During the framework of the working visit to Australia in September 2026, the delegation from the National Economics University led by Prof. Dr. Nguyen Huu Anh, Vice President of the University, visited and worked with the University of Adelaide (Adelaide University – AU). The discussions focused on evaluating the achieved collaborative results, enhancing connections between academic units, and identifying priority areas for future collaboration, particularly in education, research, faculty capacity development, innovation, and academic exchange.

Joining the NEU delegation were: Prof. Dr. Le Quoc Hoi, Vice Rector of the School of Economics and Public Management; Prof. Dr. Dinh Duc Truong, Head of the Faculty of Environment, Climate Change, and Urban Studies; Dr. Trinh Mai Van, Deputy Head of the Department of Scientific Management; Dr. Pham Sy Long, Deputy Head of the Department of International Collaboration; along with representatives from the Department of Scientific Management and the Faculty of Environment, Climate Change, and Urban Studies.

The working program was organized to connect from the university level to specialized units. After the exchange session with the representative in charge of global partnerships at the University of Adelaide, the NEU delegation participated in in-depth discussions with scholars and academic units, thereby concretizing the general cooperation directions into programs and fields that can be implemented in the near future.

The NEU delegation along with Ms. Victoria Bick, Assoc. Prof. Rebecca Dolan, members of the University of Adelaide, and NEU lecturers pursuing doctoral programs at the University of Adelaide

Developing Collaborative Relationships on a Solid Foundation

At the beginning of the program, the NEU delegation held a working session with Ms. Victoria Bick, Executive Director, and Ms. Celeste Yang, Senior Advisor in charge of Global Partnerships and Strategy at the University of Adelaide. Based on the achieved results, both sides discussed future cooperation directions, aiming to advance the relationship between the two universities into a more extensive, substantive, and sustainable development phase.

In discussions with the NEU delegation, Ms. Victoria Bick provided an overview of the scale, structure, and ecosystem of education and research at the University of Adelaide. The strengths in business, economics, artificial intelligence, environment, energy, sustainable resources, and interdisciplinary research capabilities show significant potential for connection with NEU, particularly in developing academic programs, research collaboration, and promoting joint academic initiatives.

Ms. Victoria Bick highly appreciated the collaborative foundation built by both parties and affirmed the University of Adelaide’s support for continuing to expand relations with NEU in developing academic programs, joint research, doctoral training, faculty-student exchanges, and sustainable development.

In his remarks at the meeting, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Huu Anh – Vice President of the National Economics University (NEU) highly appreciated the collaborative achievements between the two parties and emphasized the potential for developing the NEU – AU relationship in a more substantive direction, with academic collaboration being more closely linked to research, faculty capacity development, and academic exchange.

The collaborative relationship between the two universities has been gradually established across various aspects. Since 2023, 20 NEU faculty members have participated in three-month training programs in Adelaide; currently, two NEU faculty members are pursuing doctoral programs at the University of Adelaide under Project 89. In terms of research and academic exchange, the two sides maintain connections through activities related to sustainable development, participation of University of Adelaide scholars at the CIEMB International Conference, and academic seminars. These results lay the groundwork for NEU and the University of Adelaide to continue expanding cooperation in a systematic, long-term manner, integrating training, research, and academic exchange.

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Huu Anh – Vice President of the University, along with the NEU delegation, engaged in discussions with representatives from the University of Adelaide

Formalizing Academic Collaboration through Credit Transfer Agreements

In the field of education, the National Economics University and the University of Adelaide have formalized their partnership by signing Credit Transfer Agreements for two bachelor’s programs. The agreement facilitates NEU students’ transition to the University of Adelaide, recognizing completed coursework according to a mutually agreed pathway, while also expanding opportunities for accessing an international learning environment.

Accordingly, the Bachelor of Statistics and Business Intelligence program at NEU is structured to transition into the Bachelor of Commerce program, majoring in Business Analytics at the University of Adelaide; simultaneously, the Bachelor of Project Management program at NEU is connected with the Bachelor of Business program, majoring in Project Management at the University of Adelaide.

During the working session with the School of Business and Law, University of Adelaide, chaired by Assoc. Prof. Rebecca Dolan – Head of International Engagement and Collaboration, representatives from both sides continued in-depth discussions on academic collaboration in the fields of economics, business, and management. Notably, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Huu Anh and Assoc. Prof. Rebecca Dolan exchanged the Appendix Agreement on the credit transfer table between the NEU Bachelor of Project Management program and the University of Adelaide Bachelor of Business program, majoring in Project Management. The completion of the credit transfer table further concretizes the agreement between the two universities, providing a clear academic basis for implementing the transition pathway for students.

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Huu Anh – Vice President of the National Economics University and Assoc. Prof. Rebecca Dolan – Head of International Engagement and Collaboration, School of Business and Law, University of Adelaide exchanged the Appendix Agreement on the credit transfer table for the Project Management program.

Building on the two established programs, representatives from both sides continued discussions on the potential to expand collaboration into fields with high compatibility such as economics, development economics, health economics, business, environment, and sustainable development. Reviewing, benchmarking programs, and developing credit transfer tables will serve as the foundation for determining suitable models for each academic discipline.

In addition to transfer programs, both parties also discussed the potential to gradually develop dual degree programs (from AU and NEU) and pathways from bachelor’s to master’s degrees aimed at shortening study time, based on ensuring program compatibility, learning outcomes, credit recognition, and related academic requirements. This direction expands collaboration from undergraduate credit transfer to integrated training pathways at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels.

In the field of environment and sustainable development, the Faculty of Environment, Climate Change, and Urban Studies, School of Economics and Public Management, NEU expressed a desire to collaborate with the University of Adelaide in exploring the feasibility of establishing transition and postgraduate pathways between the NEU Bachelor of Environmental Technology and Sustainable Development program and the AU Bachelor of Sustainable Development and Climate Change program, along with suitable postgraduate programs.

Expanding Bilateral Research Collaboration and Academic Exchange

In addition to education, research collaboration is identified by both universities as one of the pillars that needs further development. The two parties also discussed the potential for direct connections between research groups, the development of joint proposals, the search for funding sources, and the aim towards projects, scientific conferences, and international publications.

Areas with significant potential for collaboration include sustainable development, green transition, climate change, economics and environmental policy, along with topics related to economics, development economics, and business. In the long term, both parties aim to develop from connections between scientists to organizing joint conferences, conducting research, co-publishing, developing funding proposals, and forming sustainable research networks.

In another in-depth discussion session chaired by Prof. Melissa Nursey-Bray from the School of Social Sciences and Culture, University of Adelaide, scholars from both sides continued to exchange ideas on interdisciplinary fields, particularly related to sustainable development and climate change. The participation of various specialized units from both universities contributes to expanding the academic network and provides additional foundations for connecting educational collaboration with research.

NEU and University of Adelaide scholars in an in-depth discussion session on collaboration directions in education and research sustainable development and climate change

The development of faculty capacity and academic exchange also continues to be an important focus. Building on the foundation of implemented training programs, the two parties discussed continuing to create opportunities for young NEU faculty members to participate in doctoral training, capacity development, and research connections at the University of Adelaide, including opportunities within the framework of Project 89.

Simultaneously, collaboration in the new phase is oriented towards enhancing two-way academic exchange. In addition to sending NEU lecturers to Adelaide, NEU wishes to welcome more lecturers and scholars from the University of Adelaide to participate in teaching, faculty development, organizing research seminars, and engaging with doctoral students at NEU, particularly in programs that the two universities have developed or are developing collaborative pathways.

Both parties are also interested in more flexible training models, short-term professional development courses, and training programs for management and business leadership personnel, thereby expanding the scope of human resource development cooperation between the two universities.

Connecting the Innovation and Entrepreneurship Ecosystem

In addition to traditional areas of cooperation, the two universities have also identified a new connection direction between NEU’s Center for Innovation and Career Development and the University of Adelaide’s ThincLab.

During the visit, the NEU delegation explored the operational model of ThincLab and discussed the potential for connecting students, faculty members, and entrepreneurial initiatives, thereby expanding the scope of cooperation from education and research to innovation and entrepreneurship.

The National Economics University delegation explores the innovation and entrepreneurship support model at ThincLab, University of Adelaide

Towards the NEU – AU Collaboration Roadmap for the Next Phase

Discussions at the University of Adelaide indicate that the relationship between the two universities is gradually shifting from isolated collaborative activities to more systematic connections among academic programs, academic units, and research groups.

The priority directions for the next phase focus on expanding credit transfer programs and undergraduate-postgraduate training pathways; enhancing student, faculty, and researcher exchanges; developing joint research and international publications; expanding doctoral training collaboration; connecting the innovation ecosystem; and developing professional training and development programs.

Based on the discussions, both parties aim to identify priority initiatives, responsible focal points, and implementation roadmaps, laying the groundwork for building the Adelaide University – National Economics University Cooperation Roadmap for the next phase. This orientation aligns with the goal of transitioning the relationship between the two universities from isolated collaborative activities to a more integrated cooperation framework in training, research, faculty capacity development, and academic exchange.

The NEU Delegation during their visit and working session at the University of Adelaide.

With the established foundation of collaboration and specific achievements attained, the visit continues to expand the collaborative space between the National Economics University and the University of Adelaide, from training and credit transfer to research, faculty capacity development, academic exchange, and innovation. Gradually concretizing these orientations into specific programs, projects, and cooperation mechanisms will create a foundation for the relationship between the two universities to continue developing in a substantive, sustainable manner, bringing practical value to learners and the academic community of both parties.

Article and Photos: International Collaboration Department, Scientific Management Department, and Communication Department