Introduction

The commitment of The University of Danang (UD) to sustainable development is a deliberate, top-down strategic imperative. An analysis of the university's core vision, values, and specific strategies reveals a clear institutional mandate that provides the foundation for all educational activities. This high-level commitment ensures that education for the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) is systematically embedded across the institution, aligning its mission with national priorities and global sustainability agendas.

The 2045 Vision and Core Values

UD's long-term development strategy, extending to 2035 with a vision to 2045, is fundamentally aligned with the principles of sustainable development. A primary institutional goal is to establish UD as one of Vietnam's three most prestigious centers for training and scientific research, a vision that directly supports Vietnam's national education development strategy, which calls for universities to embrace sustainable values.

This alignment is deeply rooted in the university's declared core values: "Quality, Creativity, Humanities, Community serving".¹ The value of "Community serving" is particularly significant, as it is defined as the continuous improvement of service to the nation and the community through training and research activities. This principle mirrors the foundational ethos of the SDGs, which are inherently community-focused and aim to improve human well-being and planetary health.

Source: https://www.udn.vn/phat-trien-ben-vung/chi-tiet/chien-luoc-tong-the-va-cam-ket-cua-dai-hoc-da-nang-trong-viec-giam-nhe-bien-doi-khi-hau-den-nam-2030-tam-nhin-den-nam-2045

A Blueprint for Action: Analysis of the University's Climate Change Mitigation Strategy

The most concrete evidence of UD's institutional commitment is its "General Strategy and Commitment in Climate Change Mitigation by 2030, with a vision to 2045". This is a detailed action plan that operationalizes the university's sustainability vision. The strategy outlines a holistic approach that integrates sustainability into every aspect of the university's functions:

- Governance and Policy: Establish a climate change advisory group and integrate greenhouse gas (GHG) reduction criteria into the university's administrative and performance evaluation systems.

- Education and Awareness: The plan calls for the integration of climate change content into the training programs of all learners, including undergraduate, master's, and doctoral students. This directive directly fulfills the requirement that SDG education be relevant and applicable to all students across the university.

- Research and Innovation: Prioritize and support research in critical sustainability fields, including clean energy, the green economy, the circular economy, and sustainability science.

^- Campus Operations: Commit to reducing its own environmental footprint by implementing strategies to lower GHG emissions and increasing green space.

- Collaboration and Community Engagement: Emphasize collaboration with local authorities and businesses to advise on climate change response and transfer relevant technologies, putting the core value of "Community serving" into concrete action.

Source: https://www.udn.vn/phat-trien-ben-vung/chi-tiet/chien-luoc-tong-the-va-cam-ket-cua-dai-hoc-da-nang-trong-viec-giam-nhe-bien-doi-khi-hau-den-nam-2030-tam-nhin-den-nam-2045

This high-level institutional strategy is the primary driver for the widespread curricular integration of SDGs. It provides the necessary framework and resource allocation signals to ensure that sustainability is a centrally supported, university-wide priority.

An Institutional Framework for SDG Education: A Two-Pillar Strategy

The University of Da Nang's approach to sustainability education is not an ad-hoc collection of courses but a deliberately architected institutional framework. This framework is built upon two complementary and mutually reinforcing pillars designed to cultivate a holistic, sustainability-focused workforce capable of driving societal transformation from every critical angle.

Pillar One: Cultivating Specialized Expertise through Foundational Degree Programs

The first pillar of UD's strategy is the establishment of dedicated degree programs that create a cadre of technical and managerial experts. These specialists form the foundational bedrock of Vietnam's green transition, providing the deep domain knowledge required to address complex environmental challenges. This expertise is cultivated across UD's member universities, creating distinct but complementary skill sets.

At the University of Science and Technology (DUT), the focus is on producing the technological vanguard. The internationally accredited degree in Environmental Engineering (Major code: 7520320) provides students with "practical, solutions-oriented training in pollution control, waste management, [and] wastewater treatment". Graduates from this program are equipped to physically design, build, and manage the green infrastructure essential for a low-carbon economy. This is complemented by the Resource and Environment Management (Major code: 7850101) degree, which trains professionals in the sustainable exploitation and stewardship of natural resources.

Source: https://dut.udn.vn/Tuyensinh2024/Gioithieu/id/8964

At the University of Science and Education – UD, the focus shifts to creating policy and governance architects. The Bachelor of Science in Resource and Environment Management is intentionally interdisciplinary, "integrating natural sciences with economics, environmental law, and public policy". The program's objective is to "cultivate future managers who can navigate the intricate relationships between environmental conservation, economic activity, and social well-being". The curriculum's inclusion of modern tools like GIS and remote sensing further signals a commitment to producing graduates capable of data-driven, evidence-based environmental decision-making.

Source: https://tuyensinh.ued.udn.vn/index.php/2024/04/02/nganh-quan-ly-tai-nguyen-moi-truong/

Pillar Two: Embedding Sustainability Across the University via Core Curricula Integration

The second, and arguably most innovative, pillar of UD's strategy is its commitment to making sustainability a core competency for students across all disciplines. This approach moves sustainability from a niche specialty to a mainstream principle, ensuring that future leaders in business, finance, and public administration are equipped to integrate it into their professional practice. This integration is most evident at the University of Economics - UD.

Table 1: Mapping of UD Curricula to the UN Sustainable Development Goals

Conclusion

The evidence demonstrates that UD has established a robust, multi-layered, and systemic commitment to meaningful education for the Sustainable Development Goals. This commitment is not confined to niche programs but is integrated across the institution, from high-level strategy to the core curricula of major disciplines, and is actualized through pedagogical practices that foster deep and applicable learning.