At the invitation of partner universities, a delegation from National Economics University (NEU), led by Prof. Dr. Pham Hong Chuong, President of NEU, visited and held working meetings at the University of Adelaide, Swinburne University of Technology, and Macquarie University in Australia from July 7 to July 11, 2025.

The delegation also included Assoc. Prof. Dr. Ho Dinh Bao, Head of the Department of Personnel and Organization; Dr. Dao Thanh Tung, Head of the Department of International Cooperation; Dr. Nguyen Quang Huy, Rector of the College of Technology; Assoc. Prof. Dr. Ha Minh Hoang, Dean of the Faculty of Data Science and Artificial Intelligence; Assoc. Prof. Dr. Tran Thi Bich, Dean of the Faculty of Statistics; Dr. Nguyen Thi Bach Tuyet, Dean of the Faculty of Management Information Systems; and Dr. Pham Xuan Lam, Dean of the Faculty of Information Technology.

As one of Vietnam’s key national universities, NEU has consistently pioneered international cooperation, viewing it as a central strategy for strengthening its capabilities, expanding its influence, and affirming its international standing. The University has been establishing extensive partnerships with many renowned universities worldwide and implementing a diverse range of effective cooperation programs.

Since the 2024 academic year, NEU has intensified its focus on technology development, particularly in artificial intelligence (AI), data science, and information technology. The University aims to become a pioneer in education, research, and technology transfer for applications in economics, management, and business. It aims to rank among the country’s top three institutions for research and education in AI- and data science-related disciplines within the next five years. Against this backdrop, this visit and the working meetings with leading Australian universities marked an important step forward, opening up numerous opportunities for strategic cooperation in technology between the two sides.

To begin the trip, the delegation visited and held working meetings at the University of Adelaide on July 7, 2025. Welcoming and meeting with the delegation were Prof. Jessica Gallagher, Vice President for International Cooperation, along with leaders of the School of Economics and Public Policy, the Machine Learning Institute, and the School of Technology and Computer Science.

During the meeting, the two sides discussed in detail plans for an international conference on sustainable development tentatively scheduled for August 2025. They also agreed to promote lecturer and student exchanges in key areas such as artificial intelligence, the semiconductor industry, digital transformation, data science, machine learning, and statistical mathematics in the coming period. While there, the delegation also visited the Australian Machine Learning Research Institute at the University of Adelaide and the Semiconductor Research Institute.

Prof. Jessica Gallagher, Vice President for International Cooperation at the University of Adelaide, welcomes and meets with the delegation.

Representatives of the University of Adelaide spoke highly of the visit, affirmed NEU’s role as an important strategic partner in Vietnam, and committed to strengthening cooperation in research, scholar/research exchanges, support for lecturer training, transfer programs, and credit recognition, particularly in technology.

Established in 1874, the University of Adelaide is a member of the Group of Eight, a group of eight leading Australian universities. It ranked 82nd among the world’s best universities in the 2025 QS rankings. The University of Adelaide is known for disciplines such as management, information technology, and engineering. The University of Adelaide and NEU have also built a strategic relationship in research cooperation, education, lecturer capacity building, and student exchanges over many years.

Leaders of the two universities discuss research cooperation and lecturer training.

The delegation holds a working meeting at the College of Technology, University of Adelaide.

The delegation visits and holds a working meeting at the Machine Learning Research Institute.

The delegation tours a semiconductor and quantum laboratory at the University of Adelaide.

Next, on July 9, 2025, the NEU delegation visited and held working meetings at Swinburne University of Technology. Welcoming and meeting with the delegation were Dr. Neema Cucinotta, Vice President for International Cooperation; Prof. Nicki Wragg, Dean of the Faculty of Law and Business; Prof. Enzo Palombo, Dean of the Faculty of Computer Science and Technology; and Sherry Zhang, Regional Director for Southeast Asia.

Prof. Dr. Pham Hong Chuong, President of NEU, presents a gift and poses for a commemorative photograph with Dr. Neema Cucinotta, Vice President for International Cooperation at Swinburne University of Technology.

The two sides discussed, agreed on, and began implementing educational cooperation through a 3+1+1 bachelor’s and master’s transfer program model for NEU students. Under this model, third-year NEU students can study for one additional year to earn a bachelor’s degree and a further year to earn a master’s degree from Swinburne University of Technology in Software Engineering, Management Information Systems, Cybersecurity, and Information Technology.

The two sides also discussed research cooperation and lecturer training in information technology and business. As part of the working program, the delegation toured Swinburne University of Technology’s laboratory for network systems design, machine learning, and AI.

Established in 1908, Swinburne University of Technology is a public university in Melbourne, Victoria. Swinburne has five campuses: Croydon, Hawthorn, Lilydale, and Wantirna in Melbourne, and Sarawak in Malaysia, with more than 30,000 full-time students, including 7,000 international students from over 100 countries. Swinburne University of Technology ranked 294th in the 2025 QS World University Ranking.

The delegation tours a laboratory at Swinburne University of Technology.

The delegation’s final stop during its visit and working trip to Australia was Macquarie University in Sydney. Welcoming the delegation were Prof. Bruce Downton, Vice-Chancellor and President of Macquarie University; Prof. Lee-ann Norris, Vice President; Dr. Stephen Fan, Director of Global Partnerships; Prof. Abhay Singh, Dean of the Faculty of Business; Prof. Mark Dras, Dean of the Faculty of Computing, Science and Engineering; and several senior lecturers from the university.

The delegation visits and holds working meetings at Macquarie University.

During the meeting, the two sides discussed and agreed on the terms before signing an educational cooperation agreement covering two disciplines, Actuarial Science (Actuary) and Data Science, at both the bachelor’s and master’s levels.

Under the agreement, students in Data Science and Actuarial Science may transfer to Macquarie University after completing their second or third year at NEU to study for a bachelor’s degree. Students who have completed their third or fourth year may continue their studies at Macquarie University for 1.5 years or one year to earn a master’s degree from the university. The two sides also agreed to strengthen cooperation in research, student exchanges, and lecturer training.

Leaders of the two universities sign a cooperation agreement on bachelor’s and master’s transfer programs.

Macquarie University was established in 1964 and quickly became one of Australia’s leading universities. It ranks among the top 2% of universities worldwide, placing #138 in the QS World University Ranking.

Over the years, Macquarie has consistently ranked among the world’s best universities and has been highly regarded for the quality of its education and research, as well as its capacity for innovation and creativity. NEU and Macquarie University currently maintain close ties in numerous areas, including educational cooperation, lecturer and student exchanges, and research cooperation…

Prof. Dr. Pham Hong Chuong, President of NEU, presents a gift and poses for a commemorative photograph with Prof. Bruce Downton, Vice-Chancellor of Macquarie University.

The trip not only opened up opportunities for academic cooperation and in-depth research between NEU and leading Australian universities, but also enabled the University’s lecturers and students to access advanced, modern academic environments around the world.

The success of the visit helped strengthen NEU’s position in the regional education landscape, affirming the University’s determination to innovate, pursue international integration, and stay ahead of the technological trends of the era.

Article and photos: Department of International Cooperation & 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.