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 respected academic forum where administrators, scientists, 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 provided an opportunity to share international experience, modern development trends, and valuable academic research to help shape a long-term development strategy for the College of Business at 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, President 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 current and former leadership; leaders of its colleges, departments, faculties, institutes, and centers; and faculty and staff and scientists 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, stated that NEU is one of Vietnam’s leading higher education institutions. With nearly 70 years of development, 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, the University Council issued a Resolution on December 18, 2023, establishing the College of Business within NEU. This strategic step marked a major transformation in the University’s organizational and governance models.

On November 15, 2024, the Government officially approved NEU’s transition to a multidisciplinary university, making it the ninth university in the country to adopt this model. This Decision opened a new phase of development for the University, 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 interest 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 a forum combining academic and practical perspectives, 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 identifying its strategic development priorities, the conditions required for implementation (financial conditions and facilities), and the extent of autonomy for a constituent college within the University, among other issues. In particular, participants should discuss 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 at NEU, delivers the introductory presentation at the conference

At the conference, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Pham Van Tuan, Vice Rector of the College of Business at NEU, delivered an introductory presentation on behalf of the organizing committee, outlining six main groups of issues addressed 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 era, globalization, and deeper and broader integration.

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

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

“With its mission to develop high-quality human resources in business, management, and innovation, the College of Business needs an appropriate organizational model, operational mechanisms, and development strategy as universities transition to and develop under the multidisciplinary model.

Restructuring the College of Business is not only an internal requirement of an educational organization but also an inevitable trend in response to international competitive pressures, labor market needs, and the move toward university autonomy,” emphasized Assoc. Prof. Dr. Pham Van Tuan.

Prof. Dr. Neil Quigley, President of the University of Waikato, New Zealand, speaks at the conference

Also at the conference, Prof. Dr. Neil Quigley, President of the University of Waikato, New Zealand, shared ideas and experience from the University of Waikato’s work 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 does not prescribe 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 at 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 structure; 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, discipline councils, management positions, and operational functions in the new model.

In addition, delegates and experts focused their discussions and analysis on 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. They discussed developing and renewing academic programs oriented toward integration and interdisciplinary learning, meeting market needs, and working toward international standards (AACSB, EQUIS, AMBA); integrating digital transformation and artificial intelligence into teaching and academic governance; developing lecturers with professional expertise, research capabilities, and practical engagement; and establishing recruitment, evaluation, training, and retention policies suited to the specific characteristics of the College of Business. Other topics included promoting applied research, business connections, and the development of innovation and entrepreneurship ecosystems within universities; developing models for collaborative research and knowledge transfer to businesses and communities; designing modern student services, career guidance, and alumni networks; and strengthening international cooperation and opportunities for learners to study, undertake internships, and find employment. Discussions also covered brand positioning and the College of Business’s international integration strategy; establishing a roadmap for obtaining certifications 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 scientists, experts, and education administrators from Vietnam and abroad. The international experience, modern development trends, and valuable academic research shared not only helped shape 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, multi-field 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

During the working visit to National Economics University (NEU), Assoc. Prof. Dr. Bui Huy Nhuong, Vice President of NEU, welcomed Prof. Dr. Neil Quigley, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Waikato, New Zealand, and discussed 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 for both universities. Notably, they also discussed new fields of study such as sports health and nursing—fields attracting considerable interest as economic development goes hand in hand with community health care—and expressed the hope that these would be incorporated into the two institutions’ educational cooperation program in the coming period.

Some images 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.