Leadership in training, research, and community service toward a sustainable society and silver economy development
On May 27, 2026, Hoa Sen University officially launched the HSU Institute for Longevity Societies and Lifelong Development, marking a strategic step in strengthening its mission to connect knowledge with contemporary social challenges. At the same time, Dr. Nguyen Tuan Duong was appointed as Dean of the Institute.
Hoa Sen University’s vision for a longevity society development model
On May 27, 2026, Hoa Sen University (HSU) officially launched the HSU Institute for Longevity Societies and Lifelong Development.
This is a pioneering institution in Viet Nam and the region in the fields of training, research, and community service related to aging societies, senior education, and human development. Its establishment is a strategic initiative in response to Viet Nam’s rapidly aging population, with the country projected to enter an officially “aged” society by 2036.
In the context of “getting old before getting rich”, Viet Nam is facing pressing challenges in social welfare systems, geriatric healthcare, and the shortage of trained professionals. HSU views longevity not as a burden, but as a milestone of civilization.
The Institute is established to transform the mindset from an “aging society” to a “long-lived society”, leading the development of the “silver economy” and building innovative learning models that empower people to live healthy, meaningful lives, and continue contributing to society at every stage of life.
At the ceremony, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Huu Huy Nhut, HSU President, emphasized: “In modern society, learning cannot be limited to a single stage of life; individuals are required to continuously learn, relearn, transform, adapt, and reinvent themselves across their lifespan. Accordingly, a long-lived society must also be a learning society, where longevity is supported by sustained energy for lifelong development”.
He also stressed that universities must go beyond knowledge transmission to create new knowledge and offer solutions for society actively. In this direction, he added that HSU was building a network of specialized, interdisciplinary, and cross-disciplinary research institutes, including the Institute for Longevity Societies and Lifelong Development, to enhance training activities and develop impactful applied research outputs.
At the launch, Dr. Nguyen Tuan Duong, Dean of HSU’s Institute for Longevity Societies and Lifelong Development, noted: “A society with longevity and lifelong development was a contemporary concept with profound humanistic significance. Higher education can not stop at awarding degrees but must provide learning, retraining, and adaptation solutions for individuals throughout their lives”.
The Institute for Longevity Societies and Lifelong Development operates through four core functions:
- Driving interdisciplinary research on longevity societies, lifelong learning, human development, and intergenerational connection;
- Developing training and capacity-building programs that support lifelong learning across disciplines;
- Fostering academic exchange and building strong networks with international experts and organizations; and,
- Delivering applied projects that improve the quality of life and strengthen bonds between generations.
The five key research directions of the Institute for Longevity Societies and Lifelong Development
Guided by the vision of a learning, inclusive, humane, and sustainable society for all generations, the Institute will focus on five key research directions:
- Long-lived societies and public policy: exploring active aging, age-friendly communities, and policy responses to population aging;
- Lifelong learning and adult education: advancing lifelong learning, upskilling, retraining, and learning communities;
- Human development and holistic well-being: enhancing mental health, happiness, quality of life, and meaningful living;
- Intergenerational connection and community development: promoting inclusion, social innovation, and intergenerational programs; and,
- Technology and innovation for an aging society: developing AI applications, digital inclusion, smart healthcare, and educational technologies.
Workshop “Long-Lived Society Workshop: Bridging Academic Research and Community Impact”
As part of the launch activities, the workshop “Long-Lived Society: Bridging Academic Research and Community Impact” was organized. The workshop featured presentations and discussions led by Dr. Nguyen Thuy Giang, Dean of the HSU Institute of Graduate Studies and Leadership; Dr. Nguyen Tuan Duong, Dean of the HSU Institute for Longevity Societies and Lifelong Development; and Ms. Nguyen Thi Be, MA, lecturer at the HSU Faculty of Business. Together, they explored perspectives on sustainable development, lifelong learning, and quality of life in modern society.
Ms. Nguyen Thi Be’s story became a powerful example of lifelong learning for the HSU community. At 76, she continues to pursue a Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) degree at UCSI University and is currently preparing to defend her dissertation. Beyond that, she has recently begun a new academic journey as a postgraduate student in English Language Studies at HSU, embodying the spirit of continuous learning at every stage of life.
Previously, she has also completed three Master’s programs in the United States in the following fields: Hospitality Management, Sports Technology Management, and Public Administration.
