Master of Smart City and Innovation Management (MSCIM) – Where research opportunities are open to everyone
My name is Võ Giai Hảo, a Cohort 4 student of the Master of Smart City and Innovation Management (MSCIM) program at the Institute of Smart City and Management (ISCM), University of Economics Ho Chi Minh City (UEH). ISCM is not only a research and innovation institute but also a place that gradually brings to life the vision of human-centered cities while fostering an intelligent and sustainable urban ecosystem.
After graduating with a degree in Regional and Urban Planning, I found myself contemplating my next academic and professional direction. I wanted to deepen my expertise in emerging global trends while ensuring that my knowledge would remain relevant to the Vietnamese context. When I explored the MSCIM curriculum at ISCM, I realized that the program’s learning outcomes align closely with the competencies required in today’s rapidly transforming urban landscape. It can be said that ISCM is among the leading institutes in training and research on smart city development, particularly in areas such as living labs, co-creation, and interdisciplinary innovation. More importantly, these areas of knowledge continue to evolve and expand through continuous learning and practice.
What makes ISCM especially inspiring is that research opportunities are not limited only to its members. The institute actively welcomes and encourages participation from a wide community of scholars and practitioners. Research seminars and academic workshops are open to individuals from various backgrounds and positions, and submissions are evaluated primarily based on the quality and capability of the research itself.
During my first semester in the master’s program, I learned about several research and design initiatives organized by ISCM in collaboration with Khanh Hoa Province, including the International Design Competition for the Cai River Heritage Corridor and the Blue Economy Scientific Conference. These initiatives were remarkably inclusive, welcoming participation from undergraduate students, master’s students, doctoral researchers, and professionals from many countries around the world. They created a platform for exchanging ideas and addressing local challenges within a broader global perspective.
At that time, I hesitated because the registration deadline for the design competition was only two weeks away. However, I realized that if I did not challenge myself, I would only be limiting my own potential and reinforcing boundaries that I had created for myself. After just two class sessions where the institute’s mission and vision were clearly conveyed, I felt motivated to submit my application. Fortunately, my project was selected for the Sponsor’s Choice Award, among more than 500 submissions from 50 countries worldwide.
Student receiving the Sponsor’s Choice Award
I am truly grateful to be a part of the ISCM community, where I have the opportunity to learn from continuously refined knowledge and engage with professors and scholars from around the world. The institute provides numerous research platforms for students throughout their academic journey. After participating in the Cai River Heritage Corridor design competition, I became more aware of the limitations that design can have when it is not grounded in a solid research foundation. Approaches such as design thinking and “glocal by design” highlight the importance of integrating global perspectives with local contexts. The Blue Economy International Scientific Conference therefore became an opportunity for me to combine design practice with academic research. Through this process, I developed a research paper titled: “Revitalizing the Cai River Estuary Heritage Corridor: Integrating Cultural Heritage and Local Livelihoods into Landscape Solutions to Reduce Pressure on the Marine Ecosystem of Nha Trang Ward”. The knowledge gained from classroom discussions helped me better understand that solving complex urban challenges requires identifying the root causes of the problem. Only by doing so can we propose targeted, localized solutions that effectively address the core issues while generating broader and more meaningful impacts.
Research poster exhibited at the Blue Economy International Scientific Conference
Cuối cùng, tôi thật sự biết ơn và cảm kích khi được là một thành viên của Viện, được học tập và nghiên cứu trong môi trường giáo dục chất lượng cao và luôn ngày một phát triển đổi mới với xu hướng của thế giới. Cảm ơn Viện ISCM đã kiến tạo những sân chơi học thuật bổ ích để tôi có được thành quả giải thưởng cuộc thi quốc tế và bài tham luận được xuất bản mã ISBN đầu tiên.
Photos & sharings by Vo Giai Hao