From September 26, 2024 to October 5, 2024, National Economics University (NEU) organized a visit and meetings with partner universities in the United Kingdom.

The delegation comprised Assoc. Prof. Dr. Le Trung Thanh, Dean of the Institute of International Education and head of the delegation; Assoc. Prof. Dr. Vu Huy Thong, Dean of the Faculty of Marketing; Assoc. Prof. Dr. Pham The Anh, Dean of the Faculty of Economics; Assoc. Prof. Dr. Vu Hoang Ngan, Dean of the Faculty of Human Resource Economics and Management; Dr. Nguyen Xuan Thang, Vice Dean of the Institute of Postgraduate Education; and lecturers from the Institute of International Education and the Faculty of Marketing.

During the visit and meetings, representatives of the partner universities in the United Kingdom expressed their appreciation and affirmed that NEU remains a strategic partner in international cooperation. They also expressed their desire to expand into new programs and fields of study aligned with trends and the aspirations of learners in Vietnam, and to take a further step by introducing master’s and doctoral programs, while further promoting lecturer and student exchanges between the universities. The universities’ leaders also emphasized their readiness to welcome NEU lecturers and students to the United Kingdom for short-term study and work to enhance capabilities and mutual understanding. They also noted that foreign lecturers are ready to visit NEU to deliver guest lectures, attend conferences, and collaborate with the University’s lecturers on scientific research.

An overview of the meeting and cooperation discussions involving the delegation from NEU and leaders of the University of Lincoln

On the first working day, September 26, 2024, the delegation visited and met with the University of Lincoln, a long-established university founded in 1861 in the city of Lincoln, United Kingdom. Welcoming and meeting with the delegation on behalf of the University of Lincoln were Prof. Lezlee-Jayne Stones, Deputy Head of the Business School; Prof. David Cobham, Deputy Director of Global Education Projects; Prof. David Rugara, Director of Internationalization at Lincoln International Business School; and professors in finance and economics.

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Le Trung Thanh, Dean of the Institute of International Education at NEU, and Prof. Lezlee-Jayne Stones, Deputy Head of the Business School at the University of Lincoln, exchange commemorative gifts

During this visit, NEU and the University of Lincoln agreed to strengthen collaboration in doctoral education. The two sides also discussed academic research directions for doctoral dissertations, dissertation co-supervision arrangements, and seminars for PhD candidates. The two universities also agreed on collaborative programs, student exchanges, short courses, and summer courses to strengthen cooperation.

The delegation from NEU poses for a commemorative photo with leaders of the University of Lincoln

Next, on September 27, 2024, the delegation met with Leeds Beckett University, a long-established public university with a history of nearly 200 years and nearly 24,000 students at its two main campuses in Leeds and Headingley, United Kingdom.

Welcoming and meeting with the delegation on behalf of Leeds Beckett University were Prof. George Lodorfos, Dean of the Business School at Leeds Beckett University; Dr. Nick Halafihi, Head of the Division of Leadership and Human Resource Management and Director of Global Partnerships at Leeds Beckett University; Prof. Liam Howarth, Regional Director (East and Southeast Asia, including China and Pakistan) at Leeds Beckett University; and staff members and lecturers who have taught or are currently teaching in and administering the joint LBU bachelor’s program in Digital Marketing at NEU.

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Le Trung Thanh, Dean of the Institute of International Education at NEU, and Prof. George Lodorfos, Dean of the Business School at Leeds Beckett University, exchange commemorative gifts

Admissions figures indicate considerable student demand for Digital Marketing. During the meeting, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Vu Huy Thong, Dean of the Faculty of Marketing and Head of the Management Board of the international joint LBU bachelor’s program in Digital Marketing at NEU, proposed launching a joint master’s program in Digital Marketing with LBU. Both sides agreed to the proposal, with the program expected to be offered at NEU in 2025. Also during the meeting, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Vu Hoang Ngan, Dean of the Faculty of Human Resource Economics and Management, proposed launching a master’s program in International Human Resource Management with LBU at NEU. Both sides agreed to continue more detailed discussions after this formal meeting. In addition, NEU’s Institute of International Education and Faculty of Marketing proposed that Leeds Beckett University lecturers visiting Vietnam could teach various courses in the IBD@NEU International Bachelor’s Program and the high-quality program in Digital Marketing. The two universities were also interested in promoting semester-long student exchanges and summer courses.

An overview of the meeting and cooperation discussions between the NEU delegation and leaders of Leeds Beckett University

The delegation from NEU tours the facilities of Leeds Business School at Leeds Beckett University

Also as part of the working visit, on October 1, 2024, the delegation met and held discussions with Coventry University. Ranked 12th in the United Kingdom in the Guardian University Guide in 2019 and among the top 5% of universities worldwide in the QS World University Rankings 2019, Coventry University has been a partner of NEU since 2020 through the IBD@NEU top-up program in Business and Marketing.

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Le Trung Thanh, Dean of the Institute of International Education at NEU, and Prof. Beverley Steventon, Deputy Head of the School of Business and Law at Coventry University, exchange commemorative gifts

During this working visit, the two universities reiterated the importance of cooperation and the development of new undergraduate programs in fields such as human resource economics and management, economics, and others. Coventry University representatives expressed their readiness to expand options for IBD@NEU students to study their final year there.

The delegation from NEU poses for a commemorative photo with leaders of Coventry University

Concluding its series of meetings with partners in the United Kingdom, on October 2, 2024, the delegation held discussions and a meeting with the University of the West of England (UWE). A leading public university in the United Kingdom, it ranked among the top 500 in the THE World University Rankings 2023 and has three campuses with a total enrollment of up to 30,000 students. UWE is the largest university teaching and research institution in southwest England, offering nearly 600 academic programs in fields including the arts, creative industries, health, business sciences, law, the environment, and technology.

An overview of the meeting and cooperation discussions involving the delegation from NEU and leaders of UWE

Welcoming the delegation were Prof. Jo Midgley, Deputy Vice-Chancellor, and leaders of UWE’s units. UWE’s Deputy Vice-Chancellor expressed her thanks and emphasized that NEU remains a strategic partner of UWE in international cooperation. The outstanding academic performance at UWE of students from NEU’s Institute of International Education clearly demonstrates the success of the 13 years of cooperation between the two universities. Through discussions, the two universities agreed to consider introducing master’s programs in additional fields, such as marketing, human resource management, and finance, as well as additional doctoral programs.

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Le Trung Thanh, Dean of the Institute of International Education at NEU, and Prof. Jo Midgley, Deputy Vice-Chancellor of the University of the West of England, exchange commemorative gifts

The delegation from NEU poses for a commemorative photo with leaders of UWE

The delegation from NEU tours the facilities of Bristol Business School at UWE

In addition to visiting and meeting with partners, the delegation also met with students in the IBD@NEU International Bachelor’s Program who are currently studying in the United Kingdom. These students have completed their period of study at the Institute of International Education and are now completing their final year in the United Kingdom. Seeing their confidence and maturity in a new environment brought joy to the lecturers. It was even more gratifying to see that, despite being far away, the students still remember, remain connected to, and cherish their time studying at NEU.

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Le Trung Thanh, Dean of the Institute of International Education, poses for a photo with IBD@NEU students studying at Coventry University, United Kingdom

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Le Trung Thanh, Dean of the Institute of International Education, poses for a photo with IBD@NEU students studying at UWE, United Kingdom

The visit expanded opportunities for cooperation and raised NEU’s standing among reputable international partners in the United Kingdom. Its success opens the next phase in the University’s international cooperation: (i) cooperation on an equal footing in lecturer and student exchanges, (ii) bringing new, up-to-date disciplines and courses relevant to the times to Vietnam, and (iii) attracting international students to study and gain experience at NEU. This will be a decisive phase of development, making NEU a prominent destination for study and experiential learning for students and learners from the region and around the world.

Article and photos: Institute of International Education

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