University of Auckland's scholarships support students from Southeast Asia

The MoU signing ceremony between the University of Auckland and the Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology

With the borders now fully open, the University of Auckland is keen to get Southeast Asian students back on campus and has launched the University of Auckland ASEAN High Achievers Scholarship.

Applications for the scholarship open on October 10, and both undergraduate and postgraduate students can apply.

This new scholarship offering is set to reduce financial barriers for incoming students from the region to support them with the transition from online to on-campus learning. These scholarships underpin the University of Auckland’s support of its students from Southeast Asia throughout the period of border closures.

University of Auckland Interim Director International Ainslie Moore says the scholarships will be awarded biannually to students who have demonstrated high academic achievement in their previous study and are studying full-time on a wide range of undergraduate degrees, master's degrees, and postgraduate diplomas.

This work has also included the development of a Vietnam Study Hub in central Ho Chi Minh City to enhance the online learning experience for students in Vietnam while they were unable to enter New Zealand.

The Hub provided a shared space for University of Auckland students who were based in Vietnam to connect with their peers, tutors, and teachers in person while helping them to maintain their motivation and prepare for on-campus study now that border restrictions have been lifted.

Located in the Sunwah Inno Innovation Centre – a modern shared workspace in central Ho Chi Minh City – the Vietnam Study Hub provided students with a bright and freshly designed ambience to create an exceptional online learning environment.

Additionally, it provided complementary tailored services such as tutoring and career counselling, which were very beneficial for students’ progress.

The university also supported students from Malaysia, Indonesia, and Thailand by offering online learning support with a high-contact, personalised learning support programme to help students achieve their educational goals whilst the border restrictions were in place.

Dedicated Learning Advisors were made available to undergraduate students from these countries to assist in their local time zone anytime they needed a helping hand.

Throughout the pandemic, the University of Auckland continued to develop institutional partnerships across Southeast Asia to strengthen ties within the region.

This included an MoU with the Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology whereby several long-term goals were identified in areas such as joint research and credit transfer agreements allowing students the opportunity to study at both institutions throughout their degree.

New Zealand Trade Commissioner and Consul-General to Vietnam Joseph Nelson said he was pleased to see two top institutions, the Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology and the University of Auckland, working together.

“Partnerships like this are hugely important, and I look forward to seeing them progress their relationship with the creation of new pathways and new opportunities for their students,’’ he said.

With the New Zealand borders having opened to international students from August 1, the University of Auckland welcomes students from Southeast Asia back to campus with the hope that the initiatives that have been put in place throughout the pandemic will have set students on the right track to commence their studies in New Zealand in 2023.

Resiliency sets stage for New Zealand trade The Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership will unlock the potential for trade and investment ties between Vietnam and New Zealand. Tredene Dobson, New Zealand Ambassador to Vietnam, pointed out to VIR’s Thanh Van the brand new prospects of economic partnership between the two countries.

New Zealand and Vietnam to broaden cooperation On April 6, New Zealand and Vietnam voiced their commitment to extending the two countries’ trade relationship at the second New Zealand-Vietnam Agricultural Dialogue.

New Zealand provides scholarships for Vietnamese teachers Following the success of previous years, Education New Zealand will continue to offer 30 fully-funded scholarships for Vietnamese teachers to undertake the New Zealand Global Competence Certificate (NZGCC) course.