This document summarizes a case study of an international sustainability partnership between Portland State University and the city of Hoi An, Vietnam. The partnership used an "Atelier" process to engage stakeholders in strategic planning for Hoi An's development as an eco-city. Key outcomes included practice of the strategic planning process and sharing of sustainability experiences between Hoi An and Portland. Next steps discussed strengthening the partnership through long-term research collaboration and securing funding.

1. 2012 Symposium
The Power of Partnership
Case Study Title: International Sustainability Partnership
Trans-disciplinary Eco-Development
Solutions “Atelier” in Hoi An City, Vietnam
Author Name: Shpresa Halimi
Author Title: Research Assistant
Professor
Institution: Portland State University
Email: shalimi@pdx.edu
Website www.pdx.edu/sustainability

2. Case Study Authors
Dr. Shpresa Halimi
Research Assistant Professor
Institute for Sustainable Solutions
Portland State University
Portland, OR USA
2012 Symposium | Power of Partnership

3. About Our Campus
Campus Location, Size, Sustainability Efforts To-
Academic Programs – Date
Portland State University • 2008: $25 million Miller
• Founded: 1946 Foundation gift to build
• Enrollment: 29,000 University’s capacity in
• Colleges and Schools: 8 Sustainability
• Degree Programs: 226 • Core areas
• Campus: 50 acres, 50 • Enhancing Student
buildings experience
• Community Partners: • Strengthening Research
1,000+ and Curricular programs
• Community engagement
• Greening our campus
2012 Symposium | Power of Partnership

4. Case Study Description
• Methods / Approach
- “Atelier” - a process methodology for addressing specific real world sustainability challenges
at multiple time and space scales by engaging local decision-makers and other stakeholders
with university faculty and students from many disciplines working locally and internationally
in collaboratively finding integrative solutions to real-world problems. The main elements of
ateliers include: (1) transdisciplinary, whole-system problem-based learning; (2)
community/client sponsorship; (3) stakeholder participation; (4) creating a common
language; (5) blurring of the distinction between faculty and student, research and
education; (6) ensuring knowledge transfer to future generations and building of local
capacity; (7) adaptive management and flexible working groups; and (8) appropriate and
practical communication of results.
• Stakeholders Involved in the Hoi An Atelier (September, 2011)
- Portland State University (students, faculty, and staff)
- City of Portland
- POSI (Portland Sustainability Institute)
- City of Hoi An, Vietnam (People’s Committee, local government officials,
community groups, students from Danang University)
- UN- Habitat Vietnam
2012 Symposium | Power of Partnership

5. Key Outcomes
• Practice strategic planning process for Hoi An Eco city
development through issues analysis and prioritization,
evidence-based "target" development, feasibility
analysis, and solutions finding, based on extensive
discussion among various stakeholders, international
and local experts.
• Share experiences and approaches to Eco city Planning
between Hoi An leadership/stakeholders and
PSU/Portland sustainability professionals;
• Further strengthen relationships between Hoi An, UN-
Habitat and PSU/Portland and other local stakeholders
2012 Symposium | Power of Partnership

6. Next Steps
• Lessons Learned
- Engage Vietnamese stakeholders from a wide variety of backgrounds to build
consensus and ownership around how to move forward in eco-city development.
- Culture and Context matter
- Embrace experimentation/Learning/Reflective practice
- Share power/Build trust
- Disseminate/Publisize
- Emphasize mutual benefits and co-production of knowledge
• Future Actions
- Atelier leaders are now working on a long term Eco-City/Sustainable
Urbanism/Climate Change Adaptations strategic research partnership between
PSU/Portland and Vietnamese stakeholders with a focus on Hoi An as a model for
other rapidly urbanizing areas in Vietnam
• Questions for participants:
- How do we build long lasting international strategic sustainability partnership?
- How do we secure funding to support international sustainability initiatives?
2012 Symposium | Power of Partnership