In early July, Boise State and National Economics University (NEU) in Vietnam renewed their “2+2” academic partnership program, strengthening the institutions’ 30-year relationship. The program invites Vietnamese business students to study for two years in Hanoi followed by two years in Boise to earn a Boise State degree. A delegation from Boise State including President Dr. Marlene Tromp and College of Business and Economics Dean Mark Bannister visited Hanoi to meet with NEU leaders, participate in the signing ceremony and meet with students about the program.
“Vietnam is an important partner for the U.S. in both trade and world politics,” Bannister said. “U.S. companies are aggressively building partnerships in Vietnam, opening markets for products and services and developing manufacturing alternatives to China. To increase alignment with Western nations, Vietnam recently mandated that all school children start learning English in the fifth grade. Boise State is an educational innovator, and our leadership is helping bring these two countries closer together through initiatives like the 2+2 program.”
The partnership brings Vietnamese students to complete their business degrees at Boise State. But first, students study at NEU, earning their pre-business certificates in two years. Then the students transfer to Boise State for two more years to complete their studies and earn bachelor’s degrees. Since the 2+2 program began in 2016, a handful of students took part before COVID-19 halted the exchange. This visit was a joint effort to refresh and revive the program.
Boise State’s relationship with Vietnam began in 1994 when Boise State’s Distinguished Professor Emerita Nancy Napier taught at NEU and helped establish Vietnam’s first MBA program. From 1994-1999, 84 Vietnamese government officials, businesspeople and NEU faculty members earned Boise State MBAs. Those graduates have gone on to leadership positions at NEU, received prestigious awards and established successful businesses.
During this most recent trip, Dr. Tromp and Bannister visited one of these businesses: the MK Smart Card and Vision factory in Hanoi’s industrial district. Boise State MBA alum Nguyen Trong Khang founded the company, which produces government ID smart cards and develops mobile e-commerce transactions. Khang also provides a “Khang and Friends” scholarship to support Boise State students.
The two Boise State leaders also spoke at NEU’s conference on international education partnerships and research. They highlighted the university’s collaboration with NEU and participated in a panel discussion on universities in a global world. Conference attendees included leadership from several Vietnamese universities, business leaders and the U.S. ambassador to Vietnam.
Additionally, three Boise State MBA alums recently received Vietnam’s most prestigious teaching recognitions. Vietnam’s president recognized Tran Thi Van Hoa, former vice president of NEU, with a People’s Teacher award, and Bui Duc Tho, chairman of the NEU Council, and Tran Van Nam, former NEU law school dean, with Meritorious Teacher awards.
