The event was organised by Institute for New Economic Thinking’s Young Scholars Initiative (YSI) in collaboration with VNU University of Economics and Business (UEB).

It is a platform for young economists from many research branches to gather, meet, share ideas and inspire academic work related to the social challenges of the 21st century.

This is the first time YSI Regional Convening has been held in Asia. Previous regional editions took place in Trento (Europe), Buenos Aires (Latin America), Harare (Africa) and Los Angeles (North America).

Speaking at the conference, YSI representative Jay Pocklington said having more than 500 participating scholars would make the event a great opportunity for them to exchange ideas and discuss economics.

Throughout the four-day event, young scholars will present papers in the numerous subject areas including co-operatives, development, regional issues, economic history, law and economics, gender, inequality, sustainability, urban economics, history of economic thought and many more.

Answering the question of how universities prepare students to adapt to the world's rapid development, Professor of Comparative Law at Columbia Law School and Director of the Law School’s Centre on Global Legal Transformation Katharina Pistor suggested that besides supplying basic knowledge, teachers should give students methodologies and critical thinking.

“I will give students a key to open their own doors,” Pistor told Việt Nam News.

In terms of the current economic situation of Vietnam, Rector of UEB Nguyen Truc Le told Việt Nam News: “After speaking with young scholars, I can summarise their evaluations of the Vietnamese economy in three phases: patience, dynamic and political stability.”

 Mr.Le also said he hoped YSI Asia Convening would present new ways of thinking about economics to Vietnam and the rest of the world.