New Zealand strengthens educational cooperation with Vietnam

During Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern's visit, a special event for New Zealand alumni was held in Ho Chi Minh City that gathered more than 100 guests including nearly 70 alumni of the University of Auckland, Massey University, University of Otago, and the University of Waikato.

The event aimed to strengthen connections with the alumni community in Vietnam and recognise their support for and contributions to the country, as well as their important bridging role in the cooperation relationship between the two countries. The event was also an opportunity to honour successful businesses and projects in a variety of fields that former international students have initiated since returning to Vietnam.

Prime minister Ardern giving a speech at New Zealand Alumni Night

At the event, the prime minister also announced the launch of the I AM NEW digital badge, which is dedicated to New Zealand alumni in Vietnam. “NEW” is a proud name for New Zealand international students because after their journey living and studying in this beautiful country, each individual will accumulate new experiences and a new mindset to become a new version of themselves.

With this innovative badge, the alumni can change their avatar on social platforms such as Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn to show their pride and strengthen the bond within the community of New Zealand alumni.

Ben Burrowes, Asia regional director of Education New Zealand shared, “No one is in a better position to describe the value of a New Zealand education than those who have experienced it personally. Our alumni are highly valued ambassadors, with many progressing to senior roles during their careers.”

In 2021, Vietnam was the fourth largest group of international students studying with New Zealand's providers, with around half of the Vietnamese students enrolled in universities. New Zealanders also benefit from international students as they bring their stories, their culture, and their perspectives to the nation. Thanks to this, students from different countries can learn from each other and build a future that is connected, strong, and adaptable.

The two prime ministers witnessed the re-signing of the Education Cooperation Agreement between the Vietnamese Ministry of Education and Training and New Zealand's Ministry of Education

On November 14, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern witnessed the re-signing of the Education Cooperation Agreement between the Vietnamese Ministry of Education and Training and the New Zealand Ministry of Education.

The two sides will continue to make efforts to strengthen, promote, and develop cooperation in education on the basis of mutual benefits and expanded cooperation. The fields will range from preschool to primary education and secondary schools, and from higher education to national training frameworks and English language training.

Based on that premise, the seminar "Promoting educational cooperation between Vietnam and New Zealand in the new context" was held at the Ministry of Education and Training with the participation of Deputy Minister Nguyen Van Phuc and Grant McPherson, CEO of Education New Zealand, together with the New Zealand education delegation.

At the seminar, representatives of New Zealand and Vietnam exchanged many experiences in the field of education and training such as autonomy at the institutional level, enhancing the communications and impact of New Zealand and Vietnam's government scholarships, investment and collaboration in international education, and more.

The New Zealand Scholarships for International Tertiary Students (now Manaaki New Zealand Scholarships) is a postgraduate training scholarship (including PhD) programme available for Vietnamese students. As of 2020, 350 Vietnamese students have been awarded this scholarship.

Meanwhile, the Prime Minister's Scholarships for Asia (PMSA) is an initiative that provides opportunities for New Zealand's students to study and do internships in Asian countries. As of 2019, 143 students have studied or practised in Vietnam through PMSA scholarships. In 2022, 27 groups of students and two individuals won PMSA scholarships for study and internship programmes in Vietnam.

Representatives from the University of Auckland and the Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology signing the partnership agreement

During the seminar, the University of Auckland and the Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology signed a partnership agreement to deploy joint training programmes for students of the Faculty of Computer Science and Engineering.

Burrowes said, “This visit is of great value to the educational exchange between both countries. We have re-signed the Education Cooperation Agreement with the hope of developing pathways for Vietnamese students to successfully complete their studies in New Zealand.”

In October, the New Zealand education fairs were jointly organised by Education New Zealand, the New Zealand Consulate General, and the New Zealand Embassy. The two fairs took place in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City with the participation of more than 40 of New Zealand's leading educational institutions. They attracted nearly 1,000 parents and students, which shows a positive signal for the interest in a New Zealand education.

New Zealand Education Fair returns to Vietnam The New Zealand Education Fair 2022, the largest annual event covering New Zealand education, will officially return on October 29 and 30 in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, respectively.

Nearly 1,000 Vietnamese parents and students joined New Zealand Education Fair 2022 New Zealand Education Fair 2022, the largest annual event on New Zealand education, officially returned on October 29 in Hanoi and October 30 in Ho Chi Minh City, attracting nearly 1,000 attendees.

ENZ: Connection through education On October 29 and 30, Education New Zealand (ENZ) coordinated with the New Zealand Embassy and the New Zealand Consulate General to organize the New Zealand Education Fair 2022. The event brought together more than 40 educational institutions from New Zealand to directly consult Vietnamese students and parents on study-abroad opportunities. Lisa Futschek, general manager of International at ENZ talked to VIR's Linh Le about the benefits of New Zealand education and emerging trends in the industry.