UEH News

• 23 Oct
• 2026

[UEH 50] JABES Launches Special Issue Celebrating the 50th Anniversary of UEH: 12 Research Papers Accompanying Vietnam's Development Issues

23 Oct, 2026

On the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the University of Economics Ho Chi Minh City (1976–2026), the Journal of Asian Business and Economic Studies (JABES) has launched a Special Issue featuring 12 research studies focusing on critical issues for Vietnam’s future development: higher education innovation, urban development, the establishment of an international financial center, economic growth promotion, and social welfare enhancement. Continuing UEH's academic development journey, this publication offers scientific perspectives and policy implications, affirming the role of academic knowledge in accompanying the development of Ho Chi Minh City and the nation.

The JABES Special Issue celebrating UEH’s 50th anniversary

An academic milestone on UEH’s 50-year journey

Over half a century of building and development (1976–2026), the University of Economics Ho Chi Minh City (UEH) has step by step affirmed its standing in training high-quality human resources, conducting scientific research and providing policy advice. Along that journey, the Journal of Asian Business and Economic Studies (JABES) has been one of its most important academic forums, helping to publish and disseminate research findings in the fields of economics and business.

As a scientific journal under UEH, JABES began as the Journal of Economic Development (JED); its development has been closely tied to the strong growth of scientific research at the University. JABES is currently published in 2 editions: Vietnamese (JABES-V) and English (JABES-E). The Vietnamese edition publishes 12 issues a year; the English edition has been published on the international Emerald Publishing platform since May 2018 and has been ranked Scopus Q1 since June 2023. These milestones reflect JABES’s progress in raising academic quality, broadening its connections with the international research community and helping to affirm UEH’s research capability.

Marking UEH’s half-century of service to society, JABES is publishing a Special Issue celebrating the 50th anniversary of UEH’s founding, Volume 37, Issue 10 (2026), which brings together studies of both academic and practical value, from literature reviews to policy analysis and empirical research. The issue focuses on strategic questions concerning higher education and the development of Ho Chi Minh City and Vietnam in the context of renewing the growth model and promoting science, technology, innovation and sustainable development.

Following a rigorous submission and double-blind review process, JABES selected 12 studies across 3 closely connected themes: Higher education and sustainable ecosystems; The global university and local impact; and Research methods and the measurement of social progress.

A notable feature of the Special Issue is the way it clarifies the close relationship between UEH’s development journey and the country’s major issues. Experience in transforming the university model and building an innovation ecosystem is placed in relation to the requirements of urban development, institutional improvement, and higher-quality growth and social welfare. The issue thus reflects an orientation towards promoting research of both scientific and practical value, while providing evidence and policy implications for Vietnam’s sustainable development.

12 studies: From higher education to social progress

The 12 studies in the Special Issue celebrating UEH’s 50th anniversary are organised around 3 main thematic pillars:

1. Higher education and sustainable ecosystems (5 studies): Focusing on the transformation of Vietnam’s higher education model in the context of autonomy, internationalisation and sustainable development, with UEH’s 50-year journey as a representative case study. These papers examine the transition from a single-discipline to a multidisciplinary university; the role of the university in urban and regional development through the UEH UniverCity Innovation Hub framework; and questions of social capital, educational quality assurance and the building of a learner ecosystem based on the government - university - business (Triple Helix) model of cooperation. In doing so, they open up the university’s role in connecting knowledge, driving innovation and co-creating development.
2. The global university and local impact (5 studies): Addressing macroeconomic and urban development issues in Ho Chi Minh City and Vietnam, most notably the shift to an innovation-driven growth model; the development of Ho Chi Minh City into a major service hub for the country and the region; the building of Vietnam’s International Financial Centre; and the role of capital, technology and institutions in long-term growth. In particular, these studies open up directions for Vietnam to advance towards its goal of becoming a high-income country, helping to provide scientific evidence for improving competitiveness and the quality of growth.
3. Research methods and the measurement of social progress (2 studies): Broadening perspectives on economic research methods and the assessment of development quality. One paper reviews 12,691 Web of Science publications over the period 1990–2025, pointing to directions for quantitative research in the era of big data and artificial intelligence. The other approaches the measurement of welfare and social progress in a multidimensional way, going beyond traditional economic growth indicators (Beyond GDP) towards a more comprehensive assessment of quality of life and sustainable development.

Spreading the value of research, carrying forward UEH’s knowledge mission

The JABES Special Issue celebrating UEH’s 50th anniversary stands as an academic milestone in the University’s development journey, while also directing attention to issues that matter for the future of Ho Chi Minh City and Vietnam.

Through the 12 selected studies, the issue offers source material, scientific evidence and policy implications for the research community, policymakers, managers and businesses to draw on. It also continues JABES’s orientation towards promoting research of academic and practical value, helping to broaden knowledge exchange and research cooperation at home and abroad.

On UEH’s 50-year journey, this special issue further affirms the value of scientific research in connecting knowledge with the country’s development needs. Building on an academic foundation cultivated over many generations, UEH continues to advance its mission as a co-creating university, accompanying the community and society towards a sustainable future.

News, photos: Journal of Asian Business and Economic Studies (JABES), Department of Communications and Partnership Development.