long history in the Dutch fishing industry, now leads an ecosystem that combines wind energy, seafood harvesting, and smart marine technology. The company is developing advanced technological solutions such as AI-powered marine reconnaissance robots, environmentally friendly fishing methods, and sustainable seafood processing, with potential for technology transfer and cooperation in Vietnam and the Asia-Pacific region.

Meanwhile, the Catch Welfare Platform, established in 2023, introduced a global initiative for bio-welfare in seafood harvesting, aiming to improve the treatment of marine organisms throughout the capture and post-harvest process. The organization is building a multidisciplinary network of businesses, research institutes, and regulatory agencies to apply stress-reducing technologies, pre-slaughter stunning systems, and certification for responsible fishing practices.

The Dutch partners highly valued UEH's direction in developing a research and training network for the marine economy in Vietnam, especially through the UEH Nexus Campus in Nha Trang. All parties agreed to continue in-depth discussions on cooperation in research, technological innovation, and human resource development for a sustainable marine economy.

The UEH delegation and the Catch Welfare Platform exchange commemorative gifts.

Affirming UEH's Position in the International Cooperation Network: Towards Sustainable Development

The working trip of the UEH delegation to the Netherlands achieved significant progress in expanding its multidisciplinary network for academic, research, and innovation cooperation with leading European universities, research institutes, and enterprises.

From strengthening a 30-year partnership with ISS and expanding into healthcare management with ESHPM, to learning from the climate adaptation model at Utrecht University and connecting with innovators in the marine economy like the Blue Food Centre, Pot Fishing Agency, and Catch Welfare Platform, the trip helped clarify UEH's role as a multidisciplinary, globally connected, and community-serving university.

The initial orientations and agreements reached during this trip not only open up new international cooperation opportunities but also lay the foundation for applied research, training, and knowledge transfer programs in Vietnam—especially at the UEH Nexus Campus in Nha Trang and the UEH Mekong Campus.

The trip concluded in a spirit of cooperation, trust, and mutual development, affirming UEH's commitment to advancing global knowledge for a green, innovative, and sustainable future.

Other images from the working trip: