On the morning of September 14, 2026, joining the joyful atmosphere of welcoming the new academic year, the International School of Management and Economics (ISME) solemnly held the Opening Ceremony for the 22nd Cohort of the IBD@NEU International Bachelor’s Program and welcomed freshmen of the 68th Cohort of the BBAE@NEU Bachelor’s Program in Entrepreneurship & Business Development. The solemn and meaningful ceremony opened a new journey filled with trust, expectations, and the ambition of ISME’s faculty and students to conquer new heights of knowledge.
Overview of the ceremony
Attending the ceremony from external delegations were: Ms. Hoang Lan Hoa, Regional Director for Indochina at the University of the West of England (UWE) and Chief Representative of UWE in Vietnam; Mr. Tran Ngoc Duy, International Admissions and Marketing Officer at the UWE Representative Office in Vietnam; and Mr. Le Nguyen Ngoc Son (MBA.), Deputy Director of Andrews Program Development in Vietnam.
From National Economics University (NEU), attendees included Prof. Dr. To Trung Thanh, Vice President of NEU; Assoc. Prof. Dr. Vu Huy Thong, Dean of the Faculty of Marketing; Assoc. Prof. Dr. Pham The Anh, Dean of the Faculty of Economics; along with representatives from various functional departments, faculties, and institutes across the university. From the International School of Management and Economics, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Le Trung Thanh, Dean of ISME, attended along with all faculty members and staff.
Prof. Dr. To Trung Thanh – Vice President of NEU delivers the opening address
Opening the ceremony, Prof. Dr. To Trung Thanh warmly welcomed and congratulated the 255 IBD Cohort 22 students and 93 BBAE Cohort 68 students who successfully passed a highly selective entrance exam to become part of top-quality international programs at NEU. He noted that this environment is academically demanding while simultaneously enabling students to discover their potential and assert themselves.
Prof. To Trung Thanh shared that 2026 marks the 22nd year ISME continues its journey of affirming quality in admissions, training management, scientific research, student support, and pedagogical innovation—focusing on competency development and pushing international cooperation. The Vice President advised: “Seeing the excitement and joy on every freshman’s face in this hall, I understand you have just completed an exciting Orientation Week filled with connecting activities and challenges. I hope that after this past week, you have found friends who will accompany you throughout your university years, a collective you wish to build, and peers to share both the joy of discovery and academic pressures so that together, you can overcome challenges and achieve success.”
Welcome messages from partner universities to the new students
Continuing the program, the atmosphere warmed up with sincere congratulatory video messages sent from representatives of 7 international partner universities: UWE Bristol, Coventry University, Leeds Beckett University, and the University of Lincoln (UK), alongside Boise State University and Andrews University (USA).
Mr. John Andre – Faculty representative of ISME speaks at the event
Lecturer John Andre, a long-serving faculty member at ISME, reminded freshers that university is not merely about earning a degree, but a journey of accumulating knowledge, skills, and experiences. ISME provides a dynamic international environment, but success depends on individual choice and effort. He emphasized: “Put down your phones, read more, actively discuss ideas with peers, and make your own decisions. That is how your mind becomes stronger—not by memorizing answers, but by learning how to ask better questions, proactively searching for useful information, and articulating ideas clearly.”
Prof. Dr. To Trung Thanh and Assoc. Prof. Dr. Le Trung Thanh present the Valedictorian Scholarship covering 50% of tuition for the first 3 years in Vietnam
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Vu Huy Thong and Dr. Trinh Thi Thu Giang present the Valedictorian Scholarship covering 25% of tuition for the first 3 years in Vietnam
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Pham The Anh and Dr. Ho Hoang Lan present the Valedictorian Scholarship covering 15% of tuition for the first 3 years in Vietnam
Ms. Vu Hoang Oanh (M.A.) and Dr. Le Thi Huong Lan present the Smart Choice Scholarship
Ms. Nguyen Thuy Chinh (M.A.) presents the Potential Scholarship
Over the past 30 years, ISME’s staff, lecturers, and students have continually affirmed the status and quality of the IBD@NEU program, making it a premier choice for high-achieving students seeking a dynamic, challenging international environment. The entrance exam serves as the freshmen’s first taste of ISME’s teaching methods and values. To recognize students who achieved outstanding entrance results and demonstrated core values praised by the program, NEU awarded the “Valedictorian,” “Potential,” and “Smart Choice” scholarships.
Mr. Le Nguyen Ngoc Son (M.A.) and Dr. Le Thi Huong Lan present the Future Global Entrepreneur Scholarship
Aiming to gather students with strong academic capabilities and business potential to train a new generation of innovative entrepreneurs ready to elevate Vietnamese enterprises globally, NEU and Andrews University (USA) jointly awarded the “Future Global Entrepreneur” scholarship for the International Business major in 2026. Selection was based on entrance exam scores, extracurricular achievements, and entrepreneurial potential evaluated through joint interviews.
Prof. Dr. To Trung Thanh and Assoc. Prof. Dr. Le Trung Thanh present entrance scholarships to top BBAE freshers
Entering its 9th admissions cycle, the BBAE@NEU program warmly welcomed 93 new Cohort 68 students into the NEU community. This milestone affirms the prestige, quality, and global stature of NEU’s training programs. To encourage academic enthusiasm, ISME awarded prizes to 3 BBAE Cohort 68 freshers with exceptional entrance results.
Senior students Vu Trung Kien (IBD 19) and Pham Thi Tra My (BBAE 65) share insights with new students
Every year, new students are warmly welcomed by the entire ISME community. Senior students Vu Trung Kien (IBD 19) and Pham Thi Tra My (BBAE 65) offered advice: “Over three decades, generations of students have grown from ISME’s foundations. Each generation brings a unique narrative, together building the traditions and identity of ISME.”
Freshmen representatives deliver their speech
Representing the 348 incoming freshmen, Nguyen Lam Thu Phuong (IBD 22) and Nguyen Vu Ngoc Ha (BBAE 68) expressed deep gratitude to parents and faculty. They pledged: “We promise to harness our youth energy: remaining honest, responsible, and dedicated in our studies. We will strive to follow previous generations, continuing the proud traditions of NEU and ISME to become responsible citizens contributing positively to society.”
Nguyen Lam Thu Phuong (IBD 22) and Nguyen Vu Ngoc Ha (BBAE 68) present flower bouquets to faculty members in deep gratitude
The ceremony concluded in high spirits, marking the beginning of an exciting academic year full of memorable moments, learning, and growth opportunities at IBD@NEU and NEU.
Additional photos from the event:
