On August 9, 2024, a delegation from National Economics University (NEU), led by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Thanh Hieu, Vice President of NEU, visited the University of Economics City of Ho Chi Minh (UEH) and International University, Vietnam National University City of Ho Chi Minh (IU, VNU-HCM) to learn from their experience and hold working meetings aimed at strengthening cooperation and ties, marking new developments in their relationships, and opening up further opportunities for cooperation among the universities in the coming period.

The delegation also included Prof. Dr. To Trung Thanh, Head of the Department of Research Management; Assoc. Prof. Dr. Ho Dinh Bao, Head of the Department of Personnel and Organization; Assoc. Prof. Dr. Le Trung Thanh, Dean of the Institute of International Education; Dr. Dao Thanh Tung, Head of the Department of International Cooperation; leadership representatives from constituent schools, departments, faculties, and institutes; and the University’s faculty and staff.

The NEU delegation visits and holds a working meeting at the University of Economics Ho Chi Minh City

To begin the working program, on the morning of August 9, the delegation visited and held a working meeting at Campus 1 of the University of Economics Ho Chi Minh City. Welcoming and meeting with the delegation on behalf of UEH were Dr. Dinh Cong Khai, Vice President of UEH; Prof. Dr. Nguyen Trong Hoai, Editor-in-Chief of JABES; Assoc. Prof. Dr. Tran Ha Minh Quan, Dean of the Institute of International Education; and representatives of the university’s leadership and management staff.

Dr. Dinh Cong Khai, Vice President of the University of Economics Ho Chi Minh City, delivers welcoming remarks

Opening the working session, Dr. Dinh Cong Khai, Vice President of UEH, welcomed and thanked the NEU delegation for visiting and meeting with UEH. Dr. Dinh Cong Khai emphasized: “UEH and NEU have enjoyed close cooperation for more than 35 years. Many core leaders during the early development of the University of Economics Ho Chi Minh City were formerly lecturers at National Economics University. For UEH, the two universities are as close as siblings in the same family.” He also affirmed that UEH was always willing to share its experience and expressed hope that the two universities would undertake more cooperative and development activities in the future.

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

On behalf of the University’s delegation, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Thanh Hieu, Vice President, thanked the leadership of the University of Economics Ho Chi Minh City for their warm reception and affirmed that NEU always valued the enduring, strong, fraternal partnership between NEU and UEH. Assoc. Prof. Nguyen Thanh Hieu, Vice President, expressed confidence that the two institutions would achieve positive results together in the future, sustain the traditions built over many generations, and contribute to the development of society and the country.

At the meeting, Assoc. Prof. Nguyen Thanh Hieu discussed and proposed several topics for discussion and joint work, including experience in transitioning the organizational model of the University of Economics Ho Chi Minh City from a single university to a university with constituent schools; decentralization of research management, management of scientific research activities, and joint organization of international conferences; and organization and implementation of international joint education programs…

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Tran Ha Minh Quan, Dean of UEH’s Institute of International Education, shares the Institute’s development journey

Also at the meeting, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Tran Ha Minh Quan, Dean of UEH’s Institute of International Education, shared the development journey of the Institute of International Education (IBS), UEH. In its early years, IBS’s leaders, managers, and staff faced many challenges in admissions and competition with other economics-focused universities in Ho Chi Minh City. However, with enthusiastic, capable staff and clear strategic planning for each program, IBS made significant strides to become a leading choice for students with good and excellent academic performance seeking to study economics-related disciplines in southern Vietnam.

Sharing experience in organizing international scientific conferences, Prof. Dr. Nguyen Trong Hoai, Editor-in-Chief of JABES, noted that in recent years, UEH had consistently focused on creating value and contributing to the community by undertaking research projects with practical applications. UEH also organizes international conferences in different Southeast Asian countries to attract a more diverse range of authors, increase the number of research papers, improve research quality, and bring the UEH brand closer to international colleagues.

Concluding the discussion and exchange of professional experience, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Thanh Hieu thanked the units’ leadership representatives for readily sharing their experience, which helped the two universities better understand operational and management practices and draw lessons for each institution to learn from and apply. Assoc. Prof. Nguyen Thanh Hieu, Vice President, also extended an invitation to cooperate on student and lecturer exchange programs and jointly organize international conferences between NEU and UEH in the near future.

The NEU delegation visits and holds a working meeting at International University, Vietnam National University Ho Chi Minh City

As part of the working program, on the afternoon of August 9, the University’s delegation continued its visit with a working meeting at International University, Vietnam National University Ho Chi Minh City. Welcoming and meeting with the delegation on behalf of IU, VNU-HCM were Assoc. Prof. Dr. Le Van Thang, President of IU, VNU-HCM; Prof. Pham Van Hung, Head of the Department of Research and Development; and representatives of IU, VNU-HCM’s leadership, faculty, and staff.

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Le Van Thang, President of IU, VNU-HCM, delivers welcoming remarks

Opening the meeting, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Le Van Thang, President of IU, VNU-HCM, warmly welcomed the NEU delegation to the university and emphasized: “This is the first time IU, VNU-HCM has had the opportunity to welcome and meet with National Economics University, yet the spirit of openness and connection feels like a long-standing partnership. IU, VNU-HCM is eager to learn from National Economics University’s experience in managing and developing undergraduate and graduate joint education programs. IU, VNU-HCM is also very willing to share its experience and hopes to undertake many cooperative activities between the two universities in the near future.”

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Le Trung Thanh, Dean of the Institute of International Education, shares experience in managing joint education programs on behalf of NEU

At the meeting, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Le Trung Thanh, Dean of the Institute of International Education, shared experience in managing joint education programs on behalf of NEU. Assoc. Prof. Dr. Le Trung Thanh stated: “The Institute of International Education has more than 20 years of experience in managing and developing joint education programs. To date, the Institute has developed an ecosystem comprising undergraduate joint education programs with partners in the United Kingdom and the United States; three master’s-level joint education programs with the University of the West of England, United Kingdom; and two doctoral joint education programs with two partner universities in the United Kingdom.

In the near future, the Institute of International Education is intended to develop into an International School under National Economics University, tasked with managing and developing all of National Economics University’s joint education programs. The Institute of International Education will also diversify its fields of study in technology… with partners that are reputable universities around the world, including in South Korea and Australia… In managing joint education programs, the Institute of International Education needs to pay particular attention to meeting the requirements of both the supervising institution and its partners,” said Assoc. Prof. Dr. Le Trung Thanh.

Prof. Pham Van Hung, Head of the Department of Research and Development, shares innovations in encouraging scientific research at IU, VNU-HCM

Representing IU, VNU-HCM, Prof. Pham Van Hung, Head of the Department of Research and Development, shared experience in encouraging the university’s lecturers to undertake scientific research by empowering each constituent school to propose research topics independently, classifying research projects by level, and introducing an innovative scientific research scoring method to encourage lecturers to participate and contribute high-quality scientific research papers.

Next in the program, leadership representatives from the two universities discussed experience in establishing and developing an International School, sharing and learning from experience in cooperating with common partners such as the University of the West of England and Andrews University, United States.

Leadership representatives of the two institutions exchange gifts and pose for a commemorative photo

At the conclusion of the meeting, representatives of the two universities exchanged gifts expressing their desire to continue their partnership. They also agreed on student and lecturer exchanges and the joint organization of activities in scientific research… in the coming period.

Leadership representatives from International University, Vietnam National University Ho Chi Minh City, and the NEU delegation pose for a commemorative photo

The visit and working meetings with universities in Ho Chi Minh City left many positive impressions and fostered goodwill among the institutions. This was a valuable opportunity to strengthen friendship among the universities and laid the foundation for developing further cooperative activities between NEU and key universities in the southern region as well as in other provinces and cities across the country.

Additional photos from the working program:

Article and photos: The delegation and the 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.