Undergraduate On March 14, 2026, the International Scientific Conference on "Culture, Society, and Humanities towards Sustainable Development" was held at the Turtle Hall, Can Tho University (CTU). The conference was also part of the series of events celebrating the 60th anniversary of CTU, highlighting the University's role in scientific research and international academic cooperation.
Attending the conference were Mr. Jonathan Baker – UNESCO Representative to Vietnam; Prof. Dr. David Harrison - Vice Provost of Academic Affairs of VinUniversity. Representing CTU were Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Hieu Trung – Vice Rector; leaders of the School of Political Science, Social Sciences and Humanities; along with the participation of over 700 participants from nearly 100 universities, research institutes, organizations, agencies, and companies from Vietnam and abroad.
Overview of the conference
The conference took place in the context of sustainable development becoming a central goal in the development strategies of many countries and international organizations. In this process, the social sciences and humanities have increasingly affirmed their important role in analyzing social changes, preserving and promoting cultural values, and simultaneously contributing to shaping development policies appropriate to the context of each country and region. For the Mekong Delta region, which is facing numerous challenges such as climate change, socio-economic transformation, and the need to preserve cultural identity, research in this field holds particular significance in proposing sustainable development solutions linked to local practical conditions.
After nearly a year of preparation, the conference received over 260 scientific articles from domestic and international researchers. Through an independent review process, 181 high-quality articles were selected for publication in a special issue of the CTU Journal of Science and two conference proceedings volumes, totaling more than 2,000 pages. At the conference, over 30 presentations were delivered, with the participation of more than 700 delegates from nearly 100 organizations, agencies, research institutes, universities, and enterprises both domestically and internationally.
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Hieu Trung delivered remarks at the conference
In his remarks, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Hieu Trung emphasized that throughout its 60 years of establishment and development, the University has consistently adhered to its mission of training high-quality human resources, promoting scientific research and technology transfer, thereby making significant contributions to the development of the Mekong Delta region and the whole country. In the context of the country entering a new development phase, sustainable development is not only viewed through economic growth indicators or technological progress but must be built upon the foundation of cultural and human values and social stability. In this spirit, the conference was organized to create an academic forum for scientists to exchange and share research results in the field of social sciences and humanities, while enhancing domestic and international academic connections, suggesting many new research directions, and proposing practical solutions for the sustainable development of the Mekong Delta region in the context of climate change, digital transformation, and global integration. Thereby, the conference contributes to affirming CTU's role as an academic hub closely linked to the region's development, while strengthening domestic and international academic connections through partnerships with organizations such as UNESCO and VinUniversity.
Mr. Jonathan Baker highlighted the increasingly important role of culture in the sustainable development process
At the Conference, Mr. Jonathan Baker shared the increasingly important role of culture in the sustainable development process. Accordingly, culture is not only a heritage to be preserved or forms of artistic expression but also a resource that promotes creativity, innovation, economic development, and enhances social cohesion. In the context of a global transformation under the impact of digital technology and artificial intelligence, universities have a special role in creating knowledge, promoting interdisciplinary research, and connecting academia with social practice. At the same time, the UNESCO representative highly appreciated CTU's role as a key academic hub in the Mekong Delta region in contributing scientific foundations for policy formulation and training human resources for cultural and creative industries.
Prof. Dr. David Harrison shared his research on exploring cultural heritage and environmental intelligence in Vietnam
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Huynh Van Da - Vice Dean of School of Political Science, Social Sciences and Humanities, CTU gave an overview of the objectives and significance of the conference
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Pham Hong Long - University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Vietnam National University, Hanoi shared strategic solutions to enhance cultural, social, and human values
Following the plenary session, the conference was organized into eight parallel sessions: Literature – Linguistics; Culture; Tourism; Sociology; Information – Library Science; Political Science; Journalism; and the Poster & Photo Voice session. The presentations focused on diverse research topics such as regional culture and cultural identity; cultural and creative industries; cultural tourism and sustainable tourism development; labor migration and social change; application of artificial intelligence and digital technology in the information – library field; the role of multimedia in social life; political education in the context of digital media; as well as environmental issues and climate change in the Mekong Delta.
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Hieu Trung and Dr. Bui Thanh Thao - Dean of School of Political Science, Social Sciences and Humanities, CTU, presenting flowers and souvenirs to express gratitude to representatives of UNESCO and Vin University for their companionship and contributions to the conference
Group photo at the conference
A notable feature of this conference was that it extended beyond conventional academic discussions to create a vibrant cultural experience. The establishment of culinary booths and the organization of a field trip to U Minh Ha brought the culture of the Mekong Delta to life through its flavors, landscapes, and rhythms of local life. As a result, international guests not only learned about the region’s culture through academic discourse but also had the opportunity to directly experience and appreciate the depth of a unique cultural space, where scholarly knowledge was enriched by meaningful field experiences.
The International Scientific Conference "Culture, Society, and Humanities towards Sustainable Development" was not only a forum for academic exchange but also opened up many opportunities for research collaboration, training, and knowledge sharing among domestic and international scientists. Through academic activities and cultural exchanges, the event continues to affirm CTU's role as a key training and scientific research center in the Mekong Delta region, while also demonstrating the university's responsibility in contributing knowledge and solutions for the sustainable development of the region and the country.
Some photos from the conference:
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