Students in the Bachelor of Project Management at National Economics University (NEU) now have a new international study opportunity in Australia through a 2+2 pathway established with Adelaide University (AU). Under the pathway, eligible students can complete the first two years of their programme at NEU, receive agreed credit recognition, and continue their studies for a further two years at Adelaide University to complete the Bachelor of Business, majoring in Project Management.

The new pathway marks a further step in educational cooperation between National Economics University and Adelaide University, translating curriculum alignment between the two institutions into a concrete international study opportunity for NEU students.

Developed under the Credit Transfer Agreement between NEU and Adelaide University, the pathway provides a framework for eligible studies completed at NEU to be recognized when students progress to Adelaide University, while also creating a foundation for the two institutions to explore deeper models of educational cooperation in the future.

A 2+2 pathway from NEU to Adelaide University

The pathway connects NEU’s Bachelor of Project Management with Adelaide University’s Bachelor of Business, majoring in Project Management, offered through the College of Business and Law. Adelaide University is ranked 79th globally in the QS World University Rankings 2027 and 118th globally for Business and Management Studies in the QS World University Rankings by Subject 2026.

Under the approved Credit Schedule, students who complete a minimum of two years of the Bachelor of Project Management at NEU and meet the relevant requirements may receive 48 units of specified credit across eight Adelaide University courses, equivalent to one year of Adelaide University’s three-year Bachelor of Business. Students will then complete the remaining 96 units, comprising 16 courses over two years, at Adelaide University.

2+2 PATHWAY IN PROJECT MANAGEMENT

Credit recognition is based on the mapping of studies completed at NEU in areas including economics, accounting, management, information systems and data science, law, mathematics, finance and statistics against eight corresponding courses at Adelaide University.

Students progressing through the pathway remain subject to Adelaide University’s applicable academic, English-language, admission and other requirements. Upon successful completion of the program and all graduation requirements, students will be awarded the Bachelor of Business, majoring in Project Management, by Adelaide University.

The current Credit Schedule applies to eligible students commencing the Adelaide University program between 3 September 2026 and 30 June 2028.

Project Management – increasingly important capabilities in the global labour market

The pathway has been established at a time when demand for project management capabilities is growing across the global labour market. According to the Project Management Institute’s Global Project Management Talent Gap 2025 report, there were approximately 39.6 million project professionals worldwide in 2025, while global demand could increase by 48–64 per cent by 2035. Under PMI’s higher-growth scenario, the global talent gap could reach 29.8 million project professionals by 2035.

The outlook is particularly relevant to Vietnam. PMI estimates that Vietnam had approximately 430,000 project professionals in 2025. Even under the report’s lower-growth scenario, demand could reach around 746,000 by 2035, representing an increase of approximately 74 per cent. In Australia, Jobs and Skills Australia identifies contract, program and project administration roles across a wide range of sectors, including public administration, professional, scientific and technical services, and construction.

These trends highlight the broad applicability of project management capabilities. Projects are central not only to investment and construction, but also to technology, digital transformation, infrastructure, sustainability, innovation and organisational change. Capabilities in planning and coordination, resource and risk management, stakeholder engagement and implementation are therefore increasingly relevant across a diverse range of professional settings.

The 2+2 pathway enables students to experience two complementary academic environments. At NEU, the Bachelor of Project Management provides a foundation in economics, management, investment and project management. At Adelaide University, students further develop their business knowledge alongside capabilities in project leadership, risk management, communication and negotiation, teamwork and innovation within an international academic environment.

Through this combination, students have the opportunity not only to study in Australia, but also to develop internationally relevant and transferable professional capabilities, while gaining academic and intercultural experience across Vietnam and Australia.

From institutional agreement to a pathway for students

An important milestone in the development of the pathway was reached during the NEU delegation’s visit to Adelaide University in September 2026. At a meeting with Adelaide University’s College of Business and Law, representatives of the two institutions discussed opportunities to advance educational cooperation across economics, business and management.

During the meeting, Professor Nguyen Huu Anh, Vice President of National Economics University, and Associate Professor Rebecca Dolan, Dean International and Engagement, College of Business and Law, Adelaide University, exchanged the Appendix to the Credit Transfer Agreement setting out the Credit Schedule for the Project Management pathway. Signed by the leadership of both institutions, the Appendix provides the formal academic basis for implementing the pathway.

Professor Nguyen Huu Anh, Vice President of National Economics University, and Associate Professor Rebecca Dolan, Dean International and Engagement, College of Business and Law, Adelaide University, exchange the Appendix to the Credit Transfer Agreement setting out the Credit Schedule for the Project Management pathway.

From credit transfer to deeper educational cooperation

Beyond the implementation of the 2+2 pathway, the curriculum mapping undertaken for Project Management also provides a foundation for NEU and Adelaide University to explore more integrated models of educational cooperation.

One possible next step is to examine reciprocal credit recognition. Building on Adelaide University’s recognition of relevant studies completed at NEU, the two institutions could explore the recognition by NEU of corresponding studies completed at Adelaide University. This could provide an academic basis for considering a dual degree model in the future, subject to curriculum compatibility, learning outcomes, academic requirements and the necessary institutional approvals.

The two institutions have also discussed the potential development of accelerated Bachelor-to-Master pathways, progressively connecting undergraduate study with relevant postgraduate programs and creating a more continuous and efficient academic journey for eligible students.

Alongside program development, NEU and Adelaide University are looking to strengthen two-way academic exchange. NEU has expressed its interest in welcoming more Adelaide University academics to contribute to teaching, research seminars and workshops, faculty development and engagement with doctoral candidates. In Project Management, such activities could expose students to perspectives from both institutions while strengthening connections between academic teams, supporting curriculum development and creating further opportunities for research collaboration.

The Project Management pathway therefore has the potential to develop beyond credit transfer, progressively connecting student mobility and credit recognition with pathways across levels of study, academic exchange and broader scholarly collaboration.

For NEU students, the immediate opportunity is clear: to begin their Project Management studies in Hanoi and continue them in Adelaide through an academically mapped pathway agreed between the two institutions. Looking further ahead, the pathway also provides a foundation for National Economics University and Adelaide University to build a more integrated ecosystem of educational and academic cooperation between Vietnam and Australia.

Article by: Department of International Cooperation and Faculty of Investment, NEU

Sources

• Project Management Institute — Global Project Management Talent Gap 2025
• Jobs and Skills Australia — Contract, Program and Project Administrators
• Jobs and Skills Australia — Employment Projections by Occupation