Ho Chi Minh City University of Economics: A strategic bridge between Vietnam and the US for educational Internationalisation

Prof. Dr. Nguyen Dong Phong - Chairman of UEH Council spoke at the 20th anniversary of the Fulbright Economics Teaching Program on January 17, 2015.

Educational Cooperation: Elevating Vietnamese Human Resources

Since the late 1980s, as Vietnam began its Renovation Course, UEH quickly established foundational strategic international partnerships, including those with the United States.

A landmark achievement was the 1995 establishment of the Fulbright Economics Teaching Program (FETP), a direct result of cooperation between UEH and Harvard University's John F. Kennedy School of Government. This marked one of the first international collaborations between Vietnam and the US after the normalisation of relations, signifying a historic turning point in education.

FETP served as a training program and a vital bridge, enabling Vietnamese students to access modern economic thinking, advanced research methods, and global governance models. By 2016, FETP had educated over 1,300 students. This included 820 graduates from the Graduate Program in Economic Policy Analysis (1995-2008) and over 500 from the Master of Public Policy Program, awarded by UEH (2008-2016). These graduates have since significantly contributed to public and private sector organisations nationwide.

Building on this success, UEH established the Faculty of Public Administration in 2014. Its mission is to advance training and scientific research in Vietnam's public sector, aiming to foster "a prosperous and sustainable Vietnam through good governance and excellent leadership." The faculty offers five programs: a Bachelor of Public Administration; a Dual Degree of Public Management - Law and Local Governance; a Master of Public Management; a Master of Public Management - Advanced Operating Systems; and a Master of Public Policy - Advanced Operating Systems. These programs culminate more than 20 years of collaboration between UEH and Harvard University's John F. Kennedy School of Government. Over 1,000 students and graduates from these programs are actively contributing to the country's socio-economic development.

Prof. Dr. Su Dinh Thanh - President of UEH signed the MoU with Dr. Stephen Percy - President of Portland State University on July, 28th, 2022.

Short-term training initiatives began in July 1998 with the "International Economic Journalism Training" program, organised at UEH in partnership with Georgetown University. Following this success, in 1999, UEH, Georgetown University, and California Polytechnic State University jointly offered intensive training courses for reporters from major press agencies nationwide.

Concurrently, UEH has actively fostered cooperation with numerous other prestigious US universities, establishing joint training programs and international academic environments. These partnerships include collaborations with the University of Houston – Clear Lake, California State University, Fullerton (CSUF), Portland State University (PSU), and the University of North Carolina.

In 2023, UEH signed a Letter of Intent with California State University, Fullerton (CSUF), paving the way for student and faculty exchange programs, research collaborations, and cultural exchanges between the two countries.

Furthermore, within the framework of projects funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), UEH is working with Portland State University to implement credit recognition programs, academic exchanges, and develop joint training initiatives focused on community service and sustainable development.

Simultaneously, UEH collaborates with the Institute of Management Accountants (IMA) to enable students to access international professional certifications, enhancing their global competitiveness.

The signing ceremony between UEH and the American Institute of Management Accountants (IMA) on May 24, 2023

Innovation, Business Connections, and Local Contributions

UEH's engagement with US partners goes beyond academic cooperation; it also includes practical projects directly supporting local development. A prime example is the "Provincial Capacity Building" project, a collaboration with Chemonics International and USAID. Through this initiative, UEH designs economic management training programs for local officials, helping Vietnamese provinces and cities enhance their competitiveness in international integration.

Furthermore, UEH's innovation, startups, and digital transformation efforts have made significant strides through cooperation with the Washington State Delegation, the University of Washington, and leading US technology enterprises. These partnerships have notably strengthened UEH's vibrant startup and innovation ecosystem.

With its outstanding contributions to training programs, research, academic cooperation, and innovation initiatives with the US, UEH is a strategic bridge between Vietnam and the global knowledge base. It stands as a symbol of integration, innovation, and connection.

As a multidisciplinary, sustainable university, ranked among the Top 136 best universities in Asia and Top 501-600 globally by the Times Higher Education Rankings 2025, UEH will continue to affirm its pioneering role in fostering Vietnam-US educational cooperation, making tangible contributions to community, local, and national development in this era of globalization.

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