On June 6, 2025, National Economics University (NEU) organized a stakeholder seminar on “Statistics and Business Intelligence – Workforce Development in the Digital Era.” The event marked an initial step toward introducing a new English-taught bachelor’s program, Statistics and Business Intelligence (SBI), led by the Faculty of Statistics.

An overview of the seminar

External guests attending the seminar included Dr. Tran Phuong Lan, Chief Consultant at DXCon Digital Solutions and Experience Management Consulting Joint Stock Company; Pham Thi Hai Ly, Director of Digital Banking Business Development at TPBank; Luong Thi My Linh, Deputy Head of the Department of Digital Transformation, IT Center, Viettel Construction; along with experts in digital transformation and data analytics, business representatives, and members of academia.

Representing NEU were Prof. Dr. Pham Hong Chuong, President of NEU; Assoc. Prof. Dr. Bui Huy Nhuong, Vice President of NEU; Dr. Nguyen Quang Huy, Rector of the College of Technology; Assoc. Prof. Dr. Tran Thi Bich, Dean of the Faculty of Statistics; leadership representatives from colleges, departments, faculties, institutes, and centers; and faculty and staff, alumni, and students interested in Business Intelligence.

As data increasingly becomes a “strategic asset” and business and management decisions rely more heavily on data analysis, the SBI program has been developed to meet the urgent demand for a high-quality workforce. Graduates will be able to collect, process, and transform data into practical value in areas such as business, finance, marketing, supply chains, and human resources.

Prof. Dr. Pham Hong Chuong, President of NEU, delivers the opening remarks at the seminar

In his opening remarks, Prof. Dr. Pham Hong Chuong emphasized the pivotal role of data in the digital era and affirmed the University’s pioneering commitment to educating a workforce that can adapt to a new era: “Data is not merely information—it is the ‘new oil’ of the 21st century. National Economics University is determined to lead the way in educating global citizens capable of analyzing and applying data to support business, management, and innovation.”

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Tran Thi Bich, Dean of the Faculty of Statistics, presents “An Overview of Workforce Demand and the ‘Statistics and Business Intelligence’ Academic Program”

Opening the seminar, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Tran Thi Bich, Dean of the Faculty of Statistics at NEU, discussed workforce demand in Statistics and Business Intelligence, drawing on text mining analysis of tens of thousands of job postings on international employment platforms such as LinkedIn, Indeed, and Working Nomads. The findings showed that Business Intelligence Analyst positions were among those with the fastest-growing demand, particularly in fields such as finance, marketing, human resources, supply chains, and e-commerce.

In Vietnam, rapid digital transformation across both the public and private sectors is widening the gap between recruitment demand and the labor market’s capacity to supply workers, particularly in data analytics and BI. In response to this urgent need, the SBI program was established as a strategic solution to educate a generation of professionals with a digital mindset, an understanding of business operations, and comprehensive analytical skills.

The SBI program is designed to equip students with:

– Foundational knowledge of economics and management to develop a thorough understanding of the context in which businesses operate;

– Comprehensive data analysis skills, from collection, processing, mining, and visualization to trend forecasting;

– Proficiency in modern tools such as Tableau, Power BI, and SQL, as well as the Python and R programming languages;

– Essential soft skills such as critical thinking, communication, and conveying analytical findings to different audiences within an organization.

The program was developed with reference to educational models at renowned universities in the United States, including Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota, Saint Joseph’s University, and DeVry University.

Graduates can pursue roles such as:

– Data analyst (Data Analyst);

– Business intelligence analyst (Business Intelligence Analyst);

– Analyst in areas such as marketing, finance, human resources, and operations;

– Research or teaching assistant; graduates may also pursue graduate studies in Vietnam or abroad.

MSc. Pham Thi Hai Ly, Director of Digital Banking Business Development at TPBank, presents “Workforce Demand and Job Descriptions for Business Intelligence: A Practical Banking Perspective”

Dr. Tran Phuong Lan, Chief Consultant at DXCon Digital Solutions and Experience Management Consulting Joint Stock Company, presents “Workforce Demand in Statistics and Business Intelligence – Illustrations from Banking”

Luong Thi My Linh, Deputy Head of the Department of Digital Transformation, IT Center, Viettel Construction, presents “‘Statistics and BI’ – The Digital Workforce in Digital Enterprises – A Viettel Perspective”

During the seminar, speakers shared a range of practical perspectives on demand for BI professionals amid rapid digital transformation. Representatives from TPBank, DXCon, and Viettel Construction all emphasized the increasingly essential role of BI Analyst positions, which require not only strong technical analytical skills but also the ability to understand business contexts and present data visually in ways that decision-makers can readily understand.

Participants also agreed that a significant gap remains between academic education and professional practice, calling for closer ties between the University and businesses to develop a BI workforce with both specialized expertise and skills closely aligned with practical needs.

Many participants proposed refining the academic program by incorporating new technologies, integrating international certifications, and adding advanced courses in business analysis and data storytelling (data storytelling), while expanding business engagement, internships, real-world projects, and topic-specific mentoring.

Communications about the field of study were also seen as a key factor in raising public awareness of the strategic role of data and expanding career opportunities for students.

The seminar not only opened up dialogue from multiple perspectives between academia and businesses but also marked an important first step toward building a modern, globally integrated academic program connected to practice. In an era when data underpins every decision, the Statistics and Business Intelligence program is a smart choice for those who aspire to become pioneers in the digital economy.

Some images from the seminar:

Article and photos: Faculty of Statistics & 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.