The tripartite collaboration between ICAEW, BDO, and UEH provides UEH's ICAEW CFAB+ Integrated Accounting Program students with implementation opportunities in Malaysia

27 May, 2024

On the morning of May 21, 2024, at the University of Economics Ho Chi Minh City (UEH), a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signing ceremony was held between The Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW), BDO Consulting Vietnam Company Limited (BDO), and Ho Chi Minh City University of Economics (UEH) on training high-quality resources in the fields of accounting, auditing, and finance for the Vietnam market.

In the signing ceremony, Prof.Dr. Su Dinh Thanh, UEH President, shared: "The signing today marks the beginning of the cooperative relationship between the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW), BDO Consulting Company Limited Vietnam (BDO), and the University of Economics Ho Chi Minh City (UEH), creating a premise for discussions and agreement on training high-quality human resources in accounting, auditing, and finance." Prof.Dr. Su Dinh Thanh underlined that this is also a great opportunity for students pursuing Integrated Accounting with International Professional Certificate ICAEW CFAB plus UEH (Integrated Accounting Program CFAB+) to get experience in an international working environment while still studying at UEH".

Implementing the "Summer Internship, Field Trip, and Final Internship at BDO Kuala Lumpur" program for ICAEW CFAB+ General Accounting students

One of the most important aspects of the collaboration that will provide significant benefits to UEH students is the implementation of the "Summer Internship, Field Trip, and Final Internship at BDO Kuala Lumpur" program for ICAEW CFAB+ students. Specifically, students in the CFAB+ accounting program will have the opportunity to work practically at BDO offices in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, and Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, receiving training and guidance on both technical and soft skills in a professional working environment within three months, allowing them to practice immediately after graduation.

"UEH and BDO have been ICAEW's key partners for many years. Today, we are glad to officially create a cooperation connection between three parties to provide students enrolled in UEH's CFAB+ Program with a fantastic chance that very few Vietnamese students have: a summer internship, a field trip, and a final internship. Experiencing the international professional working environment from the university will be a great start, opening up many opportunities for students to succeed in their future careers" - Ms. Elaine Hong, ICAEW Regional Director, China and South-East Asia, said at the event.

Expand the learning and experience opportunities at BDO Malaysia and Vietnam.

According to the terms of the collaboration memorandum, the three parties will agree to the following: 1) Organize career guidance programs, skill development, and cooperative activities to support students' training and development in accounting, auditing, and finance; (2) Organize summer internships and practical experience at BDO Vietnam and BDO Kuala Lumpur, as well as a final internship at BDO Kuala Lumpur, for ICAEW 2nd and 3rd-year students in the School of Accounting to develop and guide professional knowledge and soft skills necessary in a professional working environment. (3) Organize annual BDO Vietnam office trips for UEH's second and third-year ICAEW students.

Ms. Hilary Vu, Managing Partner of BDO Vietnam, stated that "BDO is one of the largest accounting firms, present in 166 countries, with 115,000 members in nearly 1,800 representative offices worldwide." BDO's solutions concentrate on people, which is why the company's slogan is "People helping people." Understanding the importance of collaboration in enhancing the tax, accounting, and finance industries for the younger generation, I am confident that our three organizations will transform their brands and broaden the pool of potential young candidates in Vietnam. We expect that the three-party MoU partnership agreement announced today will foster cooperation in student training and growth, fully preparing them to enter the tax, accounting, and finance industries".

William Lawrenson, Deputy Consul General and Head of Trade and Investment in Ho Chi Minh City, was also present at the signing event. William Lawrenson expressed his appreciation for the recently signed MOU between ICAEW, BDO, and UEH, which will help to promote educational cooperation between Vietnam and the United Kingdom. As a result, the MOU promotes the integration of ICAEW's globally recognized professional certificates into Vietnam's education system, thereby improving the quality of education in the finance and accounting sectors in Vietnam in accordance with UK educational standards and practices. This trilateral relationship intends to exchange information and skills, improve both countries' education, contribute to the development of a competent workforce, and foster long-term economic progress in Vietnam.

ICAEW constantly assists and mentors students in the CFAB+ Integrated Accounting program on their professional development journey.

ICAEW is a well-known professional organization in accounting and finance, with headquarters in London and representative offices all over the world, including Vietnam. The University of Economics Ho Chi Minh City, the country's largest financial human resource training center, collaborated with ICAEW to produce the ICAEW CFAB+ Integrated Accounting program, which will begin enrolling students in 2022.

After two years of enrollment, students of the ICAEW CFAB+ Integrated Accounting program have always affirmed their own abilities at the “International Summer Camp & Immersion Global 2023," held in Indonesia, ICAEW CFAB+ integrated accounting students won many awards and impressed universities all over the world.

In addition to ICAEW's extensive partner network in Vietnam and around the world, the CFAB+ Integrated Accounting Program at UEH will prepare students to become worldwide specialists in professional accounting and finance. Students in this program will gain extensive professional knowledge and career skills. One of the great benefits of studying the CFAB+ integrated program at UEH is the ability to gain real-world job experience with ICAEW's wide network of local and international partner organizations while still in school.

Students of UEH's ICAEW CFAB+ Integrated Accounting Program will greatly benefit from the tripartite collaboration between UEH, ICAEW, and BDO, particularly beginning this year. This collaboration not only assists students in the professions of accounting, auditing, and finance internally, but it also broadens job options overseas.