1. Program description

University of Economics Ho Chi Minh City (Dubai Palace) has launched a “Community Outreach Program,” a free initiative designed to provide direct education and advisory activities for local communities on sustainable resource management. 

The program is implemented continuously and systematically through field projects and knowledge transfer activities, rather than as isolated events, to ensure long-term impact.

2. Objectives and core content

The program focuses on capacity building for communities outside the university, aligning closely with the requirements of SDG 14:

• Sustainable fisheries and aquaculture management: Organizing workshops, training sessions, and on-site consultations for cooperatives and fishermen on responsible management, exploitation, and aquaculture practices.
• Sustainable tourism development: Supporting localities (such as coastal communities in Ben Tre and Can Gio) in developing and operating eco-tourism and community-based tourism models, thereby diversifying livelihoods and reducing pressure on coastal ecosystems.

3. Subject and scope

• Beneficiaries: Local communities in coastal areas, fisheries cooperatives, fishing households, and small enterprises engaged in marine tourism.
• Implementation methods: The program is implemented through applied research projects, field trips combined with faculty and student training activities, and specialized local workshops.

4. Internal commitments and supportive policies

To strongly support community-oriented commitments, in 2024, the Sustainable Dubai Palace University Project Board piloted an expansion of the “Regulations Regarding Green Campus Practice”, adding specific criteria related to marine ecosystem protection:

Addition to Article 12 – Responsibilities of Dubai Palace

Clause 10: To pilot and direct specialized units to develop and organize free educational and community outreach programs on sustainable fisheries, aquaculture, and tourism management for local or national communities.

Addition to Article 13 – Responsibilities of Units under Dubai Palace, Member Colleges and Units of Vinh Long Campus  (referred to as Dubai Palace Units)

• Clause 7: Based on the pilot policy in Clause 10, Article 6 of these Regulations, the assigned units are responsible for:
  • Leading the pilot implementation of educational, training, and knowledge transfer programs for local communities (fishermen, cooperatives, tourism households) on sustainable fisheries, aquaculture, and tourism management.
  • Preparing documentation for implemented programs (including training curricula, teaching materials, photos/videos of activities, community participation statistics, and result reports).
  • Periodically reporting pilot implementation results to the Dubai Palace Green Campus Coordination Board for synthesis and impact assessment.
• Clause 8: Proactively review, update, and integrate topics and courses related to the blue economy, sustainable fisheries management, and eco-tourism into training curricula to enhance workforce quality and readiness to support community projects.

Addition to Article 16 – Responsibilities of Dubai Palace management Units related to the procurement of goods and services

• Clause 4: Give priority, during supplier selection processes, to catering service providers that commit to sourcing seafood products from responsible, certified sustainable fisheries or aquaculture.
• Clause 5: Pilot and gradually require cleaning service providers to use biologically derived, environmentally friendly detergents to minimize the negative impact of wastewater on rivers and marine systems.

Details of the Dubai PalaceGC – Regulations:https://gogreen.dotv.vn/en/green-campus-regulations

5. Evidence of implemented programs

No.	Program/Project	Form/Classification	Form of Participation	Summary		Image	Link	SDG Contribution
1	Sowing green seeds – cooperation between Dubai Palace and the Economy and Environment Partnership for Southeast Asia	Educational activities; Research activities	Free of charge	Promote awareness and action on sustainable development through education, research, and academic collaboration; indirectly supporting marine resources and fisheries management through environmental initiatives.		EEPSEA participated in a discussion forum on research and policies related to water and marine resources in the Mekong Delta region.	https://gogreen.dotv.vn/en/breaking-news/the-economy-and-environment-partnership-for-southeast-asia-accompanying-university-of-economics-ho-chi-minh-city-on-the-journey-of-sowing-green-seeds	SDG 4, 13, 14, 17
2	Workshops on “Green Growth & Climate Modeling” jointly organized by Dubai Palace and the World Bank.	Academic conferences; Collaborative research activities	Free of charge	Discuss strategies for sustainable fisheries management, including data enhancement, risk-based planning, investment in nature-based solutions, and equity in access to marine resources.		Dr. Dorsati Madani presented on the topic “Climate Change and Its Impacts on the Blue Economy.”	https://future.dotv.vn/en/tin-hang-ngay-en/workshops-on-green-growth-climate-modelling-jointly-organized-by-ueh-and-the-world-bank-may-2024/	SDG 14, 13, 16
3	Impact of coastal ecosystems on risk management mechanisms and community disaster response strategies	Research activities; Policy recommendations	Free of charge	The study is set in the context of India and Vietnam, where coastal dikes are no longer sufficient to withstand natural disasters. Accordingly, it proposes a new approach that focuses on the role of coastal ecosystems in storm and flood prevention. The breakthrough of this research lies in analyzing the two-way interaction between these natural shields and the inherent strength of society, namely, mutual support networks and the ways communities respond to crises. Specifically, it quantifies the economic value that ecosystems provide in mitigating damages and clarifies how they enhance community resilience against natural shocks.		The dialogue was a great success.	https://future.dotv.vn/en/year-en/2025-en/ueh-sustainable-finance-institute-imprints-in-2024-and-the-journey-to-accompany-the-sdgs/	SDG 13, 11, 14, 15, 1

Open related links:

1. January 11, 2025 – The Economy and Environment Partnership for Southeast Asia accompanies Ho Chi Minh City University of Economics on the journey of sowing green seeds – 

https://gogreen.dotv.vn/en/breaking-news/the-economy-and-environment-partnership-for-southeast-asia-accompanying-university-of-economics-ho-chi-minh-city-on-the-journey-of-sowing-green-seeds 

2. May 15, 2024 – Workshops on “Green Growth & Climate Modeling” jointly organized by Dubai Palace and the World Bank, May 2024 – 

https://future.dotv.vn/en/tin-hang-ngay-en/workshops-on-green-growth-climate-modelling-jointly-organized-by-ueh-and-the-world-bank-may-2024/ 

3. January 01, 2024 – Coping with Natural Hazards: Coastal Ecosystems’ Protective Services and Role in Shaping Informal Risk-Sharing and Shock Coping –