An interview with Mr Nguyen Van Truong, the rector of the National Economics University
What do you think about the proposal of setting up international standardised universities in Vietnam at the recent National University Conference?
Currently, the university education of Vietnam is not in tune with reality. Hence, university qualifications have not been recognised by the rest of the world. To avoid wastefulness in overseas study, the conference put forward a proposal to establish international standardised universities in Vietnam in order to reinforce and meet the human resource demand as the country integrates more deeply into the world economy.
There are two ways to reach the target: the private sector will be allowed to set up universities or the State will invest in existing prestigious universities to upgrade them into internationals. I support the second one because selected universities have good students, experience and cooperation with international universities, and need less time to upgrade facilities. However, to bring this model to success, I forecast Vietnam needs at least 10 years.
Your university is considered a training cradle for economic fields. So, can you tell the international cooperation of your academy and the preparation for settling trade conflicts in the global economic integration process?
At present, the Hanoi-based National Economics University has cooperation with nearly 100 universities and institutes in 30 countries worldwide and with international organisations via training cooperation projects and scientific studies. In particular, the university coordinates and cooperates with world-famous universities to conduct studies of Vietnam’s economy in the transitional phase to serve the economic development orientation works of the Government. Furthermore, our school worked with Stockholm University to study “Vietnam-ASEAN Trade Relations,” with the Australian National University to do research on “Vietnam Export Policy.”
Our training programmes covers all integration issues for enterprises like competition, taxes, international contracts and trade disputes. The Faculty of Economic Laws generalises all specialised knowledge related to economic laws like international trade, trade dispute settlement in accordance with bilateral and multilateral agreements and most favoured nation (MFN) status. The department also sends its students to academic seminars or enterprises to acquire practical knowledge. In addition, the university also opened the Legal Training and Consulting Centre to link students and enterprises. Thanks to fostering courses on business and trade contracts and legal knowledge, company directors are able to orient, manage and control operations their enterprises in line with the international law, avoiding risks in international trade conflicts and approaching all investment opportunities. Also, lecturers have more knowledge after exchanging with enterprises and then transmit it to their students.
Can you tell us about the major achievements of your reputed economic university after 50 years of development?
In training, the size and quality are ceaselessly improved. The size of training levels has expanded by 10 times, enabling the school to supply economists and administrators for the country. To date, the university has trained 95,000 bachelors, 2,500 masters and 754 doctors. Many economists and administrators are working very well for the State or enterprises.
In scientific research, the school has presided over many programmes and projects at different levels to contribute to the reform of the macro management policy and mechanism and enterprise operating method. For example, the university takes part in building strategies and compiling Political Reports for the Party Congress VII, VIII and IX, “Renewing and perfecting economic policies and economic management mechanisms” and others.
Reported by Le Hien
Vietnamese
