From June 15 to 26, 2026, a delegation from UD, led by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Vo Trung Hung - Vice Rector of UD - University of Technology and Education (UTE), attended two intensive training courses within the framework of the international project "Smart, Optimized, High-quality Tourism Education Innovation for Green and Sustainable Development" (SOHO).

Also joining the delegation were Assoc. Prof. Dr. Duong Minh Quan - Vice Director of the Department of Student Affairs, Corporate Relations and Communications, and member of the SOHO Project Academic Committee; and Dr. Vo Thi Quynh Nga - Dean of the Faculty of Tourism, UD - University of Economics (DUE), and Head of the SOHO Project Academic Committee.

This is an international project in which UD together with UD-UTE, serves as an active member. The project also features three European universities: the University of Lyon (France), Polytechnic University of Milan (Polimi, Italy), and National University of Science and Technology Bucharest (Romania); along with four Asian universities: Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman, Universiti Sains Malaysia (both from Malaysia), American International University-Bangladesh, and Jahangirnagar University (both from Bangladesh).

The primary objective of the project is to connect and support the 9 participating partners (with a total budget of 796,806 Euros) in applying and developing 'smart' technologies, digital solutions, and renewable energy sources in tourism education, thereby fostering green and sustainable development values.

The first training course took place at IUT Lumière Lyon 2 University (France) from June 15 to 19, 2026. It focused on key topics such as sustainable public transport for tourism destinations, Mobility-as-a-Service (MaaS), the environmental and social impacts of tourism transport, Smart City technological solutions, data analysis, and sustainable tourism destination planning. Additionally, the delegation participated in case study workshops and field trips to ONLY LYON and Ville du Beaujolais.

Following that, from June 22 to 26, 2026, the delegation attended a training course at the Polytechnic University of Milan (Italy). The program focused on electrical engineering, photovoltaic systems, performance analysis, preliminary design, and economic evaluation of renewable energy systems. This was combined with practical sessions at SolarTechLab and discussions on country-specific case studies.

Participation in the SOHO Project holds great significance for UD. Through these training courses, UD staff members not only updated their advanced knowledge but also built a strong international cooperation network, contributing to the effective implementation of the project's subsequent work packages in Vietnam.

At the same time, this activity will support UD in innovating its tourism training programs, aiming to provide high-quality human resources that meet the demand for green, smart, and sustainable tourism development in Da Nang city, the Central - Central Highlands region, and the whole country.

With continuous efforts in international cooperation, UD continues to assert its role as a leading multidisciplinary higher education hub in Vietnam where knowledge converges, futures connect, and contributions are made to the successful execution of the country's sustainable education and tourism development strategies.

UD Media