As part of its visit to Australia in September 2026, a delegation from National Economics University (NEU), led by Professor Nguyen Huu Anh, Vice President of NEU, visited Adelaide University (AU) for a series of meetings aimed at advancing institutional and academic cooperation. Discussions focused on reviewing achievements to date, strengthening connections between academic units, and identifying priorities for the next phase of collaboration, particularly in education, research, academic capacity building, innovation, and academic exchange.

The NEU delegation also included Professor Le Quoc Hoi, Vice Rector of the College of Economics and Public Management; Professor Dinh Duc Truong, Dean of the Faculty of Environmental, Climate Change and Urban Studies; Dr Trinh Mai Van, Deputy Head of the Department of Research Management; Dr Pham Sy Long, Deputy Head of the Department of International Cooperation; together with representatives from the Department of Research Management and the Faculty of Environmental, Climate Change and Urban Studies.

The visit was structured to facilitate engagement at both institutional and academic levels. Following an initial meeting with AU representatives responsible for global partnerships, the NEU delegation participated in focused discussions with academics and relevant units, providing an opportunity to translate broader areas of mutual interest into potential programmes and initiatives for future cooperation.

The NEU delegation with Ms Victoria Bick, Associate Professor Rebecca Dolan, representatives of Adelaide University, and an NEU faculty member currently undertaking doctoral studies at Adelaide University..

Building on a Strong Foundation for Partnership

The program commenced with a meeting with Ms Victoria Bick, Executive Director, Global Partnerships and Strategy, and Ms Celeste Yang, Senior Global Adviser, Global Partnerships and Strategy, Adelaide University. The two sides reviewed the progress made in their partnership and discussed opportunities to deepen and broaden institutional cooperation.

Ms Victoria Bick provided an overview of Adelaide University’s academic and research ecosystem. With strengths spanning business and economics, artificial intelligence, environment, sustainable energy and resources, as well as a wide range of interdisciplinary research areas, Adelaide University offers significant opportunities for expanded cooperation with NEU in both education and research.

Ms Bick acknowledged the strong foundation already established between the two universities and expressed Adelaide University’s support for further collaboration in programme development, joint research, doctoral education, staff and student mobility, and sustainability.

Speaking at the meeting, Professor Nguyen Huu Anh, Vice President of National Economics University, welcomed the progress achieved to date and highlighted the potential to further develop the NEU–AU partnership, with closer integration between educational cooperation, research, academic capacity building, and academic exchange.

The two universities have already developed cooperation across several areas. Since 2023, 20 NEU academics have participated in three-month professional development programmes in Adelaide, while two NEU academics are currently undertaking doctoral studies at Adelaide University under Vietnam’s Project 89. Research and academic engagement have also been fostered through sustainability-related activities, the participation of AU academics in the International Conference on Contemporary Issues in Economics, Management and Business (CIEMB), and academic seminars. These activities provide a strong foundation for a more systematic framework of cooperation in the next phase.

Professor Nguyen Huu Anh, Vice President of NEU, and members of the NEU delegation in discussion with representatives of Adelaide University.

Advancing Educational Cooperation through Credit Transfer Agreements

A significant milestone in educational cooperation between the two universities is the establishment of Credit Transfer Agreements for two programmes, providing an academic framework through which eligible NEU students may transfer to Adelaide University with recognition of approved studies completed at NEU.

The agreements establish pathways between the NEU Bachelor of Science in Statistics and Business Intelligence and the Adelaide University Bachelor of Commerce, major in Business Analytics, as well as between the NEU Bachelor of Project Management and the Adelaide University Bachelor of Business, major in Project Management.

During a focused meeting with Adelaide University’s College of Business and Law, chaired by Associate Professor Rebecca Dolan, Dean International and Engagement, representatives from both universities discussed opportunities to deepen educational cooperation across economics, business, and management.

A particular highlight of the session was the presentation of the signed Appendix to the Credit Transfer Agreement setting out the credit schedule between NEU’s Bachelor of Project Management and Adelaide University’s Bachelor of Business, major in Project Management. Professor Nguyen Huu Anh and Associate Professor Rebecca Dolan presented the Appendix during the meeting. Signed by the leadership of both universities, the Appendix further formalizes the agreed credit recognition arrangements and provides a clear academic basis for implementing the student pathway between the two programs.

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, presenting the signed Appendix to the Credit Transfer Agreement setting out the credit schedule for the Project Management pathway.

Building on these two established pathways, representatives from both institutions discussed opportunities to expand educational cooperation into other areas with strong academic alignment, including economics, development studies, health economics, business, environment, and sustainability. Program review, curriculum mapping and the development of appropriate credit recognition arrangements will provide a basis for determining suitable cooperation models in each discipline.

Beyond credit transfer pathways, the two universities also discussed the potential to progressively develop dual degree opportunities between NEU and AU, as well as accelerated Bachelor to Master pathways, subject to curriculum compatibility, learning outcomes, credit recognition, academic requirements, and relevant institutional approvals. Such initiatives would enable the partnership to extend beyond undergraduate credit transfer towards more integrated undergraduate and postgraduate education pathways.

In the area of environment and sustainability, NEU’s Faculty of Environmental, Climate Change and Urban Studies, College of Economics and Public Management, expressed interest in exploring articulation and postgraduate pathways linking the NEU Bachelor’s program in Environmental Technology and Sustainability with Adelaide University’s Bachelor of Sustainability and Climate Change, as well as relevant postgraduate programs.

Expanding Joint Research and Two-Way Academic Exchange

Alongside educational cooperation, research collaboration was identified as a key pillar for further development. Representatives from both universities discussed opportunities to connect research teams, develop joint proposals, pursue research funding, and work towards collaborative projects, academic conferences and international publications.

Areas with strong potential for collaboration include sustainability, green transition, climate change, environmental economics and policy, alongside broader topics in economics, development studies, and business. Over the longer term, the two universities aim to progress from researcher-to-researcher connections towards joint seminars, collaborative research, co-authored publications, funding proposals, and sustainable research networks.

In another focused discussion chaired by Professor Melissa Nursey-Bray of Adelaide University’s School of Society and Culture, academics from the two institutions explored interdisciplinary areas of mutual interest, particularly sustainability and climate change. Participation from different academic units across the two universities helped broaden institutional connections and provided further opportunities to link educational cooperation with research.

Academics from National Economics University and Adelaide University during a focused discussion on opportunities for cooperation in education and research related to sustainability and climate change.

Academic capacity building and exchange also remain important components of the partnership. Building on professional development activities already undertaken, the two sides discussed continued opportunities for early-career NEU academics to pursue doctoral training, strengthen academic and research capabilities, and develop research networks at Adelaide University, including through Vietnam’s Project 89.

The next phase of cooperation is also expected to place greater emphasis on two-way academic exchange. In addition to NEU academics undertaking programmes in Adelaide, NEU expressed its interest in welcoming more Adelaide University lecturers and academics to Hanoi to contribute to teaching, faculty development, research seminars, and engagement with doctoral candidates, particularly in areas where the two universities have established or are developing academic pathways.

The two universities also discussed more flexible models for faculty development, short-term professional development programmes, and executive education, thereby broadening cooperation in human resource and academic capacity development.

Connecting Innovation and Entrepreneurship Ecosystems

Beyond established areas of academic cooperation, the two universities identified opportunities to build links between NEU’s Centre for Innovation and Career Development and ThincLab at Adelaide University.

During the visit, the NEU delegation learned about ThincLab’s innovation and entrepreneurship support model and discussed opportunities to connect students, academics, and entrepreneurial initiatives. Such engagement could extend the partnership beyond education and research into innovation and entrepreneurship.

The NEU delegation learning about Adelaide University’s innovation and entrepreneurship support model at ThincLab.

Towards an NEU–AU Collaboration Roadmap for the Next Phase

The discussions at Adelaide University reflected the growing breadth of the partnership, with cooperation progressively evolving from individual activities towards more systematic connections among academic programs, academic units, and research groups.

Priority areas for the next phase include expanding credit transfer arrangements and undergraduate–postgraduate pathways; strengthening student, faculty and researcher mobility; advancing joint research and international publications; expanding doctoral cooperation; connecting innovation and entrepreneurship ecosystems; and developing professional and academic capacity-building programs.

Building on the discussions in Adelaide, the two universities aim to identify priority initiatives, designated focal points, and implementation timelines as a basis for developing an Adelaide University–National Economics University Collaboration Roadmap for the next phase. The proposed roadmap would support a more integrated approach to cooperation across education, research, academic capacity building, and academic exchange.

The National Economics University delegation during its visit to Adelaide University.

Building on the partnership established to date and the tangible outcomes already achieved, the visit further broadened the scope of cooperation between National Economics University and Adelaide University, spanning education and credit transfer, research, academic capacity building, academic exchange, and innovation. Translating these shared priorities into concrete programmes, projects and cooperation mechanisms will provide a strong foundation for a deeper and more sustainable partnership that delivers meaningful benefits to students, academics and the wider university communities of both institutions.

Article by: Department of International Cooperation, Department of Research Management and Department of Communications, National Economics University