Urbanization is a global phenomenon that is transforming our world; it brings both potential positive and negative impacts to communities. Making sustainable urban development a reality is critical for ensuring cities can provide for their growing population and tackle environmental challenges.
Sustainable urban development is defined as development that meets the needs of a community without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. It prioritizes economic, environmental and social sustainability. Sustainable development aims to ensure that cities are liveable and supportive of economic, social and ecological resilience in the face of a changing climate.
Sustainable urban development is important for many reasons, ranging from long-term economic benefits to improved quality of life and reduced environmental impact. By investing in sustainable initiatives, cities can create jobs and growth, while at the same time reducing energy usage, waste, and pollution. Additionally, sustainable development can improve living conditions and create opportunities for social inclusion among the various sectors of society.
A second major reason why sustainable urban development is so essential is the economic benefits it can bring. By investing in sustainable initiatives and practices, cities can make themselves more attractive to businesses, drawing in new enterprises and creating jobs. Utilizing energy efficiency strategies can reduce operating costs and make businesses more profitable, allowing them to offer better wages, which in turn boosts the local economy.
Finally, sustainable urban development is essential for ensuring that all citizens can enjoy economic work and a better quality of life. This can benefit those on lower incomes, who may otherwise struggle to take part in city life, enhancing their opportunities and providing them with greater potential for upward mobility in the future.

There is an insidious irony to climate change. When it gets hotter, more and more people are using their air conditioners, which in turn contributes to global warming. Air conditioner sales are surging worldwide, especially in emerging economies such as China, India and Indonesia, where rising incomes make air conditioners more affordable and a warmer, more humid climate makes them a necessity.
Keeping buildings cool contributes to global warming in two ways. Air conditioners not only run on electricity, but they can release chemicals with a strong heat-trapping effect as well. Air conditioners account for 16 percent of total electricity used in residential and commercial buildings around the world. This is significantly less than emissions caused by heating buildings - heaters run on natural gas, oil or electricity. Globally, there are over two billion air conditioner units in use today. The units precisely control the temperature and humidity in shops, laboratories or server rooms. They ensure that people feel as comfortable on a transatlantic flight as they do at home. But all that comes at a cost. Unless we switch to fully renewable electricity, the boom in air conditioning will generate more emissions and contribute to global warming.
With every new air conditioner installed, the risk of a leak increases. The technology behind modern air conditioners hasn't changed significantly since 1902 when the air conditioner unit sent air through coils filled with cold water, and cooled the air while removing moisture from the room. All air conditioners use refrigerant, a cold substance that absorbs the heat inside a building. The leakage of so-called fluorinated gases was particularly high by 2014. It accounted for about three percent of all greenhouse gas emissions in Europe, so the European Union adopted a law to cap the amounts of gases sold.

Most athletes and parents would agree that sportsmanship is an important aspect of athletics. Although it comes in many forms, everyone can give a few examples of what sportsmanship looks like and what it takes to be viewed as a “good sport”: We shake hands before and after games, we clap for injured players once they show they are okay, and we extend a hand to help an opponent get up off of the ground. These examples are just scratching the surface of displaying good sportsmanship.
Sportsmanship is an understanding of and commitment to fair play, ethical behavior and integrity, and general goodwill toward an opponent. It is an affirmation that an athlete is disciplined enough to have perspective, maintain calm and do what is best for his or her teammates. Being able to make appropriate behavioral choices at the “moment of truth” and in a pressure situation will often reveal a player’s character and his or her ability to be a good sport. Simply put, sportsmanship is a choice.
It is easy for parents and kids to get caught up in a game and become too focused on winning. Although winning is important, it is not always the most important aspect of the game. There is so much to be gained and learned from an athletic experience that will stay with you for the rest of your life. Good sportsmanship is one of those life lessons that should be intentionally learned, taught, practiced and reinforced.
No matter how much we would like to, we cannot win at everything every time. So we need to learn to deal with defeat. After a hard fought game in which everything was left on the playing field in a losing effort, it can be very difficult to look your opponents in the eye and tell them “good game” or “good job.” But this is what is asked of athletes. The key question is: How do we handle losing with dignity?

Educational technology has a profound impact on both K-12 teaching and learning, ushering in transformative changes that enhance the overall educational experience. In terms of K-12 teaching, technology provides educators with powerful tools to engage students and deliver more dynamic and effective lessons. The impact of technology on the academic performance of students and teaching effectiveness cannot be overstated.
Interactive whiteboards, educational software, and multimedia presentations allow teachers to present information in diverse ways, catering to different learning styles and making lessons more engaging and interactive. Moreover, educational technology facilitates personalized instruction. Through adaptive learning platforms and online resources (just two examples of technologies that improve student learning), customization helps each student receive targeted support and opportunities for enrichment, promoting a more inclusive and effective learning environment. Collaborative learning is another significant impact of educational technology in K-12 education. Online platforms and tools enable students to collaborate on projects and participate in virtual discussions, whether they’re fully-online students, hybrid learners, or are simply not present in their brick-and-mortar schools for one reason or another.
Technology opens up new avenues for exploration and self-directed learning. The internet serves as a vast repository of information, allowing students to delve into subjects beyond the confines of traditional textbooks. Educational apps, games, and simulations make learning more interactive and enjoyable, encouraging students to explore and experiment with concepts in a hands-on manner.
Additionally, technology promotes digital literacy and 21st-century skills. As students interact with digital tools, they develop the skills necessary to navigate the digital landscape, critically evaluate information, and communicate effectively online. These skills are increasingly essential in the modern world and are transferable to various aspects of students’ academic and professional lives.

Vietnam has more than 100,000 unemployed university students each year and up to 60 per cent of university graduates take jobs unrelated to their majors, according to a report by the Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs last year. Despite the large number of graduates, last year, up to 41 per cent of employers failed to recruit a sufficient number of qualified candidates, showing a mismatch between the levels of skills and employers' demand.
The lack of labor resources is not only for university students who have degrees and certificates, but also those trained by international standard programmes, fully equipped with the knowledge and skills to meet job requirements in a global environment, and able to compete with workers from other countries.
To address this issue, Vietnam's Ministry of Education and Training will continue its National Foreign Language Project, to ensure all students learn English from first grade and the language skills of nearly 1.2 million teachers are enhanced. The government also encourages the discrimination of local and foreign investment into the private education sector, and expansion of international education organizations and universities in Vietnam.
To address the shortage of high-quality human resources, many Vietnamese enterprises have engaged with universities, colleges, and intermediate schools to train and recruit workers according to their requirements. Many also provide scholarships for outstanding university students.
Some experts also suggested Vietnam prioritize training its workforce with in-demand skills such as problem-solving, customer service and leadership; and a revolution in IT education to build a future-ready IT labor force.
(Source: opportunities-insight.britishcouncil.org)