On July 7, 2025, National Economics University (NEU) hosted a national scientific conference on “The College of Business Model Within a Multidisciplinary University.”

An overview of the conference

The conference aimed to create a reputable academic forum where administrators, researchers, lecturers, and experts could exchange views and practical experience and propose organizational models, governance approaches, and operational solutions suited to conditions in Vietnam, capable of international integration and flexible adaptation to the modern educational environment.

It also offered an opportunity to share international experience, modern development trends, and valuable academic research to contribute to shaping a long-term development strategy for the College of Business, NEU, while providing a reference for other universities across the country seeking to become multidisciplinary universities.

External delegates attending the conference included Prof. Dr. Neil Quigley, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Waikato, New Zealand; and Dr. Tran Quoc Viet, Vice President of the Vietnam Marketing Association. Representing NEU were Assoc. Prof. Dr. Bui Duc Tho, Secretary of the Party Committee and Chair of the University Council; Assoc. Prof. Dr. Bui Huy Nhuong, Vice President; Prof. Dr. Nguyen Thanh Hieu, Vice President; and Assoc. Prof. Dr. Ta Van Loi, Rector of the College of Business. Also attending were representatives of the University’s leadership across different periods; leaders of colleges, departments, faculties, institutes, and centers; and faculty, staff, and researchers from within and outside the University.

Prof. Dr. Nguyen Thanh Hieu, Vice President of NEU, delivers remarks

In his opening remarks, Prof. Dr. Nguyen Thanh Hieu, Vice President of NEU, noted that NEU is one of Vietnam’s leading higher education institutions. Throughout its nearly 70-year history, it has consistently played a pioneering role in educational innovation, scientific research, and policy advice.

As part of its roadmap toward becoming a multidisciplinary university, on December 18, 2023, the University Council issued a Resolution establishing the College of Business under NEU. This was a strategic step, marking a major shift in the University’s organizational and governance model.

On November 15, 2024, the Government officially approved NEU’s conversion to multidisciplinary university status, making it the ninth university in the country to adopt this model. This Decision opened a new phase in the University’s development, bringing many opportunities as well as considerable challenges in organizing and operating its administrative structure.

Prof. Dr. Nguyen Thanh Hieu emphasized that, as digital transformation and artificial intelligence (AI) profoundly affect higher education worldwide, restructuring toward a smart, multidisciplinary university model is an inevitable trend for educational institutions, including NEU.

This trend also raises new issues, particularly in developing and implementing the College of Business model within a multidisciplinary university—a topic attracting considerable attention from administrators and the academic community.

The national scientific conference on “The College of Business Model Within a Multidisciplinary University” was therefore organized to create an academic and practice-oriented forum where administrators, scholars, experts, and lecturers could exchange views and share experience in organizing, operating, and developing a College of Business within a multidisciplinary university model.

Prof. Dr. Nguyen Thanh Hieu proposed that one important topic for discussion at the conference should be the College of Business’s long-term development strategy, including its development priorities, the conditions required for implementation (financial resources and facilities), and the degree of autonomy afforded to a constituent college, among other issues. In particular, he called for discussion of the College of Business’s future educational model as digital transformation and artificial intelligence (AI) exert an increasingly significant influence.

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Pham Van Tuan, Vice Rector of the College of Business, NEU, presents the introductory report at the conference

At the conference, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Pham Van Tuan, Vice Rector of the College of Business, NEU, delivered an introductory address on behalf of the organizing committee, outlining six main groups of issues covered in the conference proceedings and discussed at the conference.

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Pham Van Tuan also noted that, in recent years, higher education worldwide has undergone profound changes in response to the new demands of the digital age, globalization, and deeper integration.

One prominent trend is the transition from single-discipline to multidisciplinary universities, with the aim of building smart universities that enjoy a high degree of autonomy and closely connect research, teaching, innovation, and community service.

In Vietnam, the Government’s official approval of NEU’s conversion to multidisciplinary university status not only marked a major advance for a leading higher education institution but also posed numerous new challenges in organizational structure, academic governance, and brand positioning for its constituent units, particularly the College of Business.

“With its mission to train highly qualified professionals in business, management, and innovation, the College of Business needs an appropriate organizational model, operating mechanisms, and development strategy in the current context of transition toward and development of multidisciplinary universities.

Restructuring the College of Business is not only an internal requirement of an educational organization but also a trend driven by external forces, including international competitive pressures, labor market needs, and the move toward university autonomy,” Assoc. Prof. Dr. Pham Van Tuan emphasized.

Prof. Dr. Neil Quigley, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Waikato, New Zealand, speaks at the conference

Also at the conference, Prof. Dr. Neil Quigley, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Waikato, New Zealand, shared ideas and experience from the University of Waikato’s efforts to ensure quality, maintain high rankings, and manage quality in both academic activities and research across all its constituent schools.

According to Prof. Dr. Neil Quigley, the University of Waikato has an overarching development strategy for the entire university, under which each constituent school develops its own strategy. The overarching strategy avoids overly specific details, allowing constituent schools a degree of flexibility to develop and implement their own strategies without compromising the overall strategy.

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Bui Duc Tho, Secretary of the Party Committee and Chair of the University Council, and Assoc. Prof. Dr. Ta Van Loi, Rector of the College of Business, NEU, moderate the conference discussion session

The conference focused on several groups of issues, including clarifying the organizational and governance model of the College of Business within a multidisciplinary university; defining the relationship between the College of Business and other functional and academic units within the University; and clarifying the roles of the Academic Council, disciplinary councils, management positions, and executive functions under the new model.

Delegates and experts also discussed and analyzed financial mechanisms, autonomy, and solutions for generating sustainable revenue for the College of Business, and examined effective financial models at universities in Vietnam and abroad for practical application. Other topics included developing and updating academic programs toward integration and interdisciplinarity, meeting market needs, and working toward international standards (AACSB, EQUIS, AMBA); integrating digital transformation and artificial intelligence into teaching and academic governance; developing lecturers’ professional expertise, research capabilities, and engagement with practice; and designing recruitment, evaluation, training, and retention policies suited to the distinctive characteristics of the College of Business. Discussions also addressed promoting applied research, business engagement, and the development of an innovation and entrepreneurship ecosystem within the university; developing collaborative research models and transferring knowledge to businesses and communities; designing a modern student services system, career guidance, and alumni networks; and strengthening international cooperation and opportunities for learners to study, undertake internships, and secure employment. Further topics included brand positioning and an international integration strategy for the College of Business; establishing a roadmap for obtaining accreditations and improving global academic rankings; analyzing institutional frameworks and education management policies affecting the College of Business’s autonomy; and examining the reforms needed to facilitate the sustainable development of this model.

The conference featured many candid exchanges, in-depth analyses, and practical proposals from researchers, experts, and education administrators from Vietnam and abroad. The international experience, modern development trends, and valuable academic research shared not only contributed to shaping a sustainable development strategy for the College of Business but also provided valuable reference materials for other higher education institutions across the country on their journey toward becoming multidisciplinary, multifield universities.

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Bui Huy Nhuong, Vice President of NEU, welcomes and holds discussions with Prof. Dr. Neil Quigley, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Waikato, New Zealand

As part of the visit to National Economics University (NEU), Assoc. Prof. Dr. Bui Huy Nhuong, Vice President of NEU, welcomed and held discussions with Prof. Dr. Neil Quigley, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Waikato, New Zealand, on expanding educational cooperation between the two institutions.

Leaders of the two institutions attending the meeting pose for a commemorative photo

At the meeting, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Bui Huy Nhuong affirmed that NEU is actively exploring and developing new fields of study aligned with global trends. Expanding cooperation with the University of Waikato will not only help improve the quality of education but also open up diverse learning and career development opportunities for Vietnamese students in an international environment.

At the meeting, the two sides agreed to strengthen cooperation in education, focusing on developing and implementing joint academic programs in areas of strength at both universities. Notably, they also discussed new fields of study such as sports health and nursing—areas attracting considerable interest in the context of economic development linked to community health care—and expressed hope that programs in these fields would be implemented through educational cooperation between the two institutions in the coming period.

Additional photos from the conference:

Article and photos: Department of Communications

This is an automated translation. If you notice any errors, please contact the Department of Communications, National Economics University at phongtruyenthong@neu.edu.vn.