[Green Monday Series] What does Quality Education (SDG 4) mean at UEH?

Quality education is the foundation of a sustainable society, where every individual is equipped with knowledge, skills, and equal opportunities for development. Following the impacts of COVID-19, the need for an open, flexible, and inclusive learning ecosystem has become more urgent than ever. In response, the University of Economics Ho Chi Minh City (UEH) has implemented a range of initiatives to promote lifelong learning and expand access to education for the wider community. In today’s Green Monday Series, let us explore UEH’s journey toward advancing SDG 4 - Quality Education.

Progress toward achieving quality education for all has been slower than expected and has been significantly affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite continuous improvement efforts, completion rates across education levels increased only slightly during the 2015-2024 period. Notably, in 2023, approximately 272 million children and adolescents remained out of school, with the majority living in low-income countries. This reality highlights substantial disparities in access to education across regions and population groups worldwide.

At the same time, challenges related to educational quality and equity persist. In 2019, only 58% of students achieved minimum reading proficiency, while 44% met minimum mathematics standards at the primary level. Learning outcomes among lower secondary students also showed signs of decline. Limitations in infrastructure, financial resources, digital transformation, gender inequality, and the digital divide continue to hinder learning opportunities, particularly for vulnerable groups such as women, persons with disabilities, and populations in least-developed countries. Therefore, increasing investment, ensuring equitable access, and improving educational quality have become critical priorities in delivering education for all.

UEH recognizes education and lifelong learning as a key pillar of its sustainable development strategy. Accordingly, the University has developed an open learning ecosystem to broaden access to knowledge for the community through free certificate-based courses such as STEM Teaching, Design Thinking, FinTech Master Class, and University Journey - UNI on the Go. UEH also provides free access to online learning resources, including UEH Global Learning, Virtual Open Days, and Personality and Career Competency Assessment Tools. In addition, UEH opens its facilities, learning spaces, and innovation hubs across Ho Chi Minh City and Vinh Long, enabling learners to access quality educational resources in a flexible manner. In 2024 alone, more than 120 open educational events, including Career Fair, UEH Unitour, and academic and skills-development workshops, were organized to disseminate knowledge throughout the community.

In 2024, UEH delivered 35 short-term training programs, attracting more than 2.500 learners in areas such as management, leadership, economics, and sustainable development. Sustainability principles are integrated throughout the curriculum, while interdisciplinary academic clusters have been developed in fields such as technology and innovation (Artificial Intelligence, Data Science, Blockchain, etc.), tourism and event management, healthcare and social sciences, design and creativity, and agriculture and food systems. These programs are complemented by foundational knowledge in economics, finance, marketing, research, and management, equipping learners with comprehensive interdisciplinary competencies.

Furthermore, UEH actively promotes inclusive education policies to ensure lifelong learning opportunities for all. The University maintains an annual scholarship fund exceeding VND 70 billion, alongside financial aid programs, support mechanisms for learners with disabilities, and diversified educational pathways such as articulation programs, second-degree programs, and work-study formats. UEH also conducts a variety of community engagement initiatives, including admission counseling activities in more than 30 provinces and cities, the “UEHers Journey to Farmers” program, and the “Financial Literacy for Youth” initiative, all of which contribute to expanding economic knowledge and sustainable development awareness within society.

Infographic of UEH's contributions to SDG 4 - Quality Education

Education is not merely about disseminating knowledge; it is a journey of creating opportunities, nurturing capabilities, and building a sustainable future for communities. Through educating thousands of students each year and fostering an open and inclusive learning ecosystem, UEH continues to advance SDG 4 by ensuring quality, equitable, and inclusive education for all.

This article was prepared with reference to:

1. UEH Sustainability Report 2024: https://books.ueh.edu.vn/sustainability-report-ueh/ 

2. SDG 4 - Quality Education: https://www.un.org/sustainabledevelopment/education/ 

Additional Information:

UEH Green Campus - Green Monday Series is a communication activity series under the UEH Green Campus Project, posted every Monday to start the week with positive energy and encourage a green lifestyle by providing knowledge, updating news, sharing inspiring stories about environmental protection and sustainable development.

News and photos: UEH Green Campus Project