ISCM PARTICIPATES IN THE ASEAN SUSTAINABLE URBANISATION FORUM 2025 IN KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA (AUGUST 11–14, 2025)

The Institute of Smart City and Management (ISCM), UEH College of Technology and Design, represented by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Trinh Tu Anh (Director of ISCM), participated in the ASEAN Sustainable Urbanisation Forum (ASUF) 2025, held from August 11 to 14, 2025, in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

The ASEAN Sustainable Urbanisation Forum (ASUF) 2025 marked a landmark event, as it was the first urban forum hosted by an ASEAN Chair country. The Forum highlighted the urgent need for a collaborative and unified approach to address the complex challenges posed by urbanisation in the region. Among its key priorities, ASUF focused on strengthening local policy frameworks, promoting innovative mechanisms, leveraging new technologies for the development of inclusive and sustainable cities, and enhancing regional cooperation. In addition, ASUF underscored the importance of engaging key stakeholders - governments, urban planners, industry experts, and communities - with a shared goal of shaping a sustainable urban future.

As part of the event, on August 13, 2025, Assoc. Prof. Trinh Tu Anh was invited to join the session “Digital Transformation and Innovative Cities”, which centered on the opportunities and challenges of digital transformation in urban development. Sharing her perspectives, she emphasized that enhancing digital skills and expanding access to technology for low-income or underserved communities requires models tailored to each country’s socio-economic context. One of the most effective and scalable approaches, she noted, is the co-creation model, where governments, businesses, academia, and communities jointly develop solutions. This model not only ensures practical relevance but also empowers citizens to actively engage in acquiring digital skills. Moreover, co-creation helps to bridge the digital divide, as marginalized groups are given direct opportunities to participate and shape solutions that align with their actual needs.

When addressing the establishment of an ethical framework in the current era of digital governance, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Trinh Tu Anh highlighted that this responsibility cannot rest on any single individual or organization, but requires collective effort. Governments must provide clear legal frameworks; technology companies should develop transparent solutions; civil society plays a role in monitoring and advocacy; while international and local organizations contribute through experience-sharing and setting common standards. Only through such collaboration can the boundary between privacy and surveillance be fairly defined, thereby strengthening public trust in the journey towards smart and sustainable cities.

On August 14, 2025, Assoc. Prof. Tu Anh Trinh also took part in the Expert Group Meeting (EGM) on the ASEAN Sustainable Urbanisation Report (ASUR), a strategic publication jointly developed by the ASEAN Secretariat and UN-Habitat. The ASUR aims to update urbanisation trends in the region, analyze policies of ASEAN member states, and showcase best practices in sustainable urban development. The EGM discussions focused on setting directions, indicators, and case studies for the second edition of the ASUR, scheduled for release in 2026.

ISCM’s presence at the Forum reaffirmed its commitment to fostering academic exchange and international collaboration, contributing to the sustainable development of ASEAN cities in the digital era.

News & Picture: The Institute of Smart City & Management; ASUF