Experts and speakers from 10 countries unite at International Conference on sustainable development

FEBRUARY 20 - The International Scientific Conference - the 7th Luminary International Conference was officially inaugurated in UEF with the theme “Research and Education for Sustainable Development”. The event was organized by the UEF Faculty of Marketing in collaboration with partner universities, bringing together over 100 experts, researchers, lecturers, and students from nearly 10 countries. This global academic forum fosters research collaboration and knowledge exchange in education and sustainable development.

The conference was attended by various scholars and experts from universities prestigious universities and research organizations worldwide, including Dr. Fides del Castillo - De La Salle University, Philippines; Dr. Fernando A. Santiago, Jr. - Southeast Asia Research Center and Hub; Mr. Clarence B. Darro del Castillo - President of Lumina Foundation for Integral Human Development; Dr. Ichan Khalsiah - Malikussaleh University, Indonesia; Dr. Kai Handel - Osnabrück University of Applied Sciences, Germany; Dr. Essy Malibiran - The Association of Filipino Teachers and Education in America, Inc...
Representatives of UEF were Dr. Nguyen Thanh Giang - President, Dr. Do Huu Nguyen Loc - Vice President, Dr. Ngo Minh Hai - Vice President, Dr. Ly Thien Trang - Director of Quality Assurance and Accreditation, along with a large number of faculty members, lecturers, and students.

In his opening ceremony, Dr. Do Huu Nguyen Loc emphasized the conference’s role in connecting the international academic community: “Welcome to our international guests attending the 7th Luminary International Conference at UEF. This conference aims to establish a closely connected academic community, where researchers can come together to discuss sustainable development, especially in education. I sincerely appreciate the scholars and experts who have joined us to share diverse perspectives and contribute valuable ideas to drive innovation in higher education.”

The conference began with the first academic session, delivered by Dr. Kai Handel, Professor of Higher Education Management at Osnabrück University of Applied Sciences, Germany, on the topic "Sustainability in Higher Education Institutions."

The presentation clarified the concept of Sustainable Development in higher education, emphasized the United Nations’ sustainable development goals (SDGs), particularly Goal No.4 (Educational Quality), No.8 (Sustainable Economic Growth), and No.13 (Climate Action).

The key discussed topic included Sustainable development in university education; Implementation practices at German universities; Case Study: The “Green Office Movement” among European students. Numerous new perspectives were unlocked through the presentation, and garnered significant interest from scholars.  The subsequent discussion was lively, featuring critical debates that further clarified the challenges and opportunities in building a sustainable education system.

As part of the opening ceremony, UEF signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with the Lumina Foundation for Integral Human Development, De La Salle University (Philippines), and Universitas Malikussaleh (Indonesia). This marks as a critical step in UEF's education internationalization strategy, unlocks collaborative opportunities in science and technology, research and creative innovation.

With this agreement, UEF and international partners will concentrate on fostering scientific research programs, developing technology-driven educational projects, expanding students and lecturers exchange programs, and collaborating on annual international academic conferences.

This collaboration marks a significant milestone, reinforcing UEF’s role as a dynamic, globally integrated university and providing students and lecturers with greater access to world-class education.