(Vietnamnet) – National Economics University (NEU) is firmly committed to implementing plans to transition to a university model in 2024.

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Bui Duc Tho, Secretary of the Party Committee and Chair of the University Council at NEU, shares the University’s development directions for this year and the near future.

Reporter: The year 2024 will be decisive in the transition to a university model at NEU. Could you share some thoughts on this important change?

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Bui Duc Tho: NEU offers education across multiple disciplines and fields on a scale that ranks among the largest in the country. As both education and scientific research expand in breadth and depth, the current institutional model will make it difficult for the University to fully capitalize on its opportunities and potential. The University’s teaching community has therefore worked with strong determination to transition NEU to a university model in 2024.

First, the University developed and issued its development strategy for 2021–2030, which clearly sets out a roadmap for the transition to a university model. The University has completed the steps to develop a three-tier university model comprising the university, its constituent colleges, and faculties. The model specifies the delegation of authority and the relationships between units at each level.

This has been made public to solicit feedback throughout the University.

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Bui Duc Tho, Secretary of the Party Committee and Chair of the University Council at NEU

The Party Committee and University Council have also approved and issued Resolutions establishing three colleges: the College of Economics and Public Management, the College of Business, and the College of Management Technology.

The University is currently finalizing its regulations on organization and operations to accommodate a newly established institutional structure: constituent colleges within NEU. Once the regulations are completed, expected in the first quarter of 2024, the management structures of the constituent colleges will be established, and the colleges will officially begin operating.

In the second half of 2024, once all conditions for the transition to a university model have been met, the University expects to submit its proposal to the competent authorities for approval.

Reporter: What are the development directions for the three newly established colleges at NEU?

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Bui Duc Tho: NEU was the first university in Vietnam to offer education in economics, management, and business administration. As a result, the public often associates its name with economics-related disciplines. In fact, however, the University began offering programs in computer science, information technology (IT), and management information systems 20 years ago.

Under the university model built on three colleges as its pillars:

The College of Economics and Public Management will continue to focus its teaching on the University’s traditional strengths, including economics, public management, and economic law…

The College of Business will continue to build on the University’s established strength in training business administrators and managers of organizations and enterprises.

The College of Management Technology will focus on research and education in disciplines and fields involving IT development and applications, as well as digital transformation in management and business administration. Priority fields will include data science, artificial intelligence, information safety and security, and software engineering…

Starting in 2024, NEU will begin offering new programs such as Data Science (in the field of Mathematics and Statistics), as well as Software Engineering, Information Systems, Artificial Intelligence, and Information Security (all in the field of Computing and IT).

In line with current trends toward multidisciplinary, multifield, transdisciplinary, and cross-field education, as well as the development needs of the digital economy and digital transformation, the University continues to incorporate more technology-related knowledge into teaching across disciplines.

Reporter: As the University transitions to a university model, what will distinguish it, and what directions will it pursue in the current context of integration?

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Bui Duc Tho: Alongside its roadmap for transitioning to a university model, the University faces substantial tasks. These include completing the initial organizational structure and reforming university governance to make it modern, professional, and effective; continuing to develop and improve educational quality in line with international standards; promoting scientific research and technology transfer and increasing international publications; and improving the living standards of faculty and staff…

The University is also actively improving all areas of its operations to gradually become a smart university and achieve digital transformation. Accordingly, it is applying IT and AI across teaching, research, services, and university governance.

The University is also expanding its international activities, including increasing participation in reputable, high-quality international university rankings and strengthening accreditation activities under international standards.

In 2023, 19 of the University’s academic programs received quality accreditation certification from ACBSP, a leading U.S. quality accreditation organization. The University and 15 academic programs are expected to complete quality accreditation under FIBAA standards in early 2024. The University will continue to advance the accreditation of its academic programs under international standards. Over the past year, the University continued to rank in the 601–800 band in the Times Higher Education Impact Ranking, based on the 17 Sustainable Development Goals. The University is also strengthening policies to attract international lecturers to teach and international students to study…

With a dynamic, creative, and united educational environment, and more than 65% of its lecturers holding doctoral degrees, the University is confident that it will offer distinctive value as it transitions to a university model.

Source: Vietnamnet newspaper

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