UEH Sustainable Finance Institute in 2025: Continuing the mission to promote sustainable economic and financial development for communities and localities

31 Jan, 2026

Amid the strong momentum of sustainable development at both national and local levels, the Sustainable Finance Institute (SFI) of the University of Economics Ho Chi Minh City (UEH) continues to reaffirm its mission of advancing sustainable economic and financial development through a wide range of research, training, advisory, and multi-dimensional cooperation activities. These efforts are oriented toward serving communities and localities, while also contributing to strengthening UEH’s position as a Multidisciplinary and Sustainable University in the trust of society.

EDUCATION: Enhancing quality and expanding social impact

In 2025, the education programs of the UEH Sustainable Finance Institute continued to record positive enrollment outcomes at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels. The integration of finance with sustainable governance in the Institute’s training orientation has gained increasing recognition from society, reflecting real labor market demand and reaffirming the credibility of the Corporate and Environmental Sustainable Governance (ESG) Program within UEH’s education system.

At the same time, the SFI also regularly reviews and updates its curricula to ensure academic standards, program articulation, and alignment with global practices. Notably, Training of Trainers (ToT) programs for lecturers from Vietnamese universities, implemented under projects funded by the Government of Luxembourg, have contributed to strengthening the capacity of core teaching staff and disseminating knowledge on sustainable finance and governance across Vietnam’s higher education system.

The UEH Sustainable Finance Institute delivers the course “Sustainable finance from a gender and social inclusion perspective” for lecturers of the Faculty of Finance, Banking Academy

Beyond formal education, the Institute continued to implement flexible community-oriented training activities. In 2025, the SFI provided free short-term training courses for the community, alongside customized training programs tailored to the needs of organizations, enterprises, and local authorities. Through these achievements in education, the Institute has further affirmed UEH’s role in fulfilling its social mission and contributing to the development of a sustainable financial system.

SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH: Exceeding targets and expanding international collaboration

In 2025, the research activities of the UEH Sustainable Finance Institute achieved notable results by meeting and exceeding targets set under UEH regulations, while maintaining strong alignment with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
In terms of academic publications, on average, each lecturer had one international journal article accepted for publication and one additional article under peer review.

Regarding research projects, the Institute implemented a ministerial-level project for the 2025-2026 period on schedule and successfully completed university-level projects at an average of one project per lecturer, contributing to the expansion of interdisciplinary research depth. The Institute also co-organized one international conference and one national conference, with its lecturers frequently serving as session chairs.

In international cooperation, the SFI recorded significant progress through two ongoing research projects implemented on schedule and the proposal of a new project on Food Loss and Waste, opening promising prospects for future collaboration.

These outstanding results in 2025 continue to affirm the Institute’s role as UEH’s core research hub in the field of finance linked to sustainable development.

GOVERNANCE AND OPERATIONS: A foundation for sustainable development

In governance, the Institute fully complied with requirements for reporting, accountability, and OKR evidence, while proactively coordinating with functional management units to ensure effective evaluation processes and protect institutional interests. Human resource development followed the approved plan; by 2025, the Institute had three Associate Professors, strengthening UEH’s academic capacity and leadership in specialized fields. Faculty members and professional staff all had scientific publications or participated in projects related to sustainable development.

The SFI’s team experienced strong growth in 2025

In operations, the SFI maintained stable and effective performance across education, research, and cooperation activities. Financial management, expenditures, and settlements were conducted in compliance with regulations, supported by close coordination between the Institute and UEH’s functional management units. Academic communication activities were strengthened, achieving an average of 2.5 communication products per lecturer across official channels and specialized media, thereby disseminating knowledge and sustainable values to the wider community.

CONNECTIVITY AND PARTNERSHIPS: Expanding networks for communities and localities

In 2025, the UEH Sustainable Finance Institute engaged in numerous international cooperation activities, with multiple projects implemented on schedule. These included projects on water security for Southeast Asian cities, the GRI Standards (in collaboration with GRI Vietnam), and joint research with the University of York. In addition, one Training of Trainers project was successfully completed, while another new project is currently under proposal.
The Institute also expanded its cooperation network through the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with a partner in Koblenz, Germany, and is preparing to implement joint training agreements in the near future. Thematic workshops featuring international experts, particularly in the field of financial risk management linked to climate change, have contributed to enhancing awareness and practical capacity for sustainability among communities and stakeholders.

International experts sharing insights on “ESG Risk Management in Asian Banking Systems” with trainees, students, and banking professionals

Staying True to the Mission – Expanding Sustainable Value

The achievements attained in 2025 reflect the persistent efforts of the UEH Sustainable Finance Institute in strengthening academic quality, expanding partnerships, and serving communities. Building on this foundation, the SFI is ready to enter the next phase of development with a long-term vision and an innovative spirit, making increasingly meaningful contributions to UEH’s sustainable university strategy, while accompanying national and global efforts to realize the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)./.

New, photos: UEH Sustainable Finance Institute