University of Natural Sciences (UNS)

Organization information Add: 227 Nguyen Van Cu Street, District 5, Ho Chi Minh City, VietnamTel: 848 38355273; Fax: 848 -38350096

E: ptphuong@hcmuns.edu.vn

W: www.cee.hcmuns.edu.vn

Key contact person(s): Phung Thuy Phuong, Ph.D.
General information of the project and program which have ESD related activities Name: UNS-PSU Community-University Engagement Program: Mitigating the Impact of Rapid Urban Development in VietnamGoals and objectives: To establish an effective and sustainable “community-university engagement program” at UNS that contributes to the mitigation of Ho Chi Minh City’s environmental challenges.

Donor(s): HED-USAID 2006 New IDEAS (Innovative Development and Engagement Across Sectors)

ESD programs/ projects/activities Name: Objectives:.

  • Improve the quality of teaching and learning in higher education
  • Develop critical thinking and problem solving skills for students
  • Apply theory to solve real problems of the society

Describe educational and learning methods/tools applied:

  • Students participate in a series of  new and innovative methods of teaching and learning
  • Students do not only take notes, but also make presentations, seminars; participate in discussions on given topics relating to the course; carry out community-based projects, in which students can apply the lessons they learn in classroom to solve real problems of the community they work with

Stakeholders: Portland State University (PSU) (USA), University of Natural Sciences (UNS) of Ho Chi Minh City ((Vietnam), Dam Sen Park ( Vietnam)

Status: Ongoing

Location: University of Natural Sciences, Dam Sen Park (Ho Chi Minh City)
Sustainable development themes:
  • Natural resources management
  • Citizen participation and good governance
  • Sustainable urbanization
Target groups
  • School students
  • Teachers
  • Local people
  • Private sector
Outputs and final outcomes of the ESD activities
  • Center for Educational Excellence was established in July, 2007
  • A website is running: www.cee.hcmuns.edu.vn
  • Integrate Community-based learning (CBL)  into two undergraduate courses (Environmental Science for junior,  and  Wastewater Treatment for senior )
  • 340 students participate in two CBL  courses; 40 students participate in CBL projects
  • Eight completed  projects were carried out and three on-going  projects -at Dam Sen Park
Click for find more information from report/materials sent by UNS