Participating in the International Conference on “Interdisciplinary Research on Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) Strategies for the Sustainable Development Goals” - CIRES 2025, Mr. Nguyen Xuan Hung, Director of the Vietnam - Japan Institute of Technology (VJIT), Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology (HUTECH), and his research team were honored with the “Best Paper Award”.
CIRES 2025 provided an academic platform for discussions on sustainable development solutions
CIRES 2025, themed “Vietnam’s readiness to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs),” was co-organized by the University of Economics and Finance (UEF), the Vietnam Institute of Digital Economy Development, the Saigon Giai Phong Newspaper, the Swiss School of Business and Management Geneva, the Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Freedom, along with various research institutions and businesses. The event brought together over 200 scholars and experts from more than 70 organizations, both domestic and international, for in-depth discussions on sustainable development solutions through the interdisciplinary lens of Environment - Social - Governance (ESG).

Mr. Nguyen Xuan Hung and his research team presented a paper on evaluating student projects through the lens of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
At the conference, Mr. Nguyen Xuan Hung and his research team presented a paper titled “Evaluating student projects in alignment with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs): Awareness, Responsibility, and Educational Implications.” The study focused on assessing student projects conducted in two course modules, Project Design 1 (PD1) and Project Design 2 (PD2), based on the three pillars of sustainable development (Economic - Social - Environmental) and the six levels of cognitive skills in Bloom’s taxonomy (Remember – Understand - Apply - Analyze - Evaluate - Create). The findings showed that PD1 projects had a broad scope and adopted a multidimensional approach, with a strong emphasis on social and urban issues (SDG 9, 11), reflecting high levels of analytical and critical thinking. In contrast, PD2 projects were more oriented toward economic goals (SDG 8, 12), demonstrating innovation but lacking depth in social and environmental dimensions. Furthermore, PD1 projects demonstrated a balanced integration of the sustainability pillars, while PD2 projects placed a strong focus on the economic aspect, with limited attention to the social and environmental components.
The study proposed practical solutions for improving course design, aiming to help students develop holistic thinking, enhance their sense of social responsibility, and strengthen their engagement with sustainable values. While the integration of the SDGs into the curriculum is a positive step forward, it is not sufficient on its own. To achieve a broader and more meaningful impact, it is essential to incorporate interdisciplinary knowledge and ensure strategic support and commitment at the institutional level.
The paper was honored with the “Best Paper Award” by the Organizing Committee
With its valuable contributions, the paper by Mr. Nguyen Xuan Hung and his research team received significant attention from the academic community and was honored with the “Best Paper Award” by the Organizing Committee. This recognition affirms their serious efforts in advancing educational innovation and their ability to bridge theory and practice - contributing to the development of a modern, in-depth, and socially meaningful academic program at HUTECH.
News: Vietnam-Japan Institute of Technology (VJIT)
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