International Exchange Program between MBA Students from Xiamen University's School of Management and UEH's Executive MBA (EMBA) Students

26 Nov, 2025

On November 23, 2025, at Campus A, the University of Economics Ho Chi Minh City (UEH) hosted an International Exchange Program between MBA students from the School of Management at Xiamen University (XMU) and students from UEH's Executive MBA (EMBA) program. The event, themed "Exploring Vietnam's Investment Environment and Future Development Orientations," served as a forum for academic and professional exchange, featuring economic experts discussing Vietnam's business environment and investment experiences, while also creating a networking space for students and entrepreneurs from both universities.

An overview of the exchange program between the two universities

Attending the program from UEH were: Assoc. Prof. Dr. Pham Khanh Nam – Head of the Department of Research - Development and Global Engagement (RDGE); Dr. Thai Kim Phung – Standing Deputy Head of the Department of Communications and Partnerships; Assoc. Prof. Dr. Pham Duong Phuong Thao – Deputy Head of RDGE; Assoc. Prof. Dr. Tu Van Binh – Deputy Head of the Department of Training; along with students from UEH's EMBA program.

From the School of Management at Xiamen University, attendees included: Mr. Zhang Mingzhi – Secretary of the Party Committee; Prof. Qu Wenchu – Director of the MBA Center; and Ms. Guo Jianing – Director of Training; along with over 30 students from XMU's MBA program.

Representing the co-organizing units were Mr. Le Tu Minh – Chairman of the Board, IMG Investment Joint Stock Company; Mr. Le Duy Anh – Vice Chairman of the Board, IMG Investment Joint Stock Company; and Mr. Ha Dong – Chairman of the Members' Council, Shenzhen-Vietnam United Investment Co., Ltd.

The program also featured a distinguished panel of expert speakers, including: Assoc. Prof. Dr. Hoang Khac Lich – Member of the Party Committee, Vice Rector of the School of Economics, Vietnam National University, Hanoi; Dr. Nguyen Quoc Viet – Head of Vietnam Economic and Policy Research (VEPR), School of Economics, Vietnam National University, Hanoi; Dr. Tran Du Lich – Chairman of the Advisory Council and former Director of the Ho Chi Minh City Institute for Economics Research; and Mr. Le Hoang Chau – Chairman of the Ho Chi Minh City Real Estate Association (HoREA).

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Pham Khanh Nam – Head of the RDGE, delivering his opening remarks

In his opening speech, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Pham Khanh Nam welcomed and thanked the delegates:
"UEH has always considered educational internationalization a key pillar of its development strategy. UEH and Xiamen University signed an MOU last year, establishing a solid foundation for cooperation. I hope that following today's exchange, our two universities will continue to expand our connections in training, research, and student exchange, and launch more joint projects. This program will offer profound insights and open up new opportunities for future collaboration. I wish the MBA and EMBA students from both universities a meaningful academic and cultural experience," shared Assoc. Prof. Dr. Pham Khanh Nam.

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Pham Khanh Nam receiving a token of appreciation from IMG Investment Join Stock Company

Mr. Zhang Mingzhi, Secretary of the Party Committee at Xiamen University's School of Management, and Mr. Le Tu Minh, Chairman of the Board at IMG Investment Corporation, took a commemorative photo

The program featured six in-depth presentation and dialogue sessions, comprising three panels with research and policy experts, and three sessions sharing practical experiences from the business sector.

The panels focused on analyzing macroeconomic trends, investment attraction policies, and the outlook for Vietnam's real estate market. Additionally, the program offered practical perspectives on business operations, project implementation experience, and foreign direct investment (FDI) trends in Vietnam, providing a comprehensive and multidimensional picture of the investment environment in the new phase.

Kicking off the sessions, Dr. Tran Du Lich - Chairman of the Advisory Council and former Director of the Ho Chi Minh City Institute for Economics Research - shared his insights on Vietnam's economic development potential over the next decade, emphasizing that the country is now at a point where all factors have "converged" for it to begin "a new era of ascendance."

Dr. Tran Du Lich - Chairman of the Advisory Council and former Director of the Ho Chi Minh City Institute for Economics Research - sharing his perspective

Following this, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Tu Van Binh - Deputy Head of the Department of Training - presented a report on the foreign direct investment (FDI) situation in Vietnam in recent years and the policies to attract FDI in the coming years, outlining both the advantages and challenges in promoting this investment flow.

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Tu Van Binh - Deputy Head of the Department of Training, delivering his presentation

Dr. Nguyen Quoc Viet - Head of Vietnam Economic and Policy Research (VEPR) - continued the discussion with a presentation on the macroeconomic landscape and the interplay between administrative, investment, and real estate policies in Vietnam's development.

Dr. Nguyen Quoc Viet - Head of Vietnam Economic and Policy Research (VEPR) - presenting his research

Building on these foundational insights, Mr. Le Hoang Chau - Chairman of the Ho Chi Minh City Real Estate Association (HOREA) - discussed the development potential of the real estate market over the next 10 years. Dr. Le Tu Minh - Chairman of the Board, IMG Investment Joint Stock Company - offered a practical business perspective on the domestic economy, addressing the question of whether Chinese investors should enter the Vietnamese market.

Mr. Le Hoang Chau - Chairman of HOREA and Dr. Le Tu Minh - Chairman of the Board, IMG Investment Joint Stock Company sharing their insights

To conclude the presentation sessions, Mr. Zhang Mingzhi – Party Committee Secretary of the School of Management, Xiamen University, on behalf of the university, extended his gratitude to the speakers and shared insights from the perspective of Chinese investors when considering suitable investment markets. He expressed his optimism for strengthening investment cooperation between Vietnam and China.

Mr. Zhang Mingzhi speaking on behalf of Xiamen University's School of Management

An MBA student from Xiamen University's School of Management posing a question to the panel

The international exchange program successfully strengthened the bond between the two universities. Through expert presentations, Q&A sessions, and cultural exchange, students from both sides had the opportunity to share practical experiences, learn about modern management trends, and expand their professional networks.

In the context of Vietnam entering a new era of robust digital economic development, innovation, and deep international integration, this exchange becomes even more significant. The activity not only facilitates knowledge sharing but also helps build a network of future leaders with a global mindset and the ability to adapt to a rapidly changing business environment. The event also exemplifies the close connection between academia, industry, and both domestic and international partners in advancing education and training to supply high-quality human resources for society.