(ĐBND) – National Economics University (NEU) identifies ensuring and improving education quality as its foremost strategic task. Meeting the education quality accreditation standards of reputable international organizations is a specific goal in both the short and long term.

Speaking with a reporter from Dai Bieu Nhan Dan newspaper, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Bui Huy Nhuong, Vice President of NEU, said: “Over the past year, NEU maintained its place in the overall THE Impact Rankings. In the coming period, the University will continue participating in THE Impact Rankings while preparing to participate in THE World University Ranking and QS.”

Meeting the Education Quality Accreditation Standards of Reputable International Organizations Is the Goal

Reporter: NEU placed in the 101–200 band in the Times Higher Education Impact Rankings 2022. What further achievements did the University record in world rankings in 2023? What are NEU’s goals for participating in world rankings in the coming period?

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Bui Huy Nhuong: It is important to emphasize that participating in the Times Higher Education Impact Rankings is part of NEU’s development strategy to enhance its standing and reputation regionally and globally.

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Bui Huy Nhuong, Vice President of NEU

First, we need a more accurate and comprehensive understanding of these rankings. THE University Impact Rankings assess universities against the United Nations’ 17 Sustainable Development Goals across four areas: Research, Stewardship, Outreach and Teaching. Participating universities combine their score for Goal 17 with scores for three other goals to calculate their overall score. In addition to the overall rankings, THE also ranks universities against each individual goal.

In 2022, NEU participated in these rankings for the first time, covering four goals: Goal 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions; Goal 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth; Goal 17: Partnerships for the Goals; and Goal 1: No Poverty.

NEU earned recognition against the criteria for internal governance and cooperation with governing agencies under Goal 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions, scoring 71.8/100. Its placement in the 101–200 band was also the highest ranking among universities in Vietnam for this goal in 2022.

Alongside Goal 16, NEU also received strong evaluations against the criteria under Goal 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth, placing in the 201–300 band.

This result once again highlights the University’s efforts to create a working environment that provides the best possible conditions for the development of its faculty and staff, as well as to provide high-quality human resources for the country. It also contributed to the University’s overall ranking in the 601–800 band.

In 2023, NEU maintained its place in the overall THE University Impact Ranking, as it had in 2022.

We hope to spread the values of sustainable development not only within our higher education institution but also more broadly and deeply throughout the community through research, education and the fulfillment of our social responsibilities.

In the coming period, the University will continue participating in THE University Impact Rankings while preparing to participate in THE World University Ranking and QS.

Reporter: NEU is known to be the only university specializing in economics with 19 academic programs meeting ACBSP international accreditation standards, and the university with the largest number of ACBSP-accredited programs in Vietnam. Could you share the University’s plans and strategies for achieving this result?

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Bui Huy Nhuong: To achieve these results in academic program quality accreditation in general, and accreditation under ACBSP standards in particular, NEU developed a strategic plan for education quality assurance and accreditation.

First, in terms of strategic objectives, we identify ensuring and improving education quality as our top priority. Meeting the education quality accreditation standards of reputable international organizations is a consistent goal in both the short and long term.

NEU Library

To achieve this objective, the University establishes specific quality assurance and improvement goals, measures and criteria across its activities, including the delivery of education, scientific research, the provision of financial resources and facilities, campus landscaping and environmental maintenance, educational support, student support, and community engagement.

The University’s leadership directed the launch of academic program quality accreditation under ACBSP standards (United States) in 2017.

In 2022, following a journey marked by considerable effort and strong determination from administrators, lecturers, students and alumni, 11 academic programs were accredited. In 2023, a further eight academic programs were accredited under ACBSP standards.

Alongside academic program accreditation under U.S. ACBSP standards, the University is pursuing accreditation for 15 academic programs under FIBAA standards (Switzerland), while 16 academic programs have met the standards issued under Circular No. 04/2016/TT-BGDĐT. NEU is demonstrating that its strategic approach to education quality assurance and accreditation is appropriate and meets the University’s overall objectives.

In addition to continuing academic program quality accreditation under domestic and international standards, in 2024 we will gradually begin institutional quality accreditation under the standards of AACSB, United States. This is the world’s most reputable institutional accreditation organization in economics and business administration.

It can be said that these achievements in international accreditation reflect not only the firm direction of the Party Committee and University Council and the determination of the University’s leadership, but also the committed and coordinated participation of organizations, units and employees throughout the University.

Improving Education Quality Is the Core Factor

Reporter: What investments do universities need to make to secure regional or international recognition of the quality of their academic programs?

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Bui Huy Nhuong: First, it is important to emphasize that accreditation organizations, whether in Vietnam or other countries, share common principles of university governance and education quality assurance and improvement. NEU therefore identifies investment in education quality assurance and improvement as the core factor determining success in education quality accreditation.

Next, quality accreditation under the standards of international organizations such as ACBSP or FIBAA involves self-assessment and providing the necessary evidence to demonstrate compliance with their quality standards. This requires each university to demonstrate determination and consistency in its direction and management.

We believe that managing the University’s activities requires a perspective focused on quality assurance and improvement in university governance, system-level education quality assurance, quality assurance in functional activities, and quality assurance of the University’s outcomes.

Reporter: How many academic programs does the University currently offer? What is its education strategy for the coming period to maintain its position as one of Vietnam’s foremost institutions with a key role in economics education?

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Bui Huy Nhuong: At the undergraduate level, the University currently offers 37 standard programs taught in Vietnamese, seven Profession-Oriented Higher Education (POHE) programs and 16 programs taught in English. In addition, the University offers advanced programs and high-quality programs.

In the coming period, the University plans to explore introducing several new fields of study, such as data science, artificial intelligence, software engineering, information systems, information security and labor relations.

In its development strategy, the University always places quality assurance first to help maintain its position as one of Vietnam’s foremost institutions with a key role in education in economics, management and business administration. The University will continue to step up the implementation of several groups of measures, including:

First, ensure and improve educational quality by improving admissions quality and the organization of academic programs, with particular emphasis on reviewing and improving educational quality through innovations in teaching models and methods, as well as testing and assessment methods. The University has been actively implementing the lecture/seminar teaching model.

Second, expand the application of information technology across all University activities, emphasizing a systematic approach to governance and completing the smart classroom system and the monitoring system that uses artificial intelligence technology.

Third, continue to strengthen the capabilities of public employees and other staff, particularly lecturers and researchers, through recruitment, training, professional development and compensation policies. The University recruits only lecturers who have undertaken further study in countries with developed education systems; it also sends them back to developed countries annually for further professional development and to enhance their professional capabilities.

Fourth, the University actively improves the quality of its facilities, financial capacity and support services for teaching and learning. It prioritizes upgrading the Library and databases, considering this a core activity that creates the best possible conditions for teaching, learning and scientific research.

Fifth, develop and refine the internal quality assurance system, including policies, strategies, organizational structure, regulations, procedures and personnel responsible for educational quality assurance and quality accreditation.

Sixth, continue to develop and elevate the activities of the network of alumni, former learners and PhD candidates. Actively engage with and contribute to the community, viewing this as a driving force for the University’s development.

– Thank you, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Bui Huy Nhuong!

Source: People’s Deputies Online 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.