Foreword

The University of Danang (UD), as one of the three key regional universities in Vietnam and a leading center for training, scientific research, and technology transfer in the Central and Central Highlands region, deeply recognizes its responsibility towards the sustainable development of the community and society. In the context of globalization and the common challenges of the 21st century, UD is strongly committed to realizing the United Nations' 2030 Agenda by actively contributing to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

This report focuses on SDG 17 - "Partnerships for the Goals," one of the most crucial pillars, emphasizing the necessary role of multi-stakeholder collaboration to achieve all SDGs. At UD, we believe that strong partnerships are not only a foundation for mobilizing and sharing knowledge, expertise, technology, and financial resources but also a driving force for innovation, creativity, and the creation of sustainable societal impact.

Throughout 2024, UD has continuously strengthened and expanded diverse partnerships with government bodies, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), the business community, international organizations, and local communities. These activities share the common goal of enhancing capacity to address global challenges, promoting socio-economic development in a sustainable direction, and improving the quality of life for all.

In 2024, UD is strongly committed to promoting the Sustainable Development Goals through SDG education activities in the wider community, including alumni, local residents, displaced people.

1. University-Wide “Green Summer” Volunteer Campaign 2024

UD organized a comprehensive “Green Summer” volunteer campaign in 2024, involving multiple member universities and affiliated units. This campaign, rooted in the core values of “Quality - Creativity - Humanity - Serving society,” deployed student volunteers to various disadvantaged areas in the Central and Central Highlands region. Beyond the infrastructure and service delivery activities, the Green Summer 2024 campaign included extensive education and training programs specifically designed to build capacity and transfer knowledge to community members. These activities demonstrate UD commitment to education for sustainable development in the wider community.

These activities directly contribute to SDG 17.4.3 by providing educational resources, capacity building, and essential services to a wide range of community members, including local residents and disadvantaged populations.

Source: https://udn.vn/english/Detail/students-of-the-university-of-danang-green-age-volunteers-to-contribute-and-grow

2. VKU “Green Summer 2024” Volunteer Campaign

A specific and intensive part of the broader “Green Summer” campaign was led by the VKU. This initiative, which ran from July 1-12, 2024, mobilized over 500 volunteers to serve the communities of Hoa Quy Ward and Hoa Nhon Commune in Da Nang City.

The campaign carries profound humanitarian significance, aiming to support the community and foster the spirit, ethics, and skills of VKU students. The activities included summer tutoring, digital transformation training for the community, entrepreneurship workshops, and traffic safety education.

This focused campaign provided a variety of educational programs to local residents, including over 200 primary and secondary school students and 150 youth union members, clearly demonstrating a commitment to education for the wider community.

Figure 1. More than 500 volunteers participated in the Program of On-Site Volunteering

Figure 2. Program of Together for the Community at Hoa Nhon Commune

Source: https://vku.udn.vn/vku-summer-volunteer-campaign-green-summer-2024-a-journey-of-volunteerism-for-community-life-deeply-reflecting-the-educational-philosophy-of-humanity-dedication/

3. Community Tet Activities and Sharing

UD and its member universities organized many community-oriented activities during the 2024 Vietnamese Lunar New Year (known as Tet), demonstrating a spirit of sharing and education on social responsibility.

UD-DUT organized the "Spring Connection - Tet Sharing" program at Hoa Bac Primary School, Hoa Vang District, Da Nang City. The program awarded gifts to 3 teachers, 4 students and 161 students in difficult circumstances at Hoa Bac Primary School, with a total value of 38 million VND. This event aimed to educate students on compassion and community solidarity.

UD-UED awarded 20 scholarship gifts (500,000 VND each) to students in difficult circumstances; 53 sets of fabric for making ao dai were donated to female teachers (total value over 16 million VND), and 1,000 books of various kinds were shared with schools in Mo Rai commune, Sa Thay district, Kon Tum province. The "Tet Reunion - Spring Connection" program has truly provided more motivation and confidence for teachers and students in the highlands to firmly advance on their journey of illuminating knowled.

UD-DUT in coordination with the UD-UFLS, organized the 2024 "Loving Spring" Campaign: "Sowing Love - Blooming Happiness" in Chi Neet village, A Ting commune, Dong Giang district, Quang Nam province, with 90 volunteers participating. The campaign installed 5 solar-powered lights and delivered 34 gift packages to households in difficult circumstances; 30 gift sets (including notebooks, candy) and over 100 warm coats were given to students in the village. Understanding the many overlapping difficulties faced by the local people, the campaign's steering committee also set up a "0 Dong Stall," hoping to provide practical items for the residents. The campaign organizers also collaborated with the local youth union to hold a cultural exchange night with children and residents of the village. In the festive year-end atmosphere, the volunteers presented artistic performances and a play to raise awareness among students on the theme "Say No to School Violence”.

4. Center for Continuing Education (CCE)

The University of Danang’s Center for Continuing Education (CCE) serves as a dedicated hub for lifelong learning, providing educational opportunities to adult learners, working professionals, and the wider community across Vietnam.

In 2024, the CCE offered a range of distance and online learning programs, including bachelor's degrees in fields such as Law, Accounting, English Language, and Business Management. By holding graduation ceremonies in numerous provinces, the CCE demonstrates its broad reach and its success in making higher education accessible to communities far beyond Da Nang. This model of outreach directly fulfills the requirement for providing education to local residents and alumni in various regions.

Figure 3. The online program for the distance learning of the UD

Source: https://cce.udn.vn/

5. Conference related to sustainable development and community-based SDG education

UD-UED in collaboration with the Da Nang Union of Science and Technology Associations and the GreenViet Biodiversity Conservation Centre, organized the 5th conference on "Biodiversity Conservation and Sustainable Development in Vietnam’s Central Region and the Central Highlands" themed "Marine Conservation," the conference attracted scientists, managers, and experts to contribute ideas and propose solutions for marine biodiversity conservation and sustainable marine economic development in the Central and Central Highlands region. This conference provided knowledge and raised awareness about sustainable development for the community of scientists, managers, and businesses.

Figure 4. Figure 4. The 5th Conference on Biodiversity Conservation and Sustainable Development in Vietnam’s Central Region and the Central Highlands

Throughout 2024, the UD and its affiliates organized and participated in several key initiatives that exemplify its commitment to community-based SDG education. These activities were characterized by strong partnerships, practical knowledge transfer, and direct engagement with community members. The following table summarizes three distinct events that highlight this commitment.

a. Wildlife Protection Law Training

On the evening of July 11, 2024, as part of the annual "Green Summer" Volunteer Campaign, the Youth Union of the UD-UED, in collaboration with the Youth Union of Dien Phong Commune (Quang Nam) and the GreenViet Biodiversity Conservation Center, conducted a training session on wildlife protection laws. The event aimed to raise awareness among students and local youth about the importance of protecting endangered species and understanding the legal framework in place.

Experts from GreenViet and the Hoa Vang District People's Procuracy provided guidance on identifying rare species, with a special focus on the Grey-shanked Douc Langur, and explained the legal ramifications of wildlife trafficking. This initiative directly addressed SDG 15 (Life on Land) by promoting biodiversity conservation, SDG 4 (Quality Education) by disseminating specialized knowledge, and SDG 16 (Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions) by fostering legal literacy within the community.

Source: https://tuoitredhsp.ued.udn.vn/tap-huan-kien-thuc-phap-luat-ve-bao-ve-dong-vat-hoang-da/

b. Vietnam Primate Conservation Training Course

In October 2024, the Frankfurt Zoological Society Cooperation Office, housed within the Faculty of Biology and Environmental Science at the University of Science and Education - UD, announced a comprehensive training course on primate conservation. The program, which took place in both Da Nang and Kon Ka Kinh National Park (Gia Lai Province), was designed to equip participants with both theoretical knowledge and practical field skills.

The course included modules on primate identification, scientific research, conservation communication, and direct engagement with local Ba Na ethnic minority communities. This demonstrates a deep level of community outreach, extending educational activities to indigenous populations and fostering a collaborative approach to conservation. The program is a clear example of SDG 15 (Life on Land) and SDG 4 (Quality Education) in action, while the partnership with an international NGO like the Frankfurt Zoological Society highlights a commitment to SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals).

Source: https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1BHth7dUmA/

c. Marine Plastic Waste Reduction Training

On December 15, 2024, the Da Nang City Farmers' Association organized a training session for over 100 local fishermen on reducing plastic waste at sea, a critical issue for the coastal city. A key contributor to this event was Dr. Kieu Thi Kinh, a lecturer from the UD-UED, who served as the main trainer. She shared her expertise on the severe impacts of plastic pollution on marine ecosystems.

This training provided fishermen with practical knowledge on waste classification and management, and 113 fishing households were given equipment to collect waste while at sea. This initiative is a powerful example of applying academic expertise to solve real-world community problems, directly supporting SDG 14 (Life Below Water), SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production), and SDG 4 (Quality Education).

Source: https://danviet.vn/hoi-nong-dan-da-nang-tap-huan-mo-hinh-dua-rac-vao-bo-giam-thieu-rac-thai-nhua-tren-bien-20241215220605068-d1200547.html

6. Community-Integrated Educational Tourism Program

On December 19, 2024, the UD-UED partnered with the Management Board of the Cu Lao Cham-Hoi An World Biosphere Reserve and the Hoi An Women’s Union to develop a tourism program that integrates community education. This initiative is part of a broader UNDP-supported project to promote sustainable livelihoods and protect biodiversity.

The program is designed to involve the local community as active participants and beneficiaries. The university plays a key role in developing educational content, training local human resources, and facilitating student internships and field studies that contribute to the community. This represents a direct effort to provide education for sustainable development to local residents and build their capacity to benefit from and contribute to the conservation of their natural and cultural heritage.

Source: https://udn.vn/english/cooperation_/the-university-of-danang-university-of-science-and-education-developed-a-tourism-program-integrating-community-education-at-the-world-biosphere-reserve-of-cu-lao-cham-hoi-an

Conclusion

The activities conducted by UD and its affiliates throughout 2024 provide compelling evidence of a dedicated and multifaceted strategy for SDG education in the wider community. Through large-scale volunteer campaigns, dedicated lifelong learning centers, and innovative partnerships, the university and its member institutions are actively engaged in providing valuable educational opportunities to a wide range of community members, including local residents, youth, and disadvantaged populations. Moreover, these above-mentioned initiatives, built on strong local and international partnerships, not only disseminate crucial information but also empower communities to become active participants in achieving a sustainable future.