LÊ QUÝ ĐÔN HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS TACKLE CLIMATE CHANGE AT IU PUBLIC LECTURE
On the morning of October 18, 2026, nearly 180 students from Le Quy Don High School in Ho Chi Minh City participated in a Public Lecture organized by International University (VNU-HCM) under the theme “Vietnamese Youth Responding to Climate Change.” The session was led by Dr. Tran Thanh Tu, Lecturer at the Faculty of Chemical and Environmental Engineering.
With the goal of building high-quality training programs that are constantly updated and apply advanced scientific and technical knowledge, the International University regularly organizes seminars, conferences, and thematic public talks to provide valuable information to a wide range of participants. Each year, the university’s Public Lecture program, designed for high school and university students across Ho Chi Minh City and neighboring provinces, attracts significant attention from students and teachers alike.
More than 180 students from Lê Quý Đôn High School participated in the Public Lecture titled “Vietnamese Youth Responding to Climate Change”.
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Ngoc Duy Phuong – Head of the International Relations Office at International University – stated: “The Public Lecture series at the International University in 2025 began in June and will continue through the end of the year, covering many interesting topics presented by faculty members from various departments as well as renowned guest speakers from outside the university. In June, July, August, and September, we successfully held four sessions with the participation of nearly 600 high school students. This October, we continue with two topics: ‘Vietnamese Youth Responding to Climate Change’ and ‘Application of Technology in Learning English Skills.’ At the end of 2025, in December, we will hold another session on ‘Personal Financial Management.’ All these programs aim to provide students with an accurate understanding of various professions so that they can have proper guidance aligned with their passions and abilities.”
“For the October program of the new school year, we dedicated time and effort to organizing an engaging topic with the goal of inspiring students with stories about environmental protection – one of today’s most compelling global issues. The October session was organized with support from the Faculty of Chemical and Environmental Engineering. The faculty’s training programs for Chemical and Environmental Engineering are designed with a ‘job-ready’ philosophy, aiming to meet global labor market demands for engineers who are practically skilled, proficient in English, and well-versed in essential competencies in the fields of Chemistry and Environmental Engineering.”
The Faculty of Chemical and Environmental Engineering is committed to training high-quality and reputable chemical and environmental engineers. Graduates of this program are prepared to meet the demands of the global job market by applying foundational knowledge to solve a wide range of industry-related problems. Engineers graduating from the International University’s program are proficient in English, excel at teamwork, and can adapt well to diverse working environments.
Lê Quý Đôn High School students visited the laboratories of the School of Chemical and Environmental Engineering and several key laboratories at the International University.
After touring the facilities at the International University, 180 students from Le Quy Don High School listened to a presentation by Dr. Tran Thanh Tu, lecturer from the Faculty of Chemical and Environmental Engineering. At the start of the program, Dr. Thanh Tu summarized for the students the issue of environmental protection and related topics such as greenhouse gas emissions, resource wastage, and industries that may cause pollution, including heavy industries and certain light industries. She also emphasized the importance of managing and accounting for emissions in each sector to ensure reasonable control—aiming to reduce emissions in heavy-emitting industries while maintaining stability in lighter-emitting sectors. Additionally, she shared measures to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, such as reforestation, and encouraged students to learn about local emission levels to adjust their lifestyles accordingly.
Dr. Trần Thanh Tú – Lecturer at the School of Chemical and Environmental Engineering – served as the main speaker for the October Public Lecture on environmental issues.
Dr. Tran Thanh Tu also took time to present the harms of environmental pollution in the past, present, and future. According to her, environmental pollution and climate change have caused numerous environmental and social problems. If we continue on this path, climate and environmental issues will only worsen. In the long term, future generations will bear environmental consequences far heavier than what we are experiencing now. For the sake of the country’s future, she encouraged students not to focus solely on economic development but to also prioritize environmental protection and social development. The goal of sustainable development is to grow the economy to meet human needs while protecting natural resources and the environment.
Dr. Tran Thanh Tu additionally shared Vietnam’s sustainable development goals, such as eradicating hunger, reducing poverty, providing quality education, and achieving gender equality. She emphasized the importance of each commitment and the necessity of cooperating with international organizations like UNFCCC and IPCC to achieve these goals, as these targets and commitments place significant pressure on society, the economy, and the people. Only through collaboration with like-minded organizations can Vietnam fulfill its ambitious environmental commitments, ensuring both international credibility and sustainable economic and environmental development.
Lê Quý Đôn High School students ask questions to the speaker during the program.
To make the session engaging, Dr. Tú organized an interactive activity where Lê Quý Đôn students role-played scenarios involving climate change response.This activity aimed to encourage the students’ enthusiasm and active participation in learning. The students responded enthusiastically to the activity. During the remaining time, they engaged in discussions and debates on issues related to economics and society, exploring how to balance these concerns with environmental protection. The program concluded in a positive atmosphere, filled with the laughter of the Le Quy Don High School students.
Lê Quý Đôn High School students took on the roles of policymakers, researchers, business representatives, and citizens to discuss six topics: agriculture, industry, education, transportation, energy, and water – all aimed toward the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the United Nations.