On August 22, 2025, National Economics University (NEU) held the 2025 graduation ceremony for the 17th cohort of the IBD@NEU International Bachelor’s Program.

The ceremony honored 292 new graduates of the IBD@NEU program offered in partnership with the University of the West of England (International Business Management and Banking & Finance) and Coventry University (Business & Marketing), United Kingdom. The event affirmed the quality of education and the strategic partnerships between the University and its international partners, opening up a promising future for a generation of Vietnamese students integrating into the global community.

An overview of the graduation ceremony

Representing the University of the West of England (UWE) at the ceremony were Prof. Yvonne Beach, Vice President; and Hoang Lan Hoa, Chief Representative of UWE in Vietnam. Representing Coventry University was Prof. Jasmine Samra, Vice President.

Representing NEU were Assoc. Prof. Dr. Bui Duc Tho, Secretary of the Party Committee and Chair of the University Council; Prof. Dr. Nguyen Thanh Hieu, Vice President; and Assoc. Prof. Dr. Le Trung Thanh, Dean of the Institute of International Education. Also attending were representatives of the leadership of schools, departments, faculties, institutes, and centers; faculty members teaching in the program; and, notably, parents, friends, and the new graduates of IBD Cohort 17.

Prof. Dr. Nguyen Thanh Hieu, Vice President of NEU, delivers remarks

On behalf of the University’s leadership, Prof. Dr. Nguyen Thanh Hieu, Vice President of NEU, congratulated the 292 new graduates. With emotion, he recalled their four-year academic journey marked by the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic: “You have not only overcome challenges but also turned them into motivation to develop and grow. I believe that, with this spirit, you will continue to achieve success in your careers ahead.” He also affirmed that the students had turned challenges into motivation to develop and mature.

The Vice President emphasized that a bachelor’s degree is not only evidence of dedication to learning but also a significant competitive advantage, particularly when awarded by renowned universities in the United Kingdom. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Thanh Hieu expressed his hope that the new graduates would continue to demonstrate resilience and spread positive values in the community and society. He also thanked the University of the West of England and Coventry University for their partnership in developing high-quality, sustainable academic programs that deliver tangible benefits to learners.

Prof. Yvonne Beach, Vice President of the University of the West of England, delivers remarks

Prof. Yvonne Beach, Vice President of the University of the West of England, also warmly congratulated the new graduates and offered this advice: “With all that you have gained, you can look ahead with confidence and continue to spread positive values in the community. We believe that many of you will become outstanding leaders in your fields, and we hope that you will always be proud to be alumni of our two universities. You can be confident that the knowledge, skills, and experience you have accumulated during your studies will provide a solid foundation for seizing opportunities in the global knowledge economy. Step boldly into the world—with confidence, courage, and resilience. Apply everything you have learned to help change the world for the better.”

On this occasion, Prof. Beach also sincerely thanked colleagues at the Institute of International Education, NEU, and the University of the West of England for their valuable contributions to building and maintaining a sustainable partnership between the two universities.

Prof. Yvonne Beach, Vice President of the University of the West of England, and Assoc. Prof. Dr. Bui Duc Tho, Secretary of the Party Committee and Chair of the NEU University Council, present University of the West of England bachelor’s degrees in International Business Management and Banking & Finance

Prof. Yvonne Beach, Vice President of the University of the West of England, and Prof. Dr. Nguyen Thanh Hieu, Vice President of NEU, present University of the West of England bachelor’s degrees in International Business Management and Banking & Finance

Prof. Yvonne Beach, Vice President of the University of the West of England, and Assoc. Prof. Dr. Le Trung Thanh, Dean of the Institute of International Education, present University of the West of England bachelor’s degrees in International Business Management and Banking & Finance

Having successfully graduated 17 cohorts and recently welcomed its 21st cohort, the International Bachelor’s Program jointly offered by NEU and its UK partners has demonstrated its quality and established its reputation. Many alumni have achieved and continue to achieve success across a range of fields and are highly regarded by leading employers. The Institute of International Education is fully confident that the 2025 graduates will build on these outstanding achievements, becoming the clearest testament to the program’s sustainable and robust development and leaving their own mark in the future.

Prof. Jasmine Samra, Vice President of Coventry University, speaks at the ceremony

At the graduation ceremony, Prof. Jasmine Samra, Vice President of Coventry University (United Kingdom), shared: “You have overcome many challenges to complete Coventry University’s program at NEU. Along the way, you have not only acquired knowledge but also developed skills, formed values, and built strong relationships. All of these will be valuable assets in your careers and lives ahead. Today, as you leave here, each of you is equipped not only with academic knowledge but also with a set of values and skills that extend far beyond your degree—qualities that will guide your next steps on your career journey.”

Following her congratulations, Prof. Samra offered thoughtful advice on the value the new graduates had gained: “Through studying with Coventry University, you are now part of a community of tens of thousands of alumni around the world, a community that will offer global opportunities and broad career prospects.” She also expressed pride in this graduating class, whose members had demonstrated a commitment to making a difference, a willingness to embrace new experiences, and the determination to overcome challenges to work together.

Prof. Jasmine Samra, Vice President of Coventry University, and Assoc. Prof. Dr. Bui Duc Tho, Secretary of the Party Committee and Chair of the NEU University Council, present Coventry University bachelor’s degrees in Business & Marketing

Prof. Jasmine Samra, Vice President of Coventry University, and Prof. Dr. Nguyen Thanh Hieu, Vice President of NEU, present Coventry University bachelor’s degrees in Business & Marketing

Prof. Jasmine Samra, Vice President of Coventry University, and Assoc. Prof. Dr. Le Trung Thanh, Dean of the Institute of International Education, present Coventry University bachelor’s degrees in Business & Marketing

To recognize outstanding academic efforts and achievements, as well as positive contributions to the program, NEU and the Institute of International Education awarded certificates of merit to exemplary students. The sight of the new graduates beaming on stage, proudly holding their awards, not only honored individual accomplishments but also vividly demonstrated the quality of education and the University’s commitment to providing learners with the best knowledge and value.

Prof. Dr. Nguyen Thanh Hieu, Vice President of NEU, presents certificates of merit to students with outstanding academic achievements

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Le Trung Thanh, Dean of the Institute of International Education, presents certificates of merit to students with outstanding achievements in their studies and activities

To encourage lifelong learning and nurture young talent, six prestigious scholarships to study in the IMD@NEU International Master’s Program were awarded to the top graduates of the International Bachelor’s Program in 2025. Each scholarship, worth VND 30 million, not only provides well-deserved recognition of their efforts but also represents the University’s promise and commitment to supporting them as they pursue the highest levels of knowledge. These meaningful gifts provide further motivation for the new graduates to reach further with confidence in the future.

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Bui Duc Tho, Secretary of the Party Committee and Chair of the University Council, and Prof. Dr. Nguyen Thanh Hieu, Vice President, present scholarships for the IMD@NEU International Master’s Program

Representing the 292 graduates, two outstanding new graduates, Ngo Thanh Tung (Business & Marketing, Coventry University) and Nguyen Minh Trang (Banking & Finance, University of the West of England), delivered moving speeches. On stage, they shared memorable experiences and the challenges they had overcome throughout their four years of study, while expressing deep gratitude to the NEU Board of Presidents, the leadership of the Institute of International Education, their teachers, and their families. Their heartfelt words touched those attending, affirming the maturity, resilience, and gratitude of this generation of new graduates.

New graduates Nguyen Minh Trang and Ngo Thanh Tung speak on behalf of their fellow graduates at the ceremony

Honored to represent the 292 new graduates, Nguyen Minh Trang and Ngo Thanh Tung shared: “The final stage of our journey opens before us a dynamic yet highly competitive labor market. Nevertheless, we believe we will overcome the initial difficulties to move further toward the successes ahead. We have learned, gained experience, and matured at IBD—a place that has fostered resilience, the confidence to engage with the world, and the mindset of a young generation ready to step onto the global stage.”

In the solemn moment marking the end of their four-year university journey, the two graduates emotionally invited their fellow graduates to place their hands over their hearts, where each heartbeat rang with melodies of happiness and pride. These were the heartbeats of achievement, woven from the love, trust, and quiet, priceless sacrifices of families, teachers, and friends. “Let us listen to those heartbeats and together express our heartfelt gratitude to our teachers and our profound thanks to our families and friends who have accompanied us throughout these beautiful years of youth.”

Representatives of the new graduates present flowers to the presiding panel in appreciation

The graduation ceremony drew to a close with a sense of fulfillment and deep emotion. Laughter mingled with tears of happiness and warm embraces—all becoming indelible moments in everyone’s memory. The graduation ceremony for the 17th cohort of the IBD International Bachelor’s Program was not only an important milestone but also an endless source of inspiration, opening a new journey for the graduates—a journey of young people full of energy, confidence, and aspirations to reach new heights on the global stage. We look forward to meeting again at the heights of achievement ahead, where we will continue writing our stories of success together.

The joy of IBD@NEU’s new graduates on their momentous day

Some images from the ceremony:

Article and photos: Institute of International Education and 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.