On 4 July 2017, National Economics University and British Council Vietnam signed Action Plan 2017 which refers to put enterpreneurial spirit into teaching and research.
Attending the ceremony, from British Council Vietnam, there were Ms. Cherry Gough - Director and Ms. Tran Thi Hong Gam - Development and Society Manager. From NEU, there were Prof. Dr. Tran Tho Dat - President, Assoc Prof. Dr. Bui Duc Tho - Director of Scientific Management Department, MA. Pham Sy Long - Deputy Director of International Cooperation Department, Assoc Prof. Dr. Truong Nam Thang - Director of NEU Center for Social Innovation and Entrepreneurship, MA. Nguyen Bich Ngoc - Deputy Secretary of NEU Youth Union.
Speaking at the ceremony, Prof. Dr. Tran Tho Dat warmly welcomed delegates of British Council and appreciated collaborative activities between the two sides in 2015 and 2016. During the last two years, NEU and BC had organized many activities under the terms of MOU such as annual international conferences, training courses for lecturers, field trips and the like.
Ms. Cherry Gough expressed her impression about strong relationship between NEU and BC. She also hoped to strengthen the cooperation between two sides especially in improving English capacity for NEU students, promoting social and start-up activities among students.
One of the most dramatic results of NEU - BC collaboration is the establishment of NEU Center for Social Innovation and Entrepreneurship in February 2017 which is the first center for social innovation and entrepreneurship in Vietnam.
Within the Action Plan 2017, there are four main cooperative areas: co-organizing annual international conferences on social innovation, organizing training courses and national competition for innovation. Furthermore, British Council also acknowledged the comprehensive Memorandum of Understanding between NEU and University of Northampton as key outcome of this partnership.