On September 4, 2026, in Canberra, a delegation from the National Economics University led by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Huu Anh – Vice President of the University, held a meeting with the leadership and representatives of academic units and international collaboration at the Australian National University (ANU). Building on a long-standing partnership, the two sides discussed directions to promote a new phase of collaboration in education, academic research, student, faculty, and researcher exchanges, doctoral training, and academic networking.

The meeting took place at the Crawford School of Public Policy, ANU, as part of NEU’s delegation visit to Australia and participation in the Vietnam Update 2026 Conference.

Attending the meeting from the National Economics University were: Prof. Dr. Tran Tho Dat – Chairman of the Scientific and Training Council; Prof. Dr. Le Quoc Hoi – Vice Dean of the School of Economics and Public Management; Prof. Dr. Dinh Duc Truong – Head of the Faculty of Environment, Climate Change, and Urban Studies; Dr. Pham Sy Long – Deputy Head of the International Collaboration Department.

From ANU, attendees included: Prof. Paul Burke – Director of the Crawford School of Public Policy; Prof. Marvin Wee – Deputy Director of Education, School of Accounting; Mr. Jonathan Dampney – Director of the ANU International Office; along with representatives from the ANU Global Partnerships and Engagement Division responsible for Southeast Asia, the Pacific, and the Mekong region.

Overview of the meeting between NEU and ANU in Canberra, Australia

Developing Flexible Educational Cooperation Models

At the meeting, the directions for educational cooperation were comprehensively discussed by both parties. The two universities considered the potential to restore and expand collaboration at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels through connecting specialized units, aligning academic programs, credit recognition, and developing study pathways that meet each other’s academic requirements.

Some models discussed included 2+2, 3+1, and 1+1, along with the potential to develop integrated pathways between undergraduate and master’s levels, as well as transition mechanisms into certain suitable master’s programs at ANU for NEU students who meet the requirements. The Crawford School of Public Policy also expressed interest in continuing discussions on the possibility of restoring and developing the 1+1 master’s model that the two universities had previously collaborated on.

Both parties also agreed to enhance direct connections between academic units to review programs with a high degree of compatibility, forming a basis for considering articulation options, credit transfer, and appropriate forms of academic collaboration.

Notably, NEU’s new Bachelor of Environmental Technology and Sustainability program was mentioned by both parties as a potential direction for benchmarking with suitable programs at ANU, thereby considering the possibility of student exchange and developing joint training pathways. From this approach, the two universities also agreed to continue reviewing programs at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels, based on the specialized strengths and practical collaboration needs of each unit.

Expanding Student and Faculty Exchange and Doctoral Training Opportunities

In addition to academic collaboration, the two universities aim to promote more frequent and reciprocal academic exchanges through forms such as short-term programs, semester exchanges, faculty exchanges, and short-term research.

Among these, the New Colombo Plan is considered one of the programs that can support ANU students to study and experience in Vietnam. Conversely, the two parties discussed the possibility of facilitating NEU faculty members, especially young lecturers, to have short-term research opportunities at ANU, connecting with scholars and research groups, thereby gradually expanding professional collaboration between the two universities.

At the doctoral level, the two universities pay attention to training opportunities for NEU faculty members within the framework of the Vietnamese Government’s Project 89. ANU announced policies to provide additional living allowances for eligible doctoral candidates under the project, while encouraging capable candidates from NEU to explore and access doctoral training opportunities at ANU. Both parties also emphasized the early connection of potential candidates with suitable supervisors and research groups, laying the groundwork for future training and research collaboration.

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Huu Anh – Vice President of the National Economics University speaks at the meeting

Expanding Research Collaboration and International Publications

Academic research is identified as a crucial pillar in the collaboration between the two universities. Both parties expressed a desire to expand cooperation based on academic strengths and shared interests, while also enhancing direct connections between scientists and research groups of ANU and NEU.

Some fields discussed at the meeting include Economics and Public Policy, Digital and Green Transformation, Climate Change, Accounting-Finance, Environmental Economics, and Sustainable Development. These are potential areas of collaboration mentioned in the discussions, alongside many other fields that can continue to be identified based on complementary strengths and the interests of the academic units of both parties.

Research collaboration can be developed at multiple levels, from connecting scientists, forming joint research groups, implementing topics and projects, co-publishing internationally, organizing conferences and academic seminars, to coordinating the development of profiles to access bilateral research funding programs and suitable competitive funding sources.

Both parties also evaluated Vietnam Update and CIEMB (International Conference on Contemporary Issues in Economics, Management, and Business) as valuable academic platforms for maintaining regular connections between scholars, thereby laying the groundwork for joint research, co-publications, research networks, policy exchanges, and subsequent academic collaboration activities.

In addition to training and research, the two universities discussed the potential collaboration in developing academic programs for management and leadership personnel, as well as short-term specialized programs, thereby expanding cooperation to activities that engage with the public sector, professional communities, and practical management.

Towards a Strategic, Comprehensive, and Substantive Partnership

The meeting demonstrated a high level of consensus on the potential to advance the ANU–NEU relationship into a new phase of cooperation with a diverse scope and a tightly-knit connection mechanism between the academic units of the two universities.

Priority areas identified for further research and concretization include undergraduate and postgraduate training collaboration; exchange of students, faculty members, and researchers; doctoral training; joint research and publication; accessing research funding sources; developing academic platforms such as Vietnam Update and CIEMB; along with training programs for management and leadership personnel and short-term specialized programs.

Notably, ANU expressed a strong interest in expanding cooperation in Vietnam and recognized the potential for NEU to become a priority partner of ANU in Vietnam, based on academic quality, trust, and the long-standing cooperative foundation between the two universities.

Following the meeting, the ANU International Office and the NEU International Collaboration Division will continue to serve as focal points, connecting the specialized units of the two universities to gradually materialize the discussed contents. Initially, both sides will continue to identify suitable programs for benchmarking and study articulation and transition models; discuss the possibility of reviving the 1+1 master’s cooperation and developing appropriate training pathways; promote student and faculty exchanges and doctoral training opportunities; and connect research groups to form joint research proposals, publications, and academic products.

NEU and ANU delegates take a commemorative photo after the meeting

Building on the cooperative foundation established over many years, the meeting in Canberra opens a new phase of development in the ANU–NEU relationship, aiming towards a systematic and cohesive partnership, where training, research, academic exchange, and team development are all promoted, laying the groundwork for specific and sustainable collaborative outcomes between the two universities.

Article and photos: International Collaboration Division, Scientific Management Division, and Communication Division