{"id":238479,"date":"2026-08-04T08:15:35","date_gmt":"2026-08-04T18:15:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/?p=238479"},"modified":"2026-08-03T15:37:18","modified_gmt":"2026-08-04T01:37:18","slug":"vemba-25th-anniversary","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/2026\/08\/04\/vemba-25th-anniversary\/","title":{"rendered":"糖心视频<\/abbr>\u2019s Vietnam Executive MBA<\/abbr> program marks 25 years of impact"},"content":{"rendered":"Reading time: <\/span> 2<\/span> minutes<\/span><\/span>
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VEMBA<\/abbr> alumni gather at the Meliá Hanoi Hotel in Hanoi on July 8 to celebrate the program\u2019s 25th anniversary.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The University of Hawaiʻi<\/span> at M\u0101noa\u2019s Shidler College of Business<\/a> is celebrating the 25th anniversary of its Vietnam Executive MBA<\/abbr> program<\/a> (VEMBA<\/abbr>), marking a quarter century of preparing business leaders and strengthening economic and educational ties between Hawaiʻi<\/span> and Vietnam.<\/p>\n

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VEMBA<\/abbr> alumni gathered at The Reverie Saigon in Ho Chi Minh City on July 11 to celebrate the 25th anniversary.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

To mark the milestone, hundreds of alumni representing all 33 VEMBA<\/abbr> cohorts joined faculty, university leaders and distinguished guests at anniversary celebrations in Vietnam. Held in both Hanoi, where the program welcomed its first cohort, and Ho Chi Minh City, where it later expanded to meet growing demand, the events honored a quarter century of academic excellence, international partnership and leadership development.<\/p>\n

Since its founding in 2001, VEMBA<\/abbr> has graduated more than 1,000 business leaders who now serve in executive roles across Vietnam and beyond.<\/p>\n

“The VEMBA<\/abbr> program is the only program of its kind and has established itself as a leader in executive education in Vietnam,” said Shidler College of Business Dean Vance Roley. “As we celebrate this milestone, we also look toward the future by expanding our impact throughout Southeast Asia while continuing to strengthen the global network that has become one of VEMBA<\/abbr>‘s greatest strengths.”<\/p>\n

Bold vision to a nationwide network<\/h2>\n

VEMBA<\/abbr> traces its roots to a 1997 United States Agency for International Development-funded initiative that brought Shidler faculty to Vietnam to help train business educators as the country transitioned to a market economy. That effort inspired the creation of Vietnam\u2019s first Executive MBA<\/abbr> program offered by an American university. The inaugural cohort welcomed 29 executives in Hanoi in 2001, followed by the program\u2019s expansion to Ho Chi Minh City in 2007. In 2024, VEMBA<\/abbr> evolved into one nationwide cohort, further strengthening connections among executives across the country.<\/p>\n

Today, more than 1,000 graduates from 33 cohorts representing 21 countries comprise one of Vietnam\u2019s most influential executive leadership networks. Alumni serve as CEO<\/abbr>s, founders and senior executives across major industries.<\/p>\n

Tung Bui, professor of information technology management, Matson Navigation Company Chair of Global Business and longtime faculty director of VEMBA<\/abbr>, noted that the program has grown alongside Vietnam\u2019s own economic transformation.<\/p>\n

“Twenty-five years ago, the primary concern of VEMBA<\/abbr> students was how to optimize operations, improve accounting systems and refine internal human resource management,” Bui said. “Today, our executives are thinking much bigger and looking outward. The most vibrant classroom discussions now revolve around artificial intelligence, global branding, exports and navigating international supply chains.”<\/p>\n

For the entire story and information on how to support the Shidler College of Business, visit this link<\/a>.<\/p>\n