UniConnect SDGs Hackathon 2026: Bridging International Academic Collaboration with Climate Change Challenges

On January 20, 2026, Van Lang University, in collaboration with the University of Tasmania (Australia), officially held the opening ceremony for the UniConnect SDGs Hackathon 2026. The event marked the third year of the program and welcomed leaders from both universities, scholars, partners, and students.

The UniConnect SDGs Hackathon 2026 focuses on the theme “Climate Change Adaptation in Aquaculture,” aiming to equip students with interdisciplinary thinking and the capacity to propose solutions to environmental and food security challenges. Through a series of academic activities, field experiences, and hackathon sessions, the program enables students to engage with global issues within the practical context of Vietnam.

In her opening remarks, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Tran Thi My Dieu, President of Van Lang University, emphasized that the UniConnect SDGs Hackathon is a flagship initiative reflecting the University’s educational orientation of integrating academic knowledge with practical application and social responsibility. The selection of aquaculture as the focal research area stems from the sector’s strategic role in regional economic development and food security, while also providing students with opportunities to address sustainable development challenges in the context of climate change.

Representing the University of Tasmania, Dr. Russell Warman, Research Fellow at the Tasmanian Institute of Agriculture, highly appreciated the program’s academic value and potential for fostering multicultural collaboration. He noted that the UniConnect SDGs Hackathon helps students develop the ability to work in international environments, approach sustainability issues from a systems perspective, and enhance mutual understanding across educational systems.

Providing further insights into the program, Dr. Huynh Tan Loi, Head of the Doctoral Program of the Faculty of Environment, outlined the overall framework of the UniConnect SDGs Hackathon 2026. This includes the academic schedule, fieldwork activities, Vietnamese language classes, collaborative learning approaches, and the structure of the hackathon. The subsequent Q&A session allowed students to clarify academic content, organizational arrangements, and implementation plans for the upcoming period.

UniConnect SDGs Hackathon 2026 is expected to continue serving as a platform connecting students within a multicultural learning environment, where academic knowledge is closely integrated with practical experience and global sustainable development issues. Through this initiative, Van Lang University and the University of Tasmania aim to further expand educational and research collaboration while contributing to the development of a generation of students equipped with adaptability, solution-oriented thinking, and a strong sense of social responsibility in the face of increasingly complex climate change challenges.

News: Dang Khoa
Photos: Diem Quynh