VNU-USSH students and the ClimateLaunchpad competition

The seminar program consists of a series of 03 sessions taking place from July 19 to July 21, 2023 at the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, VNU with the participation of many experts, CEOs at organizations, businesses and students from a number of universities in Hanoi. This activity is within the framework of the International Workshop "Startups with Impact" under the ClimateLaunchpad Competition (ClimateLauchpad Vietnam - ClimateLaunchpad Bootcamp: Training in Green Start-ups).
The seminar received the attention and participation of leaders of units under the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, VNU: Dr. Trinh Van Dinh - Head of the Scientific Research Management Department; Dr. Pham Hoang Hung - Head of the Cooperation and Development Department; Dr. Ta Thi Bich Ngoc - Secretary of the Youth Union; MSc. Duong Tat Thanh - Deputy Secretary of the Youth Union, President of the Student Union; Le Nguyen Cam Ly - Vice President of VNU-USSH Student Union.
The seminar was honored to welcome Mr. Michael Siegner - Chief Representative of Hanns Seidel Foundation Vietnam (HSF); Ms. Trinh Ngoc Mai - Program Director of HSF Vietnam; Mr. Nguyen Hong Long - Director of the Center for Research and Consulting for Innovation and Sustainable Development (CCS); PSG.Dr. Nguyen Minh Tan - Director of the Institute for Research and Development of Applied Natural Compounds, Hanoi University of Science and Technology and more than 30 students from universities in Hanoi participated in the ClimateLaunchpad competition.
ClimateLaunchpad – fueling the entrepreneurial passion of VNU-USSH students
The 5-Good Student Movement of the University of Social Sciences and Humanities has been launched and implemented since the beginning of the academic year 2022 - 2023 with a series of different activities, in which, 5-Good Student Week - Twinkle Week 2023 has returned with a new form, scale and depth through the cooperation of the Youth Union, the Student Union of the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, VNU, and the Hanns Seidel Stiftung Foundation (HSF) and the Center of Research and Consulting for Innovation and Sustainable Development (CCS) co-hosted. At this program, VNU-USSH students were challenged to compete in the ClimateLaunchpad (CLP) competition with students from many prestigious universities across the country.
CLP is the largest global green business start-up competition, originating in the Netherlands in 2014 and up to now has been held in 60 countries. Vietnam started participating in and organizing CLP in 2019 and by 2022, there have been 02 teams participating in the Global Finals.
Students participating in CLP will improve their knowledge of business creating impact, perfecting business models, financial management, calculating GHG emissions in the product life cycle, etc. with leading industry experts in and foreign. Students are supported to access clean energy projects, sustainable production and consumption, access to finance from potential investors and sponsors; expand the network on green start-ups, participate in startup communities, and exchange events to connect with relevant ministries/departments/sectors and experts in the field. In addition, participating projects will be promoted to the international green business start-up community.
At this competition, students will have the opportunity to participate in discussion sessions with Vietnamese CLP experts, such as Dr. Tran Luong Son - Senior expert on business strategy and impact assessment for start-ups; MSc.Dang Bao Khanh - Senior Expert in Finance and Product Development; Mr. Ron Bloemers - International expert from CLP Netherlands with more than 25 years of hands-on experience in the global clean technology industry; Mr. Richard D.Mcclellan - Independent Policy and Strategy Advisor, Member of the Jury of the CLP National Finals in 2022… At the Conference, Dr. Trinh Van Dinh - Head of the Department of Management and Scientific Research said that the University of Social Sciences and Humanities as a key member of Vietnam National University, Hanoi, with the mission of leading in training high-quality human resources has created favorable conditions in arousing the creative potential, thinking and entrepreneurship spirit in many generations of students. The companionship of organizations and businesses with VNU-USSH students in the ClimateLaunchpad competition will contribute to realizing students' passion for business and entrepreneurship right from the time they are still studying, helping them learn from the local and international startup community. Dr. Trinh Van Dinh emphasized, the keyword "Green start-up" throughout the series of seminars of the program will also be part of the luggage of VNU-USSH students in the future start-up process. Appreciating the inquisitive spirit of students of the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, VNU, Mr. Michael Siegner - Chief Representative of the Hanns Seidel Foundation Vietnam (HSF), said, HSF is proud to accompany and support university students, including VNU-USSH students in the process of starting a business. The organizers also hope that the students will develop ideas from the competition to start a successful business.
At the seminar, VNU-USSH students listened to the sharing of experts in the field of green startups with the topic of promoting innovation and entrepreneurship in universities and starting an impactful business.  
VNU-USSH students and advantages to realize the passion for entrepreneurship
From the perspective of a student about the story of creativity and entrepreneurship, Khuat Thi Thanh Mai - Vice President of the Humanities Startup Community Support Club (SURE) said that students, especially students of the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, VNU are very excited and have a lot of potential and passion to start a business. From the first year, with 02 compulsory modules: "Start-up" and "Creative Thinking and Idea Design", Thanh Mai and many VNU-USSH students have been inspired and equipped with knowledge and skills to spark a passion for entrepreneurship. Accordingly, in the course of studying, VNU-USSH students were suggested to have business ideas right from products found in daily life.
According to Thanh Mai, she was supported by teachers and the Youth Union to bring the idea of "E-waste recycling" to competitions, in which the above idea entered the Top 24 VNU Startup - Innovation competitions in 2021, and won the second prize of this competition in 2022. The VNU-USSH student will continue to develop her products to participate in the innovation competition in Taiwan in 2023.
Student K65 majoring in Social Work, Faculty of Sociology shared: “Students of the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, VNU have a lot of potential in developing startup ideas as well as receiving support from the university to realize that idea. Therefore, VNU-USSH students are completely confident to pursue their passion for entrepreneurship while still studying."   Responding to questions from students about the difficulties faced by students of the Social Sciences and Humanities majors when entering a business, A. Prof . Dr. Nguyen Minh Tan - Director of the Institute for Research and Application Development of Natural Compounds, Hanoi University of Science and Technology, students of the University of Social Sciences and Humanities have many advantages when starting a business with vibrant startup clubs, which hone their skills through courses as well as support in the start-up process.