FACULTY OF MANAGEMENT – HSB LAUNCHES “HSB-ESG: AN AI ASSISTANT SUPPORTING BUSINESSES ON THEIR ESG JOURNEY”

From a compliance requirement to a driver of growth, ESG is becoming an increasingly important component of corporate governance. As ESG regulations and standards in Vietnam and around the world continue to evolve, the Faculty of Management at the School of Business and Management (HSB), Vietnam National University, Hanoi, introduces “HSB-ESG” – an AI assistant for ESG regulatory lookup and guidance, designed to support businesses throughout their compliance and sustainability reporting journey.

In Session 1 of the workshop, themed “ESG in a New Context – Compliance Requirement or Growth Driver?”, Bui The Anh, Director at EY-Parthenon Vietnam, examined the fundamental shift in the role of ESG for businesses. While ESG was previously viewed primarily through the lens of corporate social responsibility or reporting requirements, it is now increasingly linked directly to business strategy, risk management, access to capital and international competitiveness.

Mr. Bui The Anh also highlighted the increasingly significant role of AI in ESG transformation. Rather than using AI solely to support report writing, businesses can apply the technology across the entire ESG value chain – from data collection and standardization, carbon-emissions calculations and energy management to risk identification, reporting and information verification.

At a more advanced level, AI can help businesses forecast climate risks, identify supplier-related risks, detect potential greenwashing, optimize energy consumption and support reporting in line with international standards.

In practice, businesses implementing ESG must navigate an increasingly complex system of regulations and standards. A shortage of dedicated ESG personnel, limited data digitalization and high consulting costs can make ESG adoption particularly challenging, especially for small and medium-sized enterprises.

In response to these needs, HSB launched the chatbot “HSB-ESG – An AI Assistant for ESG Regulatory Lookup & Guidance”. The product was developed by faculty members and students from the Faculty of Management in collaboration with external experts and partners, including representatives from EY-Parthenon and Verysell.

The tool allows businesses to ask questions in Vietnamese, receive answers supported by specific regulatory sources, and access guidance aligned with Vietnamese law and international practices. HSB-ESG is designed to support businesses at each stage of their ESG journey, including materiality assessment, data collection guidance, report preparation and review.

HSB-ESG is designed for a broad range of users, including companies preparing for an IPO, exporters, listed companies, and ESG, finance and legal teams that regularly handle sustainability-related information and requirements.

The launch of HSB-ESG marks a new step in HSB's efforts to apply management knowledge and applied research to real-world business challenges, combining the expertise of HSB faculty members and researchers with the practical experience of external experts and partners.