After exceeding expectations in 2025, the Glocal STEAM Project returns in 2026. It is now larger, more substantive, and richer in experience.

From March 4 to 11, 2026, IUH collaborated with TUT in Japan to continue this interdisciplinary learning model. Built on the “Glocal” philosophy global thinking, local action the program promotes cross-border education.
Season 1 began international cooperation; Season 2 refocuses on joint problem-solving, moving from exchange to co-creation. Students collaborated to address Vietnamese challenges using science and technology.
 

 

Lecturers and students from TUT, USSH, and IUH. Dr. Trần Đình Lâm (USSH) shares insights on Vietnam’s current economic landscape and prospects.
 

 

Here, contemporary social issues were explored from multiple perspectives, including culture and environment, as well as sustainable development. The open atmosphere of discussion helped international students gradually overcome language barriers while gaining a deeper understanding of the Vietnamese context, a key factor in shaping applicable ideas.
It was through these conversations that the groups began to define their topics, connecting technical knowledge with humanistic depth, a distinctive characteristic of the STEAM model.


Các hoạt động trọng điểm của mùa 2: Khi văn hóa trở thành “chất xúc tác” sáng tạo
Key activities of Season 2: When culture becomes a “catalyst” for creativity
Leaving the academic setting behind, students entered the field-study phase at Cát Tiên National Park, an “open laboratory” of ecology and biodiversity. Over two working days, alongside lecturers, students from both universities directly observed and analyzed environmental, conservation, and sustainable development issues.pment. These were no longer theoretical problems, but real challenges revealed through forests, streams, and ecosystems. What stood out was the approach: instead of applying ready-made solutions, students proactively identified problems, debated them, and built conceptual frameworks grounded in reality. This was an important shift, clearly demonstrating the spirit of “learning to solve problems,” the core of Glocal STEAM.
 

IUH and TUT interact with students from the University of Social Sciences and Humanities
 

The Glocal STEAM 2026 journey began with an academic seminar at USSH, Vietnam National University, Ho Chi Minh City. This seminar was not just a stop, but a “connecting station” for students from IUH, TUT, and USSH to broaden their interdisciplinary perspectives.
Field trip experience at Cát Tiên National Park
A major new feature of the Glocal STEAM Project 2026 was moving group work beyond the classroom. It linked teamwork with Vietnamese cultural experiences, especially tea and coffee. At the Vietnamese tea workshop, students learned the art of tea appreciation in a peaceful setting. Amid the aroma, first ideas formed, blending tradition with technological thinking.

 A moment when students invite their lecturer to enjoy tea at the Vietnamese Tea Workshop
 

In contrast, the Vietnamese coffee workshop offered a lively and approachable atmosphere. Coffee culture, long regarded as a “social glue” in Vietnamese urban life, became an ideal setting for students to discuss, debate, and refine their ideas. This sense of comfort helped the groups work more effectively and narrow the cultural gap between students from the two countries. From tea to coffee, from stillness to vibrancy, these activities were not merely experiential but also served as a “catalyst” for interdisciplinary creativity.

Japanese students experience Vietnamese coffee culture.
 

From the impact of Season 1 to the progress of Season 2, the Glocal STEAM Project is gradually affirming its position as a creative and sustainable model of educational cooperation. The success of the program lies not only in numbers or project topics, but also in the connections formed between people, knowledge, and culture. Through this, IUH continues to enhance its international reputation while opening broader prospects for deeper future cooperation, where global knowledge is nurtured by Vietnam's very local values.
Some images from Glocal STEAM Project Season 2: