The Vietnamese Intellectual Society (VIS) Mentoring Programme continues to create significant impacts, most recently connecting Dr. Ngan Luong (Emily), a mentor from London South Bank University (LSBU), UK, with Dr. Le Thi Hong Minh, a mentee from the University of Economics Ho Chi Minh City (UEH), Vietnam.
Through the VIS mentorship program, Dr. Ngan Luong and Dr. Le Thi Hong Minh began developing initial ideas for a grant proposal to address climate challenges in Ho Chi Minh City. Recognising the need for a diverse and skilled team, they invited three additional colleagues from LSBU, UEH, and the Southern Institute of Water Resources Research (SIWRR) to strengthen the proposal. Together, this collaborative team successfully crafted a comprehensive proposal, which was awarded a Research Collaborations grant, ID 1203769377, under the International Science Partnerships Fund. The grant is funded by the UK Department for Science Innovation and Technology in partnership with the British Council. For further information, please visit https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/international-science-partnerships-fund-ispf
The success of this initiative is a testament to the valuable support provided by the VIS Mentorship Program Team: Professor Huan Nguyen, Associate Professor Son Hoang, and Assistant Professor Que Anh Dang, Assoc. Prof Vinh Doan and other VIS Executive Board members. We also extend our deep thanks to the British Council for funding the mentorship program, which has been pivotal in fostering such cross-border collaboration success.
The project, titled “Empowering Change: A Comprehensive Approach to Climate Action, Sustainable Development, and Behaviour Transformation Among Female Academics in Ho Chi Minh City,” runs from August 2024 to August 2026. HCMC, like many other rapidly developing urban centres, faces significant challenges from climate change, including rising sea levels, increased frequency of extreme weather events, and air pollution. The project empowers female scholars, an underrepresented group in Vietnam’s sustainability efforts, to become key drivers in tackling these issues. Through the collaboration of natural and social science scholars, the project will foster innovative solutions that address these pressing concerns and contribute to HCMC’s broader environmental goals. The project will be implemented in three phases:
- Phase 1: Curriculum Development
The project team will design a comprehensive training course based on climate change challenges, social marketing, and communication strategies for sustainable business development. - Phase 2: Course Delivery and Behavioural Change Research
The training course will be delivered to female academics, and research will be conducted to evaluate the participants’ behavioural changes. Special attention will be given to how the course influences the participants’ engagement in climate action and sustainability advocacy. - Phase 3: Dissemination and Advocacy
The project will culminate in the dissemination of research findings and best practices, enabling participants and other stakeholders to become influential advocates for sustainability and climate action in Ho Chi Minh City and beyond.
Call for Expertise
We invite VIS members and professionals with expertise in climate change, sustainable business development, and sustainability education training to join this important project. Your participation could involve sharing your knowledge, experiences, or collaborating on sustainability initiatives. Your contribution will help ensure the success of this initiative, playing a key role in shaping the future of climate action and sustainable business development in Ho Chi Minh City and beyond.
For further information or to get involved, please contact UK Project Leader Dr Ngan Luong (Emily) at ngane@lsbu.ac.uk or Partner Project Leader Dr Le T.H Minh at minhlth@ueh.edu.vn
From left to right: Mentor Dr Ngan Luong (Emily) LSBU; Mentee Dr Le Thi Hong Minh UEH and Project Team: Dr Mai Khanh Tran (Mika) LSBU; Dr Ha Doan SIWRR; Ms Lien Nguyen UEH