International Conference on Business, Economics, and Social Sciences Organized by the Faculty of Finance and Banking

On June 6, 2025, the Faculty of Finance and Banking at Van Lang University held the International Conference on Business, Economics, and Social Sciences (ICBESS 2025) with the theme “Innovation and Digital Transformation for Sustainable Development”. The event attracted a large number of lecturers and students from various fields and educational institutions. The conference included five discussion sessions featuring numerous innovative, practical initiatives and reports aimed at promoting digital transformation.

In her opening remarks, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Tran Thi My Dieu, President of Van Lang University, emphasized: “In recent years, digital transformation has become a top priority strategy for our university, from upgrading learning platforms to applying data-driven approaches in management and research. In a globally volatile context driven by rapid technological advancements, we need to seriously reflect on policy innovations that can create meaningful changes, turning technology into a tool for sustainable development”.

During the morning session, the conference participants listened to profound insights on business, economic, and social issues from Prof. Keun Lee (Seoul National University) and Assoc. Prof. Dr. Huynh Luu Duc Toan (Queen Mary University of London). In his presentation titled “Innovation for Sustaining Economic Growth and Overcoming the Middle-Income Trap”, Prof. Keun Lee, a leading scholar in economic development and former policy planner in South Korea, provided a comprehensive view of the development processes of Asian economies. He discussed topics such as the middle-income trap, the role of the manufacturing sector, resource processing, and local ownership in the innovation system. Through comparisons between countries, Prof. Lee highlighted important lessons that could be applied to Vietnam.

According to Prof. Lee, to achieve sustainable development and escape the middle-income trap, Vietnam needs to focus on innovative industrial policies, diversify agricultural models, enhance the quality of the workforce, and improve the education and training system. These recommendations are not only based on economic theory but are also supported by successful experiences from several countries in the region.

Meanwhile, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Huynh Luu Duc Toan discussed how companies innovate and apply digital transformation for new economic measurements and sustainable finance. He emphasized the crucial role of innovation in a rapidly changing global context influenced by technology. Businesses today cannot achieve sustainable development by relying solely on traditional models; they must continuously innovate in thinking, strategy, and organizational structure, while updating trends in digital transformation to build new economic indicators and move toward sustainable financial models. 

The conference received nearly 200 abstracts, of which 116 high-quality papers and 20 exemplary reports were presented in various sessions. The positive contributions from research and presentations opened up new approaches, promising practical and hopeful outcomes.

News: Hai Yen 
Photos: Tram Le