Schoolab is running an innovation program in collaboration with HCMUT (Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology). Schoolab connects the students with companies, experts, and different stakeholders to support and mentor them through the process to the results. Feedback and knowledge-sharing is part of the loop of communication which allows for strong ‘solutions’. In some cases, it is the companies themselves that work with Schoolab and assign a problem statement for the students. For the HCMUT students this has given additional insights that support in their thesis research and writing. On top of it, they leave with an additional certificate – more importantly this important and must-have knowledge on sustainability and innovation ensures that they can use it now and tomorrow.
Hanh Huynh from Schoolab Asia was interested to hear more and collated the responses from the HCMUT students and received the following answers to her questions:
Why Sustainability, Partnerships and Impact for students and universities?
There are numerous reasons why sustainability has a big impact on universities and students. First of all, when a campus is more ‘green’, it is more balanced and ‘comfortable’. This allows student to learn and absorb knowledge when high-quality buildings, infrastructure and resources are surrounded by beautiful trees and ‘green’ views.
As universities are platforms for education and knowledge-sharing it is natural that sustainability is part of this these surroundings both in the physical aspect and the learnings – this allows the understanding of this concept to spread to people.
Sustainability awareness is also higher among students today than before – not only do they come with knowledge, they also leave with more which means students are an integral part in continuing the sustainability journey outside of university campus life.
Why engage with Schoolab as a student?
For many of the students, there was a big interest in reducing plastics – there was a seriousness to engage and do something as they see the negative impact of it around them. For many students, it started with small changes in their day-to-day such as owning a water bottle or having a backpack so as not to contribute to the single-use plastic problem by using plastic bottles or plastic bags.
From there, many want to move to the next level of action by engaging more people around them on the issue.
That is why many students registered to participate in trying to find innovative and sustainable solutions to the plastic problem. In addition, this is an opportunity for students to enhance skills such as teamwork, problem solving and communicating which are vital professional skills.
Some students also saw that sustainability and innovation on their university certificate can demonstrate an added value and knowledge as well as , “… it can help make my CV be more fancy!” :-
What is a student’s vision of a Sustainable Vietnam?
For many students, Vietnam is a developing country and boosting the economy is top priority. Students also see that sustainable development is an important part of this prioritisation and look to engage more on these topics so impact is seen.
They believe that one key aspect is continuing to work on increasing awareness in all groups of people.
And students are certainly a group that can contribute to this!
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