In August 2023, Dr. Trinh Thi Phan Lan, Head of the Corporate Finance Department, Faculty of Banking and Finance; Dr. Hoang Thi Bao Thoa, Head of the Marketing Department, School of Business Administration, and Dr. Nguyen Thi Phan Thu, a lecturer at the Faculty of Development Economics of VNU University of Economics and Business were selected to participate in the "Renew for Sustainability" training program in Ireland.

This program was part of a collaboration between VNU-UEB and the UCD Innovation Academy on the topic of "Leading a Culture of Creative and Innovative Renewal and Building a Sustainable Ecosystem of Innovation in Higher Education in Vietnam." The project aimed to establish a culture of sustainable innovation within VNU and develop a sustainable innovation ecosystem within the entire higher education system in Vietnam. The three UEB lecturers joined other educators to learn about "Renew for Sustainability" and gain practical experience by visiting various businesses in Ireland.

The training program served as an opportunity for UEB lecturers to enhance their knowledge and expand their networks. The knowledge and valuable experiences acquired during this program would be applied to improve the content of the Creativity course for first-year students at VNU University of Economics and Business.

Dr. Trinh Thi Phan Lan shared her impressions: "The course was highly practical and human-centered. Participants experienced theoretical concepts through individual and group activities. They directly explored real-world issues and applied theories to propose solutions. The three-day field experience at businesses and the natural landscape allowed participants to truly absorb the content they had learned. The program's human-centric approach is evident in its goal of guiding learners toward noble objectives for the community and working for a green and sustainable future."

UEB lecturers visit the Burren Sustainable Ecosystem

Dr. Hoang Bao Thoa was also impressed by the organization of the program, saying, "I was genuinely impressed with how the professors from the Innovation Academy at University College Dublin, Ireland, organized the training. The training method, which focused on experiential learning, included activities designed to gradually increase in complexity. Learners were placed at the center of the process, and the facilitators played a guiding role."

Dr. Nguyen Thi Phan Thu added, "The course was a memorable and valuable experience. The teachers devoted themselves to delivering knowledge to us. Before we left, the teachers even gave each lecturer a small tree planted in the sustainable ecosystem of Burren, Ireland, with each tree bearing the name of the respective lecturer. This was an unforgettable gift and a source of motivation for us to spread the values of the course to all students and future generations."

Over two weeks of learning and experiencing the sustainable development policies of local Irish businesses, UEB lecturers acquired valuable knowledge and experiences, which they would share with other UEB lecturers and interested parties.