Memorable Milestones

UEH Agribusiness has experienced many ups and downs. There was even a time when students hesitated to reveal who they were or what they were studying! Fortunately, those days are behind us.

In the past, the pioneers named the program after the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, with the mission of training human resources for the state-owned sector. Graduates typically worked in positions related to agricultural economic management, local agricultural extension, or planning departments within food companies or cooperatives.

Then, as the private sector expanded, numerous agricultural enterprises, including multinational corporations, emerged. They demanded graduates with extensive knowledge and business skills. Agricultural Economics and Rural Development started to lose relevance. We adapted to embrace a new mission.

Dr. Lê Thanh Loan (Head, Department of Agricultural and Environmental Economics, 2021 to now)

From 2021 to now

  • Becoming the Agribusiness Program under the Agriculture field (76201), part of the Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries sector (762) – Circular 09/2022/TT-BGDĐT.
  • International standard curriculum with partial English instruction.
  • Integration of sustainable development into the curriculum (Cohort 49 – 2023). 
  • Integration of digital transformation into the curriculum (Cohort 50 – 2024).
  • Dual-degree programs integrated with International Business and Logistics & Supply Chain Management. This vision and determination are attributed to Prof. Dr. Pham Khanh Nam, former Dean of the School of Economics and Head of the Environmental and Natural Resource Economics Department.
Prof. Dr. Phạm Khánh Nam (President, College of Economics, Law and Government - CELG)

  • During UEH University’s comprehensive curriculum revision in 2021, the Agricultural Economics and Business specialization officially became the Agribusiness program (Code: 7620114). The new curriculum was designed with reference to three of the world’s leading universities in Agribusiness: Purdue University (USA), Newcastle University (UK), and the University of Queensland (Australia).

  • Key features of the new curriculum: 1) Closely aligns with the core content of the benchmark universities; 2) Reduces courses in economics and policy, replacing them with new courses tailored to business operations in enterprises; 3) Easily integrates with dual-degree programs in other business fields; 4) Offers a wide range of elective courses based on students’ career orientations; 5) Uses 100% international textbooks and references being adopted by leading universities worldwide. 

  • Thanks to these changes and UEH’s strategy of promoting integrated dual-degree programs, the Agribusiness program has successfully launched two dual-degree programs with International Business and Logistics & Supply Chain Management, two of the most competitive fields in recent years. With these dual-degree offerings, the Agribusiness program has consistently met its enrollment targets since Cohort 47, with significantly increased admission scores (25-26 points, admission method 6). As a result, academic quality has improved.

  • Enrollment Results: Cohort 47: 45 students; Cohort 48: 50 students; Cohort 49: 45 students; and Cohort 50: 55 students. Over 80% of students chose integrated dual-degree programs, and this figure continues to grow each year.

  • From Cohort 49, the university revised the curriculum to include more content on sustainable development and digital transformation. The Agribusiness program also made adjustments to enhance its curriculum to meet employer demands. Starting with Cohort 50, the program introduced a partially English-taught curriculum, with five courses delivered in English.

2016-2020 period

  • Merging the Department of Agricultural Economics and Rural Development with the Department of Environmental Economics and Natural Resources into the Department of Agricultural and Environmental Economics.
  • Revising the curriculum and renaming the Agricultural Economics specialization to Agricultural Economics and Business (2018).
  • Renaming the Agricultural Economics and Rural Development specialization to Agricultural Economics (2016).
  • Implementing the Agricultural Economics and Business specialization at UEH – Vinh Long campus.
  • Dr. Trần Tiến Khai (former Head of the Department of Agricultural Economics and Rural Development) was reassigned to the position of Deputy Director of the Department of International Cooperation and Scientific Research.
  • There were also other personnel changes in both departments.
Mr. Phùng Thanh Bình (Head of Department of Agricultural and Environmental Economics, 2016-2020; Agribusiness program Director, 2021 to now)

  • In June 2016, the University of Economics Ho Chi Minh City merged the Department of Agricultural Economics and Rural Development (Head of Department: Dr. Trần Tiến Khai) with the Department of Environmental Economics and Natural Resources (Head of Department: Dr. Phạm Khánh Nam) to form the Department of Agricultural and Environmental Economics. The new department manages the Agricultural Economics specialization and the courses previously handled by the two former departments.

  • In September 2016, the University of Economics Ho Chi Minh City conducted a comprehensive review and adjustment of the curricula. The Agricultural Economics and Rural Development specialization (133 credits, 8 semesters) was renamed to the Agricultural Economics specialization (124 credits, 7 semesters), with notable reductions in courses such as Political Theory, Advanced Mathematics, and Probability Theory, as well as the removal of rural development courses. This specialization applied to cohorts 42 and 43

  • In March 2019, the University of Economics Ho Chi Minh City made further adjustments to the curricula. While remaining part of the Economics department, specializations were allowed to reduce some common courses from the School of Economics to increase the focus on specialized knowledge. The Agricultural Economics specialization was renamed Agricultural Economics and Business (120 credits, 7 semesters). This new specialization applied to cohorts 44, 45, and 46.

  • Thanks to adjustments aligned with the business activities of enterprises, the specialization has seen successful student recruitment (specifically: Cohort 42: 24 students; Cohort 43: 43 students; Cohort 44: 47 students; Cohort 45: 45 students; Cohort 46: 61 students, with 18 students at UEH – Vinh Long campus).

  • Starting from cohort 46 (2020), the Agricultural Economics and Business specialization began enrolling students at UEH – Vinh Long campus to contribute to training high-quality human resources for the Mekong Delta region. The curriculum and quality of education at UEH – Vinh Long campus are exactly the same as those at the Ho Chi Minh City campus. Students at UEH – Vinh Long study the first 5 semesters at the Vinh Long campus and the last 2 semesters at the Ho Chi Minh City campus.

  • Thanks to the collaborative efforts with businesses, the department has organized many practical experience-sharing sessions from managers and company visits. Over 90% of students intern in the private sector and secure appropriate jobs. Many students have completed various master’s programs both domestically and internationally.

  • During this period, the department underwent significant personnel changes: (1) Dr. Trần Tiến Khai transferred to the position of Deputy Director of the Department of International Cooperation and Scientific Research, later becoming the Director of the Department of Quality Assurance and Program Development; (2) Dr. Nguyễn Tấn Khuyên transferred to the position of Head of Continuing Education Department, later becoming the Director of the Department of Legal and Compliance Inspection; (3) Dr. Nguyễn Ngọc Vinh transferred to the position of Director of the Institute for Economic Development Research (IDR), later becoming the Deputy Director of the Institute for Regional Development Research and Consulting (IRDRC).

1993-2015 period

  • The Faculty of Development Economics was established in 1993, followed by the School of Economics in 2013. 
  • Agricultural Economics and Rural Development was an important field of study in the early years of the period, but later declined. 
  • Dr. Trần Tiến Khai initiated the idea of transitioning to Agribusiness program in line with global trends.
Prof. Dr. Trần Tiến Khai (Head, Department of Agricultural Economics and Rural Development, 2012-2016)

  • In 1993, the Faculty of Development Economics was established through the merger of two faculties: the Faculty of Planning – Price – Labor and the Faculty of Agricultural Economics and Rural Development.

  • The School of Economics offered specializations in Economics, Agricultural Economics and Rural Development, Planning and Investment Economics (now Investment Economics), and later, Labor Economics (from cohort 23, later renamed Labor Economics and Human Resource Management, and currently Human Resource Management).

  • The specialization in Valuation Economics (now Valuation and Asset Management program) started to be taught from cohort 28, and the specialization in Real Estate Economics (now Real Estate program) began from cohort 32.

  • Agricultural Economics and Rural Development expanded for those intending to work in the private sector. However, as more specializations were introduced and the demand for agricultural economics management staff declined, the number of students choosing this specialization significantly decreased. Cohorts 38 to 41 did not meet the student enrollment target, and therefore no classes were offered (despite the university applying several tuition discount policies).

  • Học phần Kinh tế nông nghiệp là học phần bắt buộc giảng dạy cho toàn Trường Đại học Kinh tế TP.HCM [giai đoạn 1993-1996: Trường Đại học Kinh tế củ; từ 1997 sáp nhập Trường Đại học Kinh tế TP.HCM với Đại học Tài chính TP.HCM (Cơ sở B bây giờ), và Khoa kinh tế thuộc Đại học Tổng Hợp TP.HCM cũ. Từ khóa 28 đến 41, học phần này chỉ là học phần bắt buộc đối với các ngành Kinh tế. he Agricultural Economics course was a compulsory course for all students at the University of Economics Ho Chi Minh City [from 1993-1996: the former University of Economics; from 1997, the University of Economics Ho Chi Minh City merged with the University of Finance Ho Chi Minh City (now Campus B), and the Faculty of Economics from the former Comprehensive University]. From cohort 28 to cohort 41, this course was only compulsory for Economics specializations.

  • In 2013, the Faculty of Development Economics was renamed the School of Economics.

1976-1992 period

  • Agricultural Economics and Rural Development was a training faculty. 

  • Faculty of Agricultural Economics and Rural Development trained many economic management officers for southern provinces and state-owned enterprises.

  • It had played an important role in shaping agricultural and rural development policies during the Renovation period.

Campus H used to be a second home to many generations of faculty members of the School of Economics.
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