On August 20, 2026, Thu Dau Mot University organized the Entrepreneur–Student Exchange Forum themed “Green Up – Awakening Green Ideas, Shaping a Digital Future.” The program aimed to foster an entrepreneurial spirit among students while giving them opportunities to learn from entrepreneurs’ practical experience, thereby strengthening their knowledge and skills and helping orient their learning and personal development in the context of digital transformation and sustainable development.
Representing the Southern National Startup Advisory and Support Council at the forum were MA. Nguyen Thi Thuy, Standing Vice Chairwoman of the Council, and other Council members. Representatives of Thu Dau Mot University included MA. Truong Thi Thuy Tien, Deputy Director of the Center for Enterprise Cooperation and Entrepreneurship; Assoc. Prof. Dr. Dong Van Toan, Dean of the Faculty of Education; Dr. Nguyen Ho Quang, Director of the Institute of Engineering and Technology; leaders and representatives of the University’s units; and more than 500 students.
Awakening an entrepreneurial mindset through real-world challenges
Speaking on behalf of the University’s leadership at the forum, MA. Truong Thi Thuy Tien, Deputy Director of the Center for Enterprise Cooperation and Entrepreneurship, noted that digital transformation, artificial intelligence, innovation, and the growing demand for green development are increasingly reshaping the ways people learn, work, produce, and address social issues. These changes not only open up opportunities for young people to embrace new approaches but also require adaptability, creative thinking, and the ability to turn ideas into solutions with practical value. According to MA. Truong Thi Thuy Tien, a “green idea” does not necessarily have to begin with a major issue. It may involve using energy more efficiently, reducing waste, reusing resources, or developing a solution for the environment, education, agriculture, urban areas, or communities. Likewise, a “digital future” is not solely about information technology. Data, digital technologies, and artificial intelligence are becoming tools that support innovation across many fields, enabling people to explore new ways of solving real-world problems. Students therefore need to begin by observing the issues around them, asking how those issues can be addressed, and having the courage to experiment rather than stopping at the idea stage. An idea becomes truly meaningful only when it is tested in practice, refined through experience, and gradually creates value for users and the community. “The University hopes that today’s forum will offer you more than stories of success. More importantly, through the insights shared by experts, entrepreneurs, and those who have experienced the journey of innovation, you may discover a new question, a new perspective, or a new source of motivation—and perhaps that is where a new idea will be awakened. In the coming time, the University will continue to create an environment in which students’ ideas can be initiated, tested, connected, and developed, while expanding opportunities for learners to gain practical experience and work alongside businesses, experts, and communities. Through this process, students can gradually refine their ideas and develop projects, products, and solutions that respond to real-world needs,” MA. Truong Thi Thuy Tien shared.
For more than nine years, the Southern National Startup Advisory and Support Council has accompanied the program and worked with Thu Dau Mot University to implement numerous activities that support, connect, and foster an entrepreneurial spirit among students. Speaking at the forum, MA. Nguyen Thi Thuy, Standing Vice Chairwoman of the Council, emphasized that entrepreneurship is not merely about establishing a business; first and foremost, it is a proactive mindset focused on creating value. As Vietnam works toward its goal of becoming a developed, high-income country by 2045, young people need to equip themselves with knowledge, skills, creativity, and the courage to take action and contribute to society. MA. Nguyen Thi Thuy encouraged students not to focus solely on finding a job after graduation, but to ask themselves, “What value will I create for society?” and “What problem can I solve, and for whom can I create jobs?” From there, they can begin with ideas suited to their abilities, develop plans, conduct trials, accept challenges, learn from experience, and improve step by step. “A country that seeks rapid and sustainable development cannot rely on only a few outstanding individuals. A strong and prosperous Vietnam needs a young generation with knowledge, aspirations, creativity, and the courage to turn those aspirations into concrete action,” MA. Nguyen Thi Thuy emphasized.

Building on the perspectives shared by representatives of the University and the Southern National Startup Advisory and Support Council, the spirit of “Green Up!” centers on encouraging students to proactively identify problems, develop ideas, define goals, and gradually turn those ideas into practical value. To “awaken” green ideas and “shape” a digital future, aspirations must be supported by knowledge, planning, experimentation, and perseverance. This also provided the foundation for entrepreneurs and experts at the forum to continue sharing practical experience from their startup journeys with students.
Green Up – Awakening Green Ideas, Shaping a Digital Future
At the forum, MA. Nguyen Thi Thu Trinh, Executive Committee Member of the Southern National Startup Advisory and Support Council and Deputy General Director of Saigon Food Joint Stock Company; entrepreneur Nguyen Anh Dung, Executive Committee Member of the Council and Director of SBOOKS Joint Stock Company; entrepreneur Le Duy Dong, Executive Committee Member of the Council and Chairman of the Board of Directors of Mark Grown Joint Stock Company; and MA. Nguyen Van Toan Co, Council Member and Chairman of FelixTech Technology Solutions Joint Stock Company, engaged with students on the process of developing, testing, and advancing a startup idea—from identifying a problem and building a product to finding customers and gradually refining the business model.
Drawing on real-world stories, the speakers showed that the entrepreneurial journey inevitably includes difficult stages and that not every idea leads directly to success. Behind a product that gains market acceptance lies a process of identifying the problem, understanding user needs, choosing a direction, developing a plan, preparing resources, testing, receiving feedback, and making repeated adjustments. An idea, therefore, is only the starting point; clear goals, sound planning, and the ability to execute determine how far it can go. The speakers advised students not to begin by asking, “How can I come up with a completely new idea?” Instead, they should first observe existing problems in their studies, daily lives, and communities to identify genuine needs that require solutions. Once an idea has been formed, an entrepreneur needs to clarify who the product is for, what problem it solves, what value it creates, and what resources are available for implementation. Breaking goals into stages, starting at an appropriate scale, validating a product before making major investments, and developing a financial plan are practical steps that can help students reduce risk when they have limited capital and experience.
The entrepreneurs also shared stories of failure as an inseparable part of the startup journey. An unsuccessful trial does not mean that an idea has no value. What matters is identifying the cause, listening to feedback, adjusting the product or approach, and continuing to test. The courage to act must be accompanied by the ability to assess risks, while perseverance must go hand in hand with a plan flexible enough to adapt when reality does not unfold as expected. This approach helps young people sustain their motivation and gradually accumulate experience instead of expecting success in a short period of time.
In connection with the theme “Awakening Green Ideas – Shaping a Digital Future,” the discussion on entrepreneurship was broadened to include the development of environmentally responsible products and the application of technology. The speakers shared approaches to combining “green” thinking with digital platforms, ranging from optimizing production processes, using raw materials efficiently, and reducing waste to improving customer reach. Accordingly, a green idea should go beyond creating an environmentally friendly product: it must address a specific need, be feasible to implement, and create sufficiently clear value for users to choose it. Another issue raised was the balance between sustainability and competitiveness. As consumers become increasingly interested in green products while production costs may be higher, businesses need to balance price, quality, market accessibility, and environmental impact. For student entrepreneurs, this means identifying the right target customers, calculating costs from the outset, and avoiding the temptation to follow the “green” trend merely for appearance’s sake without demonstrating the product’s practical value. 
The speakers also viewed digital technologies, data, and artificial intelligence as tools that can support innovation across many fields, not only information technology. Technology, however, is not the ultimate goal of a startup idea. When developing technology-based green solutions, young people must consider both the effectiveness of the technology and the environmental impacts associated with devices, energy use, data, and operations. The value of a solution lies not in how new its technology is, but in how effectively that technology solves a real-world problem and creates sustainable value. From these discussions, the speakers also highlighted several common shortcomings among young entrepreneurs, such as focusing too heavily on the idea without researching market demand, lacking a financial plan, investing too early before validating the product, expecting rapid results, or choosing a business trend simply because it is currently popular. These practical lessons helped students better understand the gap between an idea and a viable project.

In particular, students raised direct questions such as “Where should students with limited capital and experience begin?”, how to balance green products with affordability, how to minimize risk during experimentation, and how to awaken green business ideas within the Thu Dau Mot University student community. These questions made the discussion closely aligned with learners’ practical needs. The forum therefore not only provided entrepreneurship knowledge but also helped students develop a clearer picture of the steps required before turning an idea into a project. The journey from an initial idea to a product capable of establishing itself in the market requires motivation to begin, goals to provide direction, a plan for implementation, the capacity to adapt, and perseverance to see it through. The insights shared at the forum helped students recognize these requirements more clearly while encouraging them to proactively observe real-world issues, identify problems, and begin experimenting at a scale appropriate to their abilities. 
Through the forum, collaboration among the University, businesses, and startup support organizations was further strengthened, creating additional opportunities for students to gain practical experience, receive feedback from entrepreneurs, and connect with resources for their ideas. This also provides a foundation for “green” ideas developed by Thu Dau Mot University students to be tested and refined and, step by step, developed into solutions that meet the needs of the community and society.
Chú thích ảnh:

Sustainable Development Goals:
SDG 1 - No Poverty
SDG 4 - Quality Education
SDG 7 - Affordable and Clean Energy
SDG 10 - Reduced Inequalities
SDG 11 - Sustainable Cities and Communities
SDG 15 - Life on Land
SDG 16 - Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions
SDG 17 - Partnerships for the Goals
Resolution No. 57
Resolution No. 71
Resolution No. 59
Keywords: Thu Dau Mot University, Green Up, green ideas, digital future, entrepreneurship, student entrepreneurship, entrepreneurial spirit, innovation, digital transformation, artificial intelligence, green development, entrepreneur–student exchange, entrepreneur networking, startup support, Southern National Startup Advisory and Support Council, technology application, TDMU students, sustainable development, business connections, green entrepreneurship, startup ideas, value creation, entrepreneurial skills, businesses, market, capital, startup planning