On June 17, 2025, Vinh University of Technology Education (VUTED) organized the first Capacity Building Workshop for lecturers and student support staff under the theme:
“Identifying and Reducing Stigma in Interactions Between Staff, Lecturers, and Students.”
This event marks the beginning of a series of six workshops being conducted at VUTED as part of the project “Strengthening Mental Health Capacity in Southeast Asian Universities” (MentalHigh), funded by the European Union under the Erasmus+ Programme.
Participants and project team members posing for a group photo at the workshop
The workshop brought together nine lecturers and student support staff from various departments of the university, along with the MentalHigh project coordination team. In his opening remarks, Mr. Pham Huu Truyen – Rector of VUTED and MentalHigh Project Supervisor – emphasized the essential role of an empathetic, non-judgmental educational environment in supporting students’ psychological well-being and academic success.
Rector Pham Huu Truyen delivered the opening speech at the workshop
Facilitated by Ms. Pham Thi Ngoc Lan, the workshop fostered an atmosphere of openness and constructive exchange. Participants collaboratively identified common forms of stigma still present in the university setting – from students’ hesitance to engage with certain lecturers, to discriminatory behaviors based on students’ fields of study, regional background, gender identity, psychological condition, or cultural differences. Real-life stories, both positive and negative, helped to clearly illustrate the psychological and academic impacts of stigma on students.
Lively and open discussions during the thematic workshop sessions
Beyond identifying the issues, participants also proposed practical and meaningful solutions. These included enhancing internal communication on diversity and inclusion, providing training on non-discriminatory communication for academic and support staff, developing a clear code of conduct with transparent feedback mechanisms, and expanding student engagement through peer support groups, academic mentoring, and inclusive student clubs.
The workshop concluded in a spirit of consensus and strong commitment to action. More than just a technical activity of the MentalHigh project, the event served as an important starting point for building a more humane and inclusive educational community – one in which all students feel respected, supported, and empowered to thrive. It also set the tone for the upcoming activities of the MentalHigh project at VUTED in the near future.