On August 24, 2026, the National Economics University held a working session with the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW), focusing on enhancing the partnership in accounting and auditing education according to international professional standards, while also expanding opportunities for students to access professional certifications during their studies at the University.

Scene of the working session

Attending the session from ICAEW were: Ms. Azlina Bulmer – International Director; Ms. Elaine Hong – Southeast Asia Regional Director; Ms. Dang Trang – ICAEW Vietnam Chief Representative; along with staff responsible for student development and engagement.

From the National Economics University: Prof. Dr. Nguyen Huu Anh – Vice President of the University; Assoc. Prof. Dr. Dinh The Hung – Deputy Director of the Institute of Accounting and Auditing; Dr. Pham Sy Long – Deputy Head of the International Collaboration Department; along with university staff and lecturers.

The period from 2017 to 2025 marked many positive outcomes in the collaboration between the National Economics University and ICAEW, particularly through the English-taught Bachelor’s Program integrated with the ICAEW CFAB International Certificate.

Accordingly, the Institute of Accounting and Auditing at the National Economics University is the first university unit in Vietnam to integrate ICAEW CFAB into its curriculum. It is also the only unit to fully integrate all six CFAB modules, where ICAEW exams are mandatory, and completing the ICAEW CFAB certificate is one of the graduation requirements of the program.

From 2017 to 2026, nearly 1,000 students enrolled in the integrated CFAB program, and nearly 500 have completed the certificate. The pass rate for CFAB exams has remained close to 100%, with many students achieving a perfect score of 100/100. The program has also recorded a high rate of students progressing to the ACA qualification, and its number of ACA-qualified alumni stands out among ICAEW’s university partners in Vietnam.

These results demonstrate the effectiveness of the combined model of university education and international professional standards, helping students not only gain a solid foundation of specialized knowledge but also early access to widely recognized professional standards, thereby enhancing their adaptability to the demands of the domestic and international labor markets.

Prof. Dr. Nguyen Huu Anh – Vice President of the National Economics University along with ICAEW representatives engage in discussions during the meeting

Building on the achievements attained, Prof. Dr. Nguyen Huu Anh – Vice President of the National Economics University and ICAEW representatives discussed strategies to further develop their collaborative relationship in the upcoming period, aiming to enhance the quality of education and strengthen the integration of undergraduate programs with international professional standards.

Both parties focused on discussing the potential to upgrade the current integrated model, increase the number of modules recognized and exempted at the ICAEW Certificate Level; additionally, they explored integrating two modules from the ACA Professional Level for the 2026 admissions cohort and adding two more modules for the 2027 admissions cohort.

Furthermore, both parties also discussed the possibility of incorporating some modules from the ICAEW Certificate Level into other academic programs of the School of Accounting and Auditing, while also exploring the expansion of the ICAEW integrated model to other suitable units and academic programs at the National Economics University.

These directions open up the possibility of embedding international professional standards more deeply into the curriculum, enabling students to shorten their journey towards obtaining specialized professional certifications, while also enhancing the connection between academic knowledge and practical professional competencies.

The leaders of both units exchanged gifts and took commemorative photos

With the achievements built during the 2017-2026 period, the meeting continues to pave the way for new directions in the relationship between the National Economics University and ICAEW. The research into upgrading and expanding the integration model of international professional standards not only contributes to enhancing the quality of accounting and auditing education but also creates additional opportunities for students to access international professional certifications, improve their professional skills, and adapt to the demands of the labor market in the context of integration.

Article and photos: Communications Department