Official Signing Ceremony of the Memorandum of Understanding for Cooperation between UEH and U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID)

Within the framework of the USAID Strengthening Provincial Capacity (SPC) project, on the afternoon of January 19th, 2021, at Campus B, the University of Economics Ho Chi Minh City (UEH) organized an official Signing Ceremony of the Memorandum of Understanding for Cooperation between the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and UEH.

Attending the Ceremony, on the side of USAID, there were Ms. Ann Marie Yastishock - USAID Vietnam Mission Director, Mr. Gregory Leon - Director of Economic Growth and Governance Office, Ms. Suzanne Johnson - Agreement & Contracting Officer, Ms. Chau Nguyen - USAID Program Management Specialist & Digital Advisor. On the UEH side, there were Prof.Dr. Su Dinh Thanh – Principal, Prof.Dr. Nguyen Trong Hoai - Vice Principal, Dr. Dinh Cong Khai - Dean of School of Government with the school units' leaders.

The Provincial Capacity Building Project by three Vietnamese organizations - the National Academy of Public Administration (NAPA), the School of Government of the University of Economics HCMC (UEH) (SOG / UEH), and Vietnam Science and Technology Entrepreneurship Fund (SVF). Collaborating with the three organizations aims to make critical changes. This project will create a continuous learning culture in which provincial officials actively improve their skills and collaborate with the private sector to build a healthy economic growth environment.

Accordingly, the Project will improve the responsiveness, quality, and sustainability of capacity development opportunities in economic management for the local staff. Thanks to the access to high-quality training opportunities, the local team will be able to implement financial management reforms more effectively with more interaction with citizens and the private sector to improve transparency and accountability. They can also gain the skills to measure and sustain success through their efforts. The Project will be implemented in 04 years, with a total cost of about 12.5 million USD.

The USAID-funded Strengthening Provincial Capacity (SPC) project aims to achieve the following outcomes: 1) Increased understanding and responsiveness of national organizations to the needs of strengthening economic governance; 2) Improve design capabilities and provide high-quality capacity development opportunities; and 3) Enhancing the capacity of domestic institutions to generate demand and revenue sources for capacity development opportunities. The MOU signing content between UEH and USAID will create a premise to strengthen the commitment of cooperation among the stakeholders and strengthen coordination in some core activities.

Speaking at the signing ceremony, Ms. Ann Marie Yastishock - Mission Director for USAID/Vietnam, emphasized promoting the quality of higher education, developing resources, innovation, quality of health, and energy. Sustainability is an important content to promote Vietnam towards the status of a middle-income country. This MOU will create opportunities for cooperation between USAID and the University of Economics of Ho Chi Minh City to establish appropriate models towards a shared vision for sustainable economic growth. Ms. Ann Marie Yastishock also expressed her belief that the two institutions' cooperation will have profitable and sustainable development in the future.

Prof. Su Dinh Thanh – President of UEH, believes that the signed agreement will bring the university great opportunities to further improve the quality of academic services in higher education, the quality of research, and development. Sustainability and coverage, researching urban management, innovation, and human development will contribute to Vietnam's sustainable development.

Hopefully, the cooperation between USAID and UEH will have promising developments, promoting sustainable development in Vietnam.

USAID is the United States Agency for International Development, which has been active in Vietnam since 1989. USAID plays an essential role in helping Vietnam reach global markets by joining the World Trade Organization (WTO) and the agreement between the United States of America and the Socialist Republic of Vietnam on Trade Relations. Besides, USAID operates other support programs for people with disabilities in Vietnam through the Patrick Leahy War Victims Fund and the Displaced Children and Orphans Fund (DCOF).

News, photos: Marketing - Communication Department, Scientific Management - International Cooperation Department