UEH on Its Journey to Becoming a UniverCity Innovation Hub: Connecting Global Knowledge and Creating Local Value through Partnerships in South Korea

From September 6 to 8, 2026, a delegation from the University of Economics Ho Chi Minh City (UEH) visited and worked with partners in South Korea, opening up promising opportunities for collaboration in education, research, innovation, and sustainable development.

The delegation was led by Assoc. Prof. Bui Quang Hung – President of UEH; Dr. Park Young June – Honorary President of the College of Technology and Design (CTD), former Vice Minister of Education of Korea; Assoc. Assoc. Prof. Trinh Tu Anh – Director of the Institute of Smart City and Management (ISCM); Dr. Christopher Han – Director of Innovation; Dr. Dong Su Yi – Vice Dean of the School of Media and Design (SMD); and Dr. Pham Nguyen Hoai – Director of the Smart Operations and Mobility Management Program.

Connecting UEH with Bonghwa County: Applying the Quintuple Helix Model to Promote Sustainable Local Development

In Bonghwa County, Gyeongsangbuk-do Province, the delegation met with Mr. Choi Ki-young – County Governor, local leaders, and Ms. Sunyoung Cho – representative of the Kangwoon Foundation (Kwangwoon University). Bonghwa is a region of special historical and cultural significance, preserving more than 800 years of heritage associated with Vietnam’s Ly Dynasty royal family, thereby providing a favorable foundation for developing connections in education, research, and international exchange.

In connection with the locality’s key K-Vietnam Valley project, the parties agreed on a cooperation orientation based on the Quintuple Helix model – connecting Universities, Government, Businesses, Communities, and Nature. This is also a model that UEH is developing to build a multidimensional collaborative ecosystem, aiming for sustainable development and creating substantive local impact.

Assoc. Prof. Bui Quang Hung delivered remarks at the meeting with the Bonghwa County delegation

UEH delegation took a commemorative photo in Bonghwa County, Gyeongsangbuk-do Province

Under this orientation, UEH and Kwangwoon University will serve as academic focal points and ecosystem connectors, focusing on two key pillars of cooperation:

• - Education and Global Knowledge Exchange: developing short- and long-term programs, studios, creative camps, and Project-Based Learning opportunities for students, learners, and international researchers.

• - Applied Research and Living Lab Development: working alongside the local community to transform existing projects into “living laboratories,” focusing on: Smart Agriculture: developing Smart Farm, Smart Coffee, and agricultural value chains based on the Farm-to-Table model; Applied Technology in Tourism and Culture: integrating AI, VR, and Immersive Technology to preserve the cultural heritage of the Ly Dynasty and develop next-generation experiential tourism products.

The cooperation between UEH and Bonghwa is expected to contribute to promoting heritage values, connecting knowledge, and creating momentum for the sustainable socio-economic development of the locality.

The two delegations exchanged gifts and took a commemorative photo

Expanding Cooperation with KMOU in Ocean Technology and Renewable Energy

As part of the working visit, Assoc. Prof. Bui Quang Hung and the UEH delegation visited Korea Maritime & Ocean University (KMOU). During the meeting with President Dr. Dong Keun Ryoo and KMOU leaders, the two sides discussed prospects for cooperation in maritime transportation management and operations, ocean technology, and renewable energy.

The UEH delegation visited and worked with Korea Maritime & Ocean University (KMOU)

UEH and KMOU have clearly complementary strengths. While KMOU has strong expertise in maritime studies, ocean sciences, engineering, and technology, UEH brings its interdisciplinary strengths in economics, management, innovation, urban planning, and sustainable development. This combination opens up broad opportunities for collaboration in addressing emerging issues such as the blue economy, ocean resource management, renewable energy system operations, and human resource development for emerging economic sectors.

Notably, these discussions are particularly meaningful as UEH Nexus Campus Nha Trang is gradually being completed and is expected to become operational in the near future. Located in close connection with the marine environment and the South Central Coast region, the campus is expected to serve as an important platform for education, research, innovation, and knowledge transfer related to the blue economy, ocean technology, and sustainable development.

On this foundation, the cooperation between UEH and KMOU can be concretized through joint training programs, faculty and student exchanges, the establishment of inter-university research groups, international conferences, and applied research projects. UEH Nexus Campus Nha Trang also has the potential to become a space for connecting and piloting collaborative initiatives, bringing university knowledge closer to the development needs of businesses, local communities, and coastal populations.

Leaders of the two universities exchanged gifts and took a commemorative photo

From Korea’s “Glocal University 30” to UEH’s Glocal Education Strategy

At Changwon National University (CWNU), Assoc. Prof. Bui Quang Hung and the UEH delegation met with university leaders, represented by President Prof. Park Min-won. The two sides discussed cooperation in education and research in renewable energy, nuclear energy, and energy system management. With CWNU’s strengths in energy engineering, technology, and industry linkages, combined with UEH’s expertise in economics, management, and policy, the two universities expect to jointly develop interdisciplinary research programs and human resource training to support the energy transition.

The UEH delegation took a commemorative photo at Changwon National University (CWNU)

The UEH delegation also met with Prof. Jekuk Chang – President of Dongseo University and representatives of the university’s leadership. The two sides discussed promoting education and research in technology and design; strengthening student exchanges; and implementing dual-degree and international joint programs. The delegation also toured laboratories and technology-integrated creative spaces in media, design, and the arts, opening up prospects for practical cooperation between the two universities.

Assoc. Prof. Bui Quang Hung in discussion with Prof. Jekuk Chang – President of Dongseo University

Notably, both Changwon National University and Dongseo University are members of Glocal University 30 – a program initiated by the Korean Ministry of Education in 2024 to encourage universities to leverage global resources to create local value while elevating local value within international knowledge networks. In this context, UEH’s Glocal Education strategy over recent years demonstrates clear alignment with the development trends of leading universities worldwide: international integration is inseparable from responsibility to local communities; global knowledge must be connected to the capacity to address real-world challenges; and local initiatives can fully contribute back to regional and global knowledge ecosystems.

The two delegations exchanged gifts and took a commemorative photo

Art – A Driver of Urban Identity Creation

As part of the working visit, the UEH delegation visited the Busan Museum of Art and met with Director Suh Jin-suk to discuss the role of art in urban life. The experience from Busan suggests opportunities to connect universities with cultural institutions, bringing art more deeply into education, innovation, and the process of shaping urban identity.

Taking place as UEH prepares to celebrate its 50th anniversary, the visit and working sessions in South Korea carry special significance, marking a new step in the University’s journey to expand its international influence. Discussions with local authorities and leading universities have opened up prospects for practical cooperation in education, research, innovation, and local development.

This visit also builds on the international engagement achievements that UEH has consistently cultivated, while further affirming the University’s Glocal Education orientation: connecting global resources and standards to address local challenges, while bringing local initiatives into international knowledge networks. On this foundation, UEH continues its journey toward becoming a UniverCity Innovation Hub – a multidisciplinary and sustainable university capable of creating impact for local communities and contributing value to the region and the world.

Pillar: Community Engagement

News, photos: Institute of Smart City and Management, Department of Communications and Partnerships