Finance & Business Café: the first episode spreads the Sustainable Development Goals to young people

The opening episode of Finance & Business Café Season 4 drew strong participation from UEFers and international students

With the goal of bringing practice-linked knowledge into the classroom, Finance & Business Café has long been a familiar “academic forum” for UEF students to exchange views, debate, and broaden perspectives on global economic–financial issues. Season after season, the program helps students develop presentation, analytical, and international networking skills.

Attending the program were Dr. Hà Thị Thủy – Dean of the Faculty of Finance – Accounting; M.A. Nguyễn Thanh Lâm – Vice Dean of the Faculty of Finance – Accounting; Ms. Riri Irawati from Budi Luhur University, Indonesia; together with program heads and lecturers of the Faculty.

The opening episode featured four young speakers representing Vietnam and Indonesia: Ms. Bùi Thị Duy Anh – UEF; Mr. Phạm Huy Bảo – student at the University of Economics Ho Chi Minh City; and Ms. Hukma Shabiya Rabbi R. and Ms. Syanara Rizki Almaz from Budi Luhur University, Indonesia.

The Faculty of Finance and Accounting presented certificates and gifts to the speakers

During the discussion, Dr. Hà Thị Thủy emphasized that the program provides a space for students to practice analytical and argumentative skills on timely topics in finance and business. She noted that the first episode serves as a bridge for students to spread the spirit of sustainable development and global citizenship through a compelling theme.

Dr. Hà Thị Thủy delivered remarks outlining the program’s orientation

In the discussion segment, the speakers agreed that ESG has become a critical evaluation standard for global enterprises and focused on the linkage between ESG and the United Nations’ 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). They also concurred that the university is a “microcosm of society,” where each student can practice the SDGs through concrete actions such as reducing plastic waste, conserving energy, or organizing community campaigns for sustainable development.

Vietnamese and Indonesian student speakers engaged in lively exchanges during the discussion

The speakers proposed practical solutions enabling young people to take action within 90 days to contribute to the SDGs: launching a plastic waste reduction project on campus, conducting energy audits in classrooms, and expanding an ESG mentoring program between Vietnamese and Indonesian students. These ideas reflect the young generation’s sense of social responsibility and can help students build management, planning, and performance measurement skills.

From the multifaceted perspectives of Vietnamese and international students, the Season 4 opener of Finance & Business Café clearly became a “lab for ideas,” where topics on ESG and the SDGs moved beyond theory toward concrete, measurable actions that can be replicated in enterprises and universities.

Season 4 of the Finance & Business Café promises even more engaging themes. From the intimate dialogues of Episode 1, students have been inspired to act for the community, ready to step into the world with the poise of a new-generation “global citizen.”

Center for Information and Communications