The Responsible Business Practices Toolkit, a joint product of the Institute for Sustainable Development at National Economics University (NEU) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), was completed and put into use in May 2024.

Image: The Responsible Business Practices Toolkit

Responsible business practices can be understood simply as conducting business without causing negative impacts on people and the planet. The key to responsible business is achieving a balance between Profit – People – Planet. Frameworks for responsible business practices have been developing rapidly worldwide, and Vietnam is no exception to this major trend.

The training toolkit was jointly designed and developed by a research team from NEU and the United Nations Development Programme, comprising Nguyen Ngoc Hien, Lecturer at NEU, with extensive teaching, consulting, and research experience in human resource management, labor relations, sustainable leadership, and human rights due diligence; Nguyen Van Huan, Business and Human Rights Coordinator at UNDP Vietnam, with extensive consulting and research experience in responsible business and business and human rights; Yuji Shinohara, Governance Specialist at UNDP Vietnam, with extensive experience in governance and industrial development, and business and human rights; and Assoc. Prof. Le Quang Canh, Lecturer at NEU, with extensive teaching, consulting, and research experience in economics and sustainable development.

In particular, the toolkit pays tribute to Prof. Dr. Nguyen Van Thang of NEU for his significant contributions to responsible business and research in sustainable development.

This training toolkit is designed to provide a set of tools, including content and methods, for training businesses within and outside Vietnam in essential knowledge of responsible business—a global trend and standard for business practices that generate profits while respecting people and the planet. Raising awareness of responsible business practices (RBP) is a priority guided by the National Action Program on Responsible Business Practices, adopted by the Government of Vietnam under Decision No. 843/QĐ-TTg dated July 14, 2023.

This training toolkit comprises eight components that provide lecturers with tools to organize informative, interactive training courses on responsible business practices (RBP) that engage learners:
1. Training manual: The training manual is an integral part of the toolkit. While the other components of the toolkit provide the WHAT (the training content), this manual provides the HOW for delivering that content during training activities.
2. Training slides: Trainers can use or customize these slides to conduct training courses. The slides cover the basic principles of responsible business practices, an introduction to the UNGPs, and the steps of human rights due diligence (HRDD) for businesses.
3. Group exercises: The exercises in this component should be used for group discussions and activities during training courses to enhance active learning and peer learning among trainees.
4. Icebreaker games: RBP is an unfamiliar, sometimes novel concept for many people. This component therefore suggests icebreaker games that lecturers can use to break the ice and encourage trainees to overcome their hesitation to participate in training activities.
5. Registration and evaluation forms: These are useful tools for lecturers and organizers of RBP training activities. While the registration form provides information relevant to organizing training, covering both training content and logistics, the evaluation form helps organizers and trainers improve training activities.
6. Practice worksheets: Applying new knowledge is key to helping trainees acquire new skills and practices. For this purpose, these worksheets are templates that trainees use during training activities to take notes and apply and practice the knowledge shared, and after training to disseminate and encourage appropriate practices tailored to their specific circumstances.
7. Training toolkit references: The training toolkit was developed using a wealth of resources, including authoritative instruments and other tools developed by reputable international organizations. These materials are compiled and provided in this component to help both trainers and trainees explore the substantive and practical aspects of RBP in greater depth.
8. Recommended further reading for integrating RBP: This final component provides recommended further reading. Learners can also find useful illustrations and examples of RBP, particularly good practices in the Vietnamese context.

Download the English version HERE.

Download the Vietnamese version HERE.

The Responsible Business Practices Training Toolkit is the result of more than a year of collaboration between the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Vietnam and the Institute for Sustainable Development at NEU, with support from the Government of Japan. Here is a look back at some images from the project:

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Le Quang Canh, NEU, moderates the tripartite discussion session.

Prof. Dr. Nguyen Thi Tuyet Mai of NEU teaches responsible business in the training courses.

MSc. Nguyen Ngoc Hien of NEU teaches supply chain due diligence in the training courses.

Article and photos: Research team

This is an automated translation. If you notice any errors, please contact the Department of Communications, National Economics University at phongtruyenthong@neu.edu.vn.