• 03 Feb 2021
• 2021

The webinar “Culture, Cohesion and Civic Society: How Smart Cities Build on the Best of Our Past?”

On December 21st, 2020, at Room A205, University of Economics Ho Chi Minh City – 59C Nguyen Dinh Chieu street, Ward 6, District 3, HCMC, the webinar “Culture, Cohesion and Civic Society: How Smart Cities Build on the Best of Our Past?” was successfully held by UEH-ISCM and its partners: UN-Habitat, Portland University, University of Groningen, HCMC Department of Urban Planning and Architecture, and Vienam German University. This webinar is on the line of SMARTCITY+ Rehabilitation and Reintegration Program of ISCM Event Series 2021.

Smart cities are often cast as the bridge to modernity; when our cities will be hyper connected and data-driven in design and function. The webinar explores how the preservation of socio-cultural assets of the past is foundational for social cohesion and success. Underlying community networks and social norms are the original platforms for change and innovation. In theory and principle, urbanization must be contextualized to the unique society in which they are proposed or risk becoming obsolete or counterproductive. Smart city design can complement cultural assets that have been established over decades or centuries rather than be driven solely by the rise and fall of the market. How do smart cities benefit from diversity, equity and inclusion when it comes to technology adoption and applications? What are the roles of public and private sector in creating “smart culture and process”?  The webinar reflects on three cases: Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi (Vietnam), Amsterdam (Netherlands) and Portland (USA) through shared experience from national and international experts: