Re-signing Ceremony of the Memorandum of Understanding between University of Economics Ho Chi Minh City and the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants, UK

25 May, 2025

On the journey of joining hands to create long-term values for a sustainable future, on the afternoon of May 23, 2025, University of Economics Ho Chi Minh City (UEH) organized a ceremony to re-sign the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA). The event affirmed the efforts of cooperation for the community, marking a new step in the process of operation and development while continuing to widely spread the values of sustainability and social responsibility of both parties.

At the signing ceremony, on behalf of UEH, there was the participation of Assoc. Prof. Dr. Bui Quang Hung - Vice president of UEH; Dr. Tran Anh Hoa - Vice Rector of UEH College of Business, leaders of Schools, Offices, Faculties, Institutes, Program Directors, Heads/Deputy Heads of Departments of the School of Accounting, and UEH students.

On behalf of ACCA, there were Mr. Mike Suffield - Director of Policy and Research, ACCA Global; Mr. Ren Varma - Director of ACCA Southeast Asia; Ms. Luong Thi Anh Tuyet, FCCA - Deputy General Director of PwC Company Limited (Vietnam), Member of ACCA Membership Committee in Vietnam; Ms. Khuat Thi Lien Huong - Director of Training ACCA Southeast Asia Mainland; Ms. Pham Nguyen Thi Ngoc Chau - Head of External Relations, Education and Training Division, ACCA Vietnam and Ms. Dang Thi Thanh Hang - Head of External Relations, Education and Training Division, ACCA Southeast Asia Mainland.

On behalf of the British Consulate General in Ho Chi Minh City, there was the participation of Mr. Ben Gruenberg, First Secretary for Technology and Digital Economy in Vietnam, and Ms. Ho Thi Kim Phuong, Trade Manager for Education.

Overview of the signing ceremony

Speaking at the signing ceremony, Assoc.Prof. Dr. Bui Quang Hung, Vice President of UEH, remarked: “We recognize the similarities in the sustainable development principles of UEH and ACCA. UEH always aims to innovate education, to train high-quality human resources, and to integrate sustainable values into daily activities at the university. Meanwhile, ACCA - as a professional organization with global prestige and scale, is committed to accompanying organizations in improving professional capacity and promoting sustainable development standards. This event not only creates a solid foundation for UEH and ACCA to continue their extensive cooperation but also demonstrates the strong commitment of both sides in promoting quality education programs, international integration, and accompanying the community towards a more sustainable future”.

Assoc.Prof.Dr. Bui Quang Hung - Vice President of UEH at the Signing Ceremony

At the signing ceremony, Mr. Ren Varma, Director of ACCA Southeast Asia Mainland, expressed his appreciation for the sustainable cooperation between the two sides over the past decade, and affirmed ACCA's accompanying role in developing high-quality human resources in the field of finance and accounting in Vietnam. He also emphasized the goal of maximizing the strengths and expertise of both sides. The cooperation between ACCA and UEH has marked an important milestone, continuing the journey of co-creating practical values, highly applicable, towards sustainable development and spreading to the community.

Mr. Ren Varma - Director of ACCA Southeast Asia Continental Region

Representative of the British Consulate General in Ho Chi Minh City, Mr. Ben Gruenberg, highly appreciated the cooperation between a prestigious professional organization of the United Kingdom - ACCA and UEH, considering this a vivid demonstration of the UK's long-term commitment to supporting the development of high-quality human resources for Vietnam. Aiming at Vietnam's growth target of 8% by 2025, he emphasized that international vocational training programs like ACCA will be a "global passport" that opens up career opportunities for the young generation of experts while contributing to the country's sustainable economic development.

Mr. Ben Gruenberg - First Secretary for Technology and Digital Economy, British Consulate in Ho Chi Minh City - addressing at the Ceremony

Ms. Luong Thi Anh Tuyet - Member of ACCA Vietnam Membership Committee, Audit Services Partner at PwC Vietnam, and also a UEH alumnus - emphasized that the ACCA certificate not only equips comprehensive knowledge and practical skills but also opens up a sustainable career development path in the field of finance and accounting. She highly appreciated the training quality of UEH and believed that the cooperation with ACCA will contribute to improving students' capacity, meeting human resource needs in the context of Vietnam implementing IFRS standards.

Ms. Luong Thi Anh Tuyet, FCCA - Deputy General Director of PwC Company Limited (Vietnam), member of ACCA Membership Committee in Vietnam

The cooperation between the University of Economics Ho Chi Minh City and the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) was launched in 2011, marking a journey of more than a decade of attachment, companionship, and development together. Throughout that journey, both sides have continuously consolidated and expanded cooperation contents, from training international standard programs, organizing professional seminars, to academic exchanges, and developing high-quality human resources. The re-signing of the MOU is both a continuation of the strong strategic partnership and a testament to mutual trust and commitment towards an innovative, integrated, and sustainable educational future.

The Re-Signing Ceremony of the MOU between UEH and ACCA has approved a number of important contents, recognizing the values of the bilateral cooperation relationship, supporting the development of members and students, and opening up many cooperation opportunities in various areas.

- Implementing the Accounting program oriented towards ACCA international certification at the School of Accounting (UEH College of Business) according to the Copyright Use Contract signed on the same day, expanding access opportunities to ACCA programs to students studying at other schools of UEH;

- Collaborating to explore opportunities to develop dual degree programmes through the integration of ACCA qualifications or Master's programmes incorporating strategy-level subjects;

- Cooperating in teaching subjects of the ACCA program at UEH. Depending on the time, ACCA Vietnam may invite lecturers from UEH to attend seminars, workshops, or professional training organized by ACCA Vietnam (if any);

- Co-researching and developing the initiative “ACCA - UEH Sustainable Education Hub” - a pioneering training center to promote sustainable development capacity for learners in the field of accounting and finance. The center implements ACCA's Advanced Certificate in Sustainable Development programs and integrates other international professional certificates, including the International Financial Reporting Certificate, International Auditing Certificate, Data Analysis Certificate, and Digital Application Certificate in Finance, contributing to building sustainable accounting human resources in the context of globalization and digital transformation;

- Committing to exploiting the professional network and the strengths of both parties to support the implementation of the set goals, beyond the activities of organizing events, internship opportunities, and cooperation projects;

- Cooperating in other potential areas of mutual benefit.

University of Economics Ho Chi Minh City and the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (AACP) re-signing the MOU

Representatives of both sides exchanging souvenirs

On this occasion, UEH and ACCA presented sustainable development-related issues, clearly demonstrating their views, missions, and commitments in promoting governance capacity associated with this essential requirement. Representing UEH, Ms. Le Thi Hanh An - Member of the Sustainable University Project Board, UEH Green Campus Project Manager, delivered an in-depth presentation on the topic "UEH Sustainability Strategy - 5 years in action", reviewing the 5-year journey of realizing UEH Multidisciplinary and Sustainable Strategy and showing pride in the achievements while orienting the strategy in the next stages. Regarding ACCA side, the topic “Building Trust: The Evolving Landscape of Sustainability Reporting and Assurance in ASEAN” was presented by Mr. Mike Suffield - Director of Policy and Insights, with insights into the changes in sustainability reporting and auditing in ASEAN while emphasizing the role of transparency, accountability and international standards in building trust with stakeholders.

Ms. Le Thi Hanh An - Member of the Sustainable University Project Board, UEH Green Campus Project Manager - presenting the topic "UEH Sustainability Strategy - 5 years in action"

Mr. Mike Suffield - Director of Policy and Insights presenting the topic “Building Trust: The Evolving Landscape of Sustainability Reporting and Assurance in ASEAN”

Following the signing ceremony, under the framework of the event, UEH and ACCA jointly awarded the Certificate of Sustainable Development to 10 leaders, managers, and key lecturers of UEH who completed Certificate A and/or B, after participating in the Sustainable Development Training Course taking place from May 13-15, 2025. These are typical students out of a total of 60 members participating in the training course - a program designed to raise awareness, to systematize knowledge, and to enhance the capacity to implement sustainable development principles and ESG in the higher education environment.

After receiving the certificate, this group of 10 students will continue to complete Certificates C and D within 1 year and take the international exam organized by ACCA through the official learning account. Upon completing all four certificates and passing the international exam, students will be awarded a Professional Diploma in Sustainability - a globally recognized professional qualification issued by ACCA.

The fact that UEH sent its staff and lecturers to fully participate in this roadmap is a testament to their strong commitment to spreading sustainable development thinking, improving the quality of university governance, and promoting comprehensive transformation towards sustainable development.

Training course on Sustainable Development organized by University of Economics Ho Chi Minh City in collaboration with the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants, UK, on May 13-15, 2025

ACCA awarding Sustainable Development Certificates to 10 UEH lecturers who completed the ACCA-issued Sustainable Development Certificates A and B

The Re-Signing Ceremony of the Cooperation Agreement between UEH and ACCA marked an important milestone in the journey of accompanying each other for a quality education network, integration, and sustainable development. The event not only opened up a long-term strategic partnership between a pioneering innovative university and a prestigious international professional organization but also spread the core values of professional standards, transparent governance, and human resource development. With the determination and goodwill of both sides, the commitments set forth will be realized into specific initiatives, bringing practical benefits to students, lecturers, and the community.