As part of the P4G (Partnering for Green Growth and the Global Goals 2030) Summit held in Hanoi on April 16–17, 2025, under the theme “Sustainable, People-Centered Green Transition,” Assoc. Prof. Dr. Bui Huy Nhuong, Vice President of National Economics University (NEU), attended and delivered remarks at Discussion Session 4 with the message: A green workforce is the key to a sustainable transition.

A view of the discussion session

P4G (Partnering for Green Growth and the Global Goals 2030) is a global cooperation initiative aimed at promoting green growth and achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) through public-private partnerships in key areas such as renewable energy, sustainable cities, the circular economy, smart agriculture, and green finance. Vietnam is one of the nine founding member countries of this initiative.

As the host country and an active partner of P4G 2025, Vietnam affirmed its strong commitment to sustainable development and carbon neutrality by 2050, while demonstrating its efforts to connect domestic and international stakeholders to build effective models of green cooperation. The summit also provided a forum for universities, businesses, and development organizations to exchange initiatives, share experiences, and propose solutions for the future. It also offered Vietnam an opportunity to showcase its achievements, policies, and strategic vision for the green transition, with an emphasis on a people-centered approach and developing a high-quality workforce for sustainable development.

Ministerial discussion sessions took place as part of the fourth Partnering for Green Growth and the Global Goals 2030 (P4G) Summit in Hanoi. Deputy Minister of Education and Training Nguyen Van Phuc chaired Discussion Session 4, themed “Investing in People—Building a Workforce for the Economy of the Future.” Also attending the discussion session on behalf of NEU was Prof. Dr. Dinh Duc Truong, Dean of the Faculty of Environment, Climate Change and Urban Studies. The session brought together representatives of delegations attending the P4G Summit, United Nations organizations, international financial institutions, and representatives of academia and businesses from Vietnam and abroad.

At the discussion session, delegates focused on solutions for developing human resources and a competitive labor market to meet the demands of digital transformation and the green transition worldwide. Delegates also shared information about successful cooperation models in countries around the world for training a green workforce to support the economy’s green transition.

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Bui Huy Nhuong, Vice President of NEU, speaks at the discussion session

At the discussion session, addressing the green transition, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Bui Huy Nhuong, Vice
President of NEU, stated that amid the profound
transformation of the global economy, Vietnam had made a lasting commitment to the energy
transition.

According to Assoc. Prof. Dr. Bui Huy Nhuong, Vietnam currently
maintains a traditional linear economy, so its
workforce is better suited to traditional occupations than green occupations. The green
transition will give rise to new occupations, leaving many occupations vulnerable
during this transition. In the future, 88 occupations in Vietnam will undergo a green
transition, creating an urgent need for workforce training in Vietnam today.

Drawing on Vietnam’s experience, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Bui Huy Nhuong argued that general
education is a particularly important stage for nurturing green thinking and an understanding of sustainable
development while students are still in school. The integration of
environmental, climate, and sustainable development content into subjects such as natural
sciences, geography, and civic education should be strengthened through practical, interdisciplinary
approaches that engage students.

In addition, developing green school models, organizing
outdoor experiential activities, and raising environmental awareness and encouraging environmentally responsible
behavior are also considered effective educational methods for gradually fostering green
thinking among students, alongside plans to train core lecturers,
strengthen pedagogical capacity in education for sustainable development, and build skills for integrating
this content into teaching.

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Bui Huy Nhuong, Vice President of NEU, and delegates attending the discussion session pose for a commemorative photo

Emphasizing the central role of education, vocational training, and workforce reskilling in achieving green development goals, delegates at the discussion session agreed that developing a green workforce is a prerequisite for countries to achieve their goals for green growth, a circular economy, and sustainable development in the future. As the host country, Vietnam has been progressively translating this goal into practical action, from schools and businesses to national-level policies.

Article and photos: Department of Communications

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