Lac Hong University: Joining Hands to Build Vietnam’s Startup Ecosystem.

Over the years, Lac Hong University has consistently paid attention to building a startup ecosystem within the University, while also focusing on mobilizing investment for practical projects.

Specifically, the University has developed a team of lecturers specializing in entrepreneurship, established policies to support entrepreneurship within the institution, invested in facilities for startup activities, created playgrounds for startups, connected with enterprises that provide products supporting entrepreneurial experiences, and identified key strategic partners.

Lac Hong University is an institution providing education, applied scientific research, technology transfer, and community service to meet societal needs. The University supplies human resources and nurtures talented individuals with the competence and qualities to serve the cause of national industrialization and modernization in the period of international integration.

Through actively promoting startup support activities in recent years, Lac Hong University has achieved encouraging accomplishments for students, alumni, and lecturers. These include the National Startup Award organized by Business Forum Newspaper (now Business Forum Magazine) – 01 Second Prize (2017); the Southern Regional Startup Award organized by the Southern Regional Startup Advisory and Support Council – 01 First Prize (2017) and 01 Third Prize (2017). The Dong Nai Innovative Startup Award organized by the Dong Nai Department of Science and Technology – 01 First Prize (2019). The Dong Nai Provincial Women’s Startup Award organized by the Dong Nai Women’s Union – First Prize (2020). The National Women’s Startup Award organized by the Vietnam Women’s Union Central Committee – Breakthrough Project Award (2020) and Promising Project Award (2020). In 2020, a lecturer of the University was also nominated for the title of Startup Advisor.

At present, PhD Lam Thanh Hien – Rector of the University – shows strong interest in and vigorously promotes the University’s entrepreneurship program. The University is also an educational institution implementing the entrepreneurship program under Project 1665 through the Ministry of Education and Training. Every year, student startup projects are supported to participate in competitions both within and outside the province.

With this orientation, the University allocates funding annually to invest in startup projects. The annual KPI assigned by the Rector to the team managing the University’s entrepreneurship program requires that at least one project reach the National Final Round of the “SV-STARTUP” startup competition for pupils and students organized by the Ministry of Education and Training. The University has also issued many practical policies and support programs to provide students with more opportunities to realize their business ideas.

The startup ecosystem of Lac Hong University has been comprehensively established (including the establishment of a Startup Club, a Co-working Space, a Mentor System, and modern laboratories), along with sending members to actively participate in startup communities at the provincial, regional, and national levels (Vietnam Innovative Startup Advisory Council – VSMA; Southern Regional Startup Advisory and Support Council; Dong Nai Provincial Startup Ecosystem Coordinating Council; Creative Design Thinking Village of Techfest Vietnam, etc.). This has effectively supported consultation, assistance, training, and resource introduction for students with startup ideas.

According to PhD Lam Thanh Hien, there have been more than 1,000 scientific papers published in prestigious domestic and international journals and presented at national and international scientific conferences listed for scoring by the State Council for Professor Title by the University’s staff and lecturers. LHU’s scientific research productivity ranks among the top 50 Vietnamese higher education institutions with the best international publications (2019). LHU students consistently reach the final rounds and lead in startup and scientific research competitions.

“One of the key tasks in the coming time is to continue strengthening the development of a digital platform-based management system, a streamlined and transparent governance structure, accreditation, and continuous improvement in accordance with international standards, with a commitment to ensuring the success of each student through competency-based education,” PhD Lam Thanh Hien emphasized.

Lac Hong University is one of the leading universities in Dong Nai province, with numerous activities supporting student entrepreneurship. The University has organized many startup programs, events, and competitions to encourage and support young people with business ideas. In addition, the University has developed a distinctive educational model oriented toward entrepreneurship and innovation, enabling students to access practical business knowledge and experience.

The University’s support programs have provided young people with greater opportunities to access resources, knowledge, and experience from experts, enterprises, and successful entrepreneurs. By participating in the University’s extracurricular activities, students gain additional knowledge and practical experience to develop their business ideas. Furthermore, these programs help students build networks with partners, enterprises, and investors, thereby increasing their chances of success.

At the Dong Nai Digital Transformation Week 2023 event, Lac Hong University was honored to participate in numerous meaningful activities, continuing to be a pioneering institution in digital transformation in the locality.

With its orientation and achievements in training and scientific research—two of the core missions of a university—Lac Hong University is moving closer to becoming one of the leading application-oriented universities in Vietnam and the Asia–Pacific region in the near future.