Following the achievements gained in the previous years; with the drastic and synchronous directives given by the Party Committee, Board of Management and leaders at different levels; and thanks to the efforts made by faculty and staff, VNU University of Economics and Business had gained significant results in 2012. Specifically, the quantity of articles published in international journals increased strongly, and some of the research projects achieved ministerial and VNU leveled prizes; the commencement for the students attending the very first bachelor academic program at international standards in business administration was organized; a number of the state-leveled research projects were bidden successfully by the faculty; the University organized and co-organized large-scaled domestic and/or international workshops which were expected to have high spillover effects on the society such as Vietnam Economic Annual Report 2012 launching workshop, the international conference on Sustainable Production and Environmental Management and the 4^th international Vietnamese Studies symposium. Moreover, the University had the first faculty assigned as a highly ranked lecturer and two others recognized as associate professors. Remarkably, the University implemented short-term activities in collaboration with localities and/or enterprises nationwide as such Hanoi, Hoa Binh, Yen Bai, Phu Tho, Vietnam Petrolex Group, etc. as breakthrough steps for its own growth and the well being of the country. The University also invested a lot of resources in upgrading its material conditions.
Particularly, VNU University of Economics and Business achieved national accreditation standards required for a training institution by VNU. It was the first VNU’s school that carried out an internal evaluation for the training quality according to AUN.
In 2013, Vietnam introduces the renewed higher education law and the resolution of the sixth plenary meeting of the eleventh Party Central Committee on the “science and technology development to serve the country’s industrialization and modernization in the context of socialist-oriented market economy and international integration ” and the conclusions of the project “basic and full renovation of education and training to serve the country’s industrialization and modernization in the context of socialist-oriented market economy and international integration”. Also in this year, the legal status of VNU was stated in the law with a new resolution and regulations of operation. As a result, VNU University of Economics and Business has both opportunities and challenges for its development. One of the opportunities that the University will enjoy is that its goal is in compliance with the national development trends as well as with the efforts to improve the quality of the whole education system. The challenges the University will face include: first, it is required to adapt itself due to changes; second, it should be able to meet increasing requirements of the quality and to improve its competitiveness in the context of international integration and limited human resources, especially the shortage of the teaching staff for particularly specialized academic programs; and third, limitations of materials, mechanism and policies.
Therefore, we should make the best use of the strengths that we have had (e.g.: unity, consensus; creativity, renovation), seize opportunities, and overcome challenges for improved quality and effectiveness. Particularly, we should:
1. Be self confident and persistent to pursue the set goals: We should feel strong about the results that we have achieved; identify the challenges we need to overcome; and patiently follow the priority goals of improved quality and efficiency in providing educational, research and consultancy services for the sustainability of the University.
2. Review, amend, and introduce the policies to be in line with the new contexts: In order to catch up with the amended policies, we need review, adjust and issue policies for systematical  management; coordinate smoothly in implementing new policies assigned by higher ranked superiors; attach all activities of the school to accreditation; recognize good management and administration as an important key to improve the quality and efficiency of the University’s activities.
3. Go on improving the quality of education and research through: Opening new academic programs with high quality to meet the needs of the society, promoting the advantages that the University has; bidding for more national and/or international research programs with a focus on sustainable development; increasing the number of papers published in international scientific workshops; promoting consultant services; enhancing short-term training activities for localities and/or ministries focusing on the Government’s programs such as the Northwest, Central highland sprograms of which the training activities must always be associated with research and practices.
4. Continue to maintain good workplaces: We try to improvethe working environment as much as we can and promise to allocate the sources for individuals and groups of staff to complete assigned tasks. A working environment considered good should include: staff and faculty are created favorable conditions to work, teach and research; they are provided with opportunities to attend training, build capacity and exchanges; facilities are modernized to serve all activities; good culture creates community cohesion; income commensurate with dedication.
5. Continue to maintain consensus, promote unity and strength of collective wisdom: Solidarity, consensus, especially the determination of the leaders together with energy, passion and enthusiasm of the staff and faculty is a pre-condition for the successofall activities pf the University. Therefore, we need to focus on maintaining and promoting the political ideology, leadership and give directives to the activities to encourage individual staff and faculty to make intellectual contributions to the University’s growth and create consensus in most cases.
For the past years, we have witnessed VNU’s impressive development with right guidelines and directives inleading and connecting its member universities. We are proud to see VNU University of Economics and Business have been able to catch up quickly with the development of VNU. Therefore, we have been entrusted by VNU's leaders, invested, and assigned “new” tasks. So we should continue to maintain "the spiritof pioneering", meaning we are ready to receive and fulfill the assigned tasks. Besides, we also look forwards to VNU’s new changes that may create further spillover effectsfor the development of VNU and member universities. We hope we will go on to receive strong supports and effective investment of VNU.
Based on the five year achievements, intellectuality, youth, unity and with VNU University of Economics and Business’s creativity, breakthrough, quality, and effectiveness, I do believe that we will overcome challenges, look forwards to the bright future, and ready to fulfill the goals set for the year 2013.
I wish VNU and UEB a prosperous year!