Working with the university management board on August 5, Mr Nhan noted that since its establishment in 2004, HCM-IU has operated well by attracting intellects from many countries across the world to return, work and do research there.

Over the past 6 years, HCM-IU – an arm of HCM City National University – has enrolled more than 2,500 students majoring in 10 economic and technical areas. All graduates have got jobs with a monthly minimum salary of VND9 million each.

In 2009 its IT faculty met the international academic standards of the ASEAN University Network (AUN). The university aims to have all faculties accredited by AUN in 2011 and its technical faculty recognised by the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET) – a US organisation that accredits university programmes in applied science, computing, engineering, and technology, in 2017.

Its annual operational expenses amount to VND49 billion, of which tuition fees make up 95.6 percent. 

Deputy PM Nhan encouraged the university to finalise policies to attract more foreign students and be highly rated among institutions in Asia.

He said the government would consider the university’s VND900 billion financial proposal to upgrade its facilities and expand operations in the next 10 years to turn it into one of the leading institutions in the region.