A visit to UEH by Prof. Stephen Teo from Edith Cowan University, Australia

The University of Economics Ho Chi Minh City (UEH) always encourages lecturers, researchers from other international universities to work, collaborate, share valuable research knowledge. From 20^th to 23^rdNovember 2018, UEH was pleased to welcome Prof. Stephen Teo - Edith Cowan University, Australia (ECU) to visit, work and share the results of research projects as well as experience in gaining a spot on high rating academic journals. Prof. Stephen Teo’s visit will be of paramount importance in empowering the collaboration over the research field between Edith Cowan University and The University of Economics Ho Chi Minh in the future.

Prof. Stephen Teo is currently the Associate Dean Management in the School of Business and Law of ECU; also Director of the Centre for Work and Organisational Performance. He is recognised as one of the leading scholars in the field of human resource management, as shown by the outcome of the 2012 New Zealand Performance-based Research Funding evaluation. He has published in leading refereed journals such as Human Resource Management (USA), Human Resource Management Journal, Journal of Vocational Behaviour, the International Journal of Human Resource Management, International Business Review, Asia Pacific Journal of Management, and others such as the Journal of Advanced Nursing.(http://www.ecu.edu.au/schools/business-and-law/staff/profiles/professorial-research-fellows/professor-stephen-teo)

Professor Stephen Teo spends his days studying happiness in the workplace (Australia)

- Have you ever been to Vietnam before? Have you ever heard of the University of Economics Ho Chi Minh City? How do you think about UEH?

This is the first time I have come to The University of Economics Ho Chi Minh city .

However, during my time of teaching in Australia, I happened to meet with other professors and lecturers from UEH occasionally as well as co-operated with them in guiding research students with master’s and doctor’s degree.

Besides, I am also currently working together with other lecturers from The University of Economics Ho Chi Minh City in implementing research projects such as: Psychosocial safety climate and workplace bullying in Vietnam's public sector (in collaboration with professor Steven Grover from Otago University, New Zealand); Factors influence internship effectiveness in Vietnam (in collaboration with Dr. Philip Rose from Hannam University, Korea); Work-related to stress and employee engagement in Vietnam (in collaboration with lecturers from the International School of Business - ISB); Impacts of leadership on ethical behaviours of public sector employees.

Additionally, I also received information about UEH thanks to the joint program between UEH and Western Sydney University (Australia).

- What is your expectation about this visit in Vietnam?

Via the visit and collaboration with UEH, I hope to meet and connect with other researchers, research students, and lecturers from the University of Economics Ho Chi Minh City, generally speaking, and the International School of Business (ISB) specifically. In addition, I also wish to share my experience in research projects about human resource administration, together with my deeper understanding over practicality and changes over the human resource administration issue in Vietnam. In the near future, I will continue to support scientific research project by supervising research students and collaborating on research projects with UEH lecturers.

On November 20^th, 2018, Prof. Dr. Phong Dong Nguyen - President of UEH had a meeting with Prof. Stephen Teo.

On November 22^nd, 2018, at the International School of Business, Prof. Stephen Teo had an exchange with research students, master’s students as well as other UEH lecturers about: Academic Career Development. This workshop aimed to encourage the academic staff and students to pursue research and aim for higher achievements. Moreover, Prof. Stephen Teo also presented a topic: How to publish top tier journal articles and share experience on the research design, collaboration, methods, etc.

Prof. Stephen Teo exchanging information and knowledge with research students, master’s students and ISB lecturers

On November 23^rd, 2018, at the workshop: Happiness at work, Prof. Stephen Teo talked to 40 managers in human resources, recruitment, business about researching the impact on employees’ happiness level under a different organization model. The talk provided invaluable experience for the attendants in knowing more of factors influencing happiness and psychology or behaviour of employees. Prof. Stephen Teo also explained the reasons for such behaviours and displayed possible solutions in helping employees to feel happier and more attached to their work.

Prof. Stephen Teo sharing at workshop: Happiness at work

The visit from Prof. Stephen Teo to the University of Economics Ho Chi Minh City ended up being successful, with beneficial elements to the scientific research projects of UEH and practical values for the human resource administration in other companies and entrepreneurs in Vietnam. Furthermore, this visit also improves the collaborating relationship between lecturers from Edith Cowan University in Western Australia and the University of Economics Ho Chi Minh City.