UEH works with the Sydney Vietnam Institute, University of Sydney on development and research cooperation activities

25 Sep, 2025

In September 2025, the University of Economics Ho Chi Minh City (UEH) held a meeting and working session with the Sydney Vietnam Institute at Campus A, 59C Nguyen Dinh Chieu to connect and develop research opportunities in the near future.

Attending the meeting, from the University of Economics Ho Chi Minh City (UEH) were Dr. Tran Anh Hoa – Vice President of UEH College of Business; Assoc. Prof. Dr. Pham Khanh Nam – President of UEH College of Economics, Law and Government; Assoc. Prof. Dr. Trinh Thuy Anh – Vice President of UEH College of Technology and Design; Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Phong Nguyen – Standing Deputy Head of the Department of Research – Development and Global Engagement; Assoc. Prof. Dr. Pham Duong Phuong Thao – Deputy Head of the Department of Research – Development and Global Engagement.

On the side of the Sydney Vietnam Institute, participants included Dr. Kevin Douglas Hobgood-Brown AM – Chairman of SVI Members’ Council; Prof. Nguyen Thu Anh – Director of SVI; Prof. Greg Fox – Director of the Sydney Southeast Asia Centre, University of Sydney; Mr. Huynh Thanh Tung – Senior Research Grants Officer of SVI.

Overview of the working session

During the session, leaders and representatives of both sides shared their development strategies, future projects, and respective strengths in scientific research and innovation. Both UEH and SVI recognized many areas of overlap in development orientations, particularly in economics, artificial intelligence in education, health sciences, global issues, and interdisciplinary fields.

Speaking at the meeting, Prof. Nguyen Thu Anh – Director of SVI emphasized the importance of cooperation among universities in addressing issues with major impacts on socio-economic development. At the same time, she called for active participation from faculty and students, thereby promoting multidisciplinary research models, especially in areas such as health sciences, to deliver practical value to communities and society.

Prof. Nguyen Thu Anh – Director of SVI – speaking at the meeting

Delivering remarks on behalf of UEH, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Phong Nguyen – Standing Deputy Head of the Department of Research – Development and Global Engagement expressed interest in cooperation across multiple fields, from engineering and science to interdisciplinary research. He also stressed that UEH consistently prioritizes scholarship programs, creating conditions for early-career researchers and scholars to access learning and career development opportunities. With a multidisciplinary philosophy, UEH always encourages connections across different domains to jointly solve complex societal problems.

Prof. Greg Fox – Director of the Sydney Southeast Asia Centre, University of Sydney – sharing on cooperation orientations

As part of the cooperation discussion, Prof. Greg Fox – Director of the Sydney Southeast Asia Centre, University of Sydney noted that the Centre is deploying many projects in the region and sees significant alignment with UEH’s orientation. Prof. Greg Fox stated that the Centre often initiates seed funding to connect Sydney scholars with Southeast Asia, aiming toward larger-scale projects in the future. Research focuses include energy transition and climate change, business innovation and artificial intelligence, healthy communities, agriculture – natural resources and sustainable development, alongside strengthening cooperation with government, business, and international scholars.

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Pham Khanh Nam – President of the UEH College of Economics, Law and Government in discussion

Exchanging views at the session, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Pham Khanh Nam – President of the UEH College of Economics, Law and Government emphasized that over the years, research groups at UEH have developed and implemented many topics related to global issues, notably the impacts of climate change on public health. UEH has also focused on building research infrastructure, including capacities for data collection and processing, conducting trials, as well as applying new technologies such as artificial intelligence, computational social science, and data science to interdisciplinary research. This will be an important foundation for UEH to expand international cooperation, joining partners like SVI in addressing society’s urgent challenges.

Delegates discuss cooperation activity opportunities between the two sides

Concluding the exchange, the Sydney Vietnam Institute expressed its desire to work with UEH and partners in Vietnam to build joint projects with practical impact, especially in health, environment, economics, and community development. Combining diverse strengths and perspectives – from medicine, economics, and society to technology and law – will help bilateral projects achieve comprehensiveness, high applicability, and better serve regional development. SVI and UEH will continue to maintain contact, exchange information, and implement concrete steps to realize the cooperation orientations discussed.