International collaboration on gathering and measuring data for the SDGs in 2025
I. INTRODUCTION
Reliable data is the foundation for measuring progress towards the SDGs, yet in many areas such as urban transport, microplastic pollution and water resources, Viet Nam still has data “blind spots”. The University of Danang (UD) collaborates with international universities and scientific networks to design survey methods, collect field data and measure sustainability indicators, and brings research and survey findings into local policy discussions.
II. RESULTS IN 2025
1. ISCTSC 2025: covering “blind spots” in transport data
From 30 March to 4 April 2025, Da Nang hosted the 13th International Conference on Transport Survey Methods (ISCTSC 2025), the world’s leading forum on transport data collection, under the theme “Covering Blind Spots of the Transport Datascape in Times of Turbulence”. According to RheinMain University of Applied Sciences (Germany), the conference brought together 109 delegates from 28 countries (https://www.hs-rm.de/en/architecture-and-civil-engineering/news-detail/13th-international-conference-on-transport-survey-methods-in-da-nang-vietnam).
Within the framework of the conference, the University of Economics – UD hosted the thematic roundtable “Challenges in Data Collection and Policy Shaping for the Development of the Da Nang Free Trade Zone”. Experts from RWTH Aachen University (Germany), the University of Liège (Belgium), the University of Sydney (Australia) and international organisations exchanged views and advised the city on methods for collecting and managing data, particularly transport data, to support the planning and operation of the Da Nang Free Trade Zone. The activity demonstrates UD’s participation in international collaboration on methods for collecting and applying data for planning, infrastructure and sustainable urban development. (https://www.udn.vn/english/Detail/international-scientific-conference-challenges-in-data-collection-and-policy-shaping-for-the-development-of-da-nang-ftz; https://due.udn.vn/en-us/news/newsdetail/id/20502/cid/3221)
Experts exchanging views at the thematic roundtable
2. Microplastics survey in the Phu Loc River basin with Kyoto University
Under the exchange and cooperation programme between the Environmental Protection Research Center (EPRC) of the University of Science and Technology – UD and the Graduate School of Global Environmental Studies (GSGES), Kyoto University (Japan), the two sides conducted field surveys at the Phu Loc Wastewater Treatment Plant and the Khanh Son Landfill. Following this activity, Kyoto University student Ohatake carried out research at EPRC for two months (18 August – 18 October 2025) under the supervision of Assoc. Prof. Dr. Le Phuoc Cuong (University of Science and Technology – UD). During this period, the research team collected and analysed samples and measured the composition of microplastic types, including data on the distribution of microplastic types in Hoa Cuong Ward and Son Tra Ward, contributing data to Da Nang City’s environmental protection efforts. This is an international collaboration on environmental data collection (wastewater, solid waste, microplastics) serving SDGs 6, 11, 12 and 14, while also expanding learning and research opportunities for students in the environmental field. (https://dut.udn.vn/TuyenSinh2023/Tintuc/id/11445)
Kyoto University (Japan) students, led by Assoc. Prof. Shuhei Tanaka, taking part in field surveys and research at the University of Science and Technology – UD
Distribution of microplastic types in Hoa Cuong Ward and Son Tra Ward, based on survey data from the University of Science and Technology – UD and Kyoto University research team (18 August – 18 October 2025)
3. Measurement in international projects and research
Other international collaborations involving SDG-related data collection and measurement in 2025
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Activity
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International partners
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Data collected / measured
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SDG
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Notes
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Erasmus+ SOHO project (2023–2026): Capacity building for higher education institutions (HEIs) in partner countries to train high-quality human resources that meet the recovery and sustainable development needs of the post-pandemic tourism sector by integrating green skills, smart technologies and renewable energy.
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9 institutions from 6 countries (France, Italy, Romania, Malaysia, Bangladesh, Viet Nam)
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Measurement data from a survey of lecturers, experts and students from 6 countries, rating on a 1–5 scale both the importance of and actual competence in 28 topics on smart tourism and sustainable development
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4, 8, 12, 17
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https://www.udn.vn/english/Detail/uds160delegation-attended-the-5th-plenary-session-of-the-soho-project
https://sohoproject.eu/index.php/results/d2-1-training-needs-analysis-report/
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Article: Cumulative impacts of interbasin water transfer and salinity intrusion on water security in central Vietnam (Science of the Total Environment, 2025)
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Disaster Prevention Research Institute (DPRI) and Department of Urban Management, Kyoto University (Japan)
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Modelling and measuring impacts on water security
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6, 13
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UD units: University of Science and Technology, University of Economics; domestic partner: Danang Flood Management & Operation Center.
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S004896972501890X
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Article: Climate Change Impact on Water Resources and Hydropower in Satpara Basin, Pakistan (Earth Systems and Environment, 2025)
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Punjab Irrigation Department, Mirpur University of Science and Technology (Pakistan); Asian Institute of Technology – AIT (Thailand); Institute of Industrial Science, The University of Tokyo, and Sanyu Consultants Inc. (Japan)
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Meteorological and hydrological data and climate scenario simulation
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6, 7, 13
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UD unit: Faculty of Economics, University of Economics.
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s41748-025-01004-3
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Deliverable D2.1 – Training Needs Analysis report is the result of international collaboration among 9 higher education institutions from 6 countries to collect and measure actual competence gaps in smart tourism linked to sustainable development (SDGs 4, 8, 12) among students, experts and lecturers, providing the basis for an adaptive training framework for the SOHO project.
Country of residence of the university lecturer sample in Deliverable D2.1 – Training Needs Analysis report of the SOHO project (https://sohoproject.eu/index.php/results/d2-1-training-needs-analysis-report/)
Position of each collaboration in the SDG data value chain
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Collaboration and research activity
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Method design
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Data collection
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Analysis and measurement
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Policy input
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ISCTSC 2025 (University of Economics)
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Phu Loc River microplastics (University of Science and Technology – Kyoto University)
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Erasmus+ SOHO project (UD)
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International publications
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III. CONCLUSION
UD has participated in international collaboration on gathering and measuring data for the SDGs in three ways: (1) hosting a thematic session of the international transport survey network ISCTSC, linking data collection methods with local policy; (2) field surveys and joint research with Kyoto University on microplastics; (3) assessment and measurement in the Erasmus+ SOHO project and in internationally published research on water resources and climate with partners from Japan, Thailand and Pakistan. These activities demonstrate UD’s role in connecting academia and policy in collecting and measuring data for sustainable development, contributing to SDGs 4, 6, 7, 8, 9, 11, 12, 13, 14 and 17.