Vietnam-New Zealand partnership shaping the future of global education

How does the introduction of the New Zealand Universities Awards reflect the country’s long-term education strategy for Vietnam?

Amanda Malu, chief executive of Education New Zealand

New Zealand’s latest scholarship programmes mark a strategic step in building a comprehensive scholarship ecosystem, spanning from secondary to postgraduate education. By offering government-funded scholarships for Vietnamese students at all levels, from high school to university and beyond, New Zealand reaffirms its long-standing educational ties with Vietnam.

As Prime Minister Christopher Luxon emphasised, education has always been at the core of this relationship. These scholarships reflect New Zealand’s ongoing commitment to supporting Vietnam’s educational ambitions, recognising the crucial role education plays in Vietnam’s rapid development.

We do this because we understand how deeply education matters to the Vietnamese people, especially in a time of transformation and growth. Education is a key driver of local and national progress, and Vietnam is on an impressive upward trajectory. This is our way of supporting you, but it is also an opportunity for us.

By welcoming Vietnamese students to New Zealand, we gain the invaluable privilege of having you as part of our community and our nation. The truly matters are local students will have cultural and intellectual exchange with global students.

Beyond universities and schools, do you foresee other education sectors growing in Vietnam? What innovative initiatives does ENZ have planned?

This year, we have seen outstanding examples of educational partnerships that go beyond traditional university or school study. Today, two of New Zealand’s leading private training providers signed MOUs, demonstrating the diversity of our collaborations. Media Design School, renowned for its high-level qualifications in gaming and digital design, an area of great interest to many Vietnamese students, formalised its commitment to Vietnam.

Similarly, Pacific International Hotel Management School (PIHMS) entered into an agreement with Hai Phong Department of Education and Training, highlighting the broad spectrum of educational opportunities available.

Additionally, we witnessed the signing of an MoU between one of New Zealand’s innovative edtech companies, Neurofrog, and a Vietnamese partner agency. This collaboration will introduce a groundbreaking application designed to support child development in the first 1,000 days of life.

Based on neuroscience, this tool represents a pioneering approach to early education, even before children enter formal schooling. Such initiatives showcase the immense potential for innovation and knowledge exchange between our two countries.

Beyond attracting Vietnamese students to New Zealand, the educational relationship between our nations is evolving into deeper collaborations involving universities, businesses, and governments.

What are ENZ’s plans for expanding academic exchange programmes, joint training initiatives, or research collaborations?

In New Zealand, students have a wide range of opportunities both during their studies and after graduation. While pursuing their qualifications, they can work part-time, either in their chosen field or in other industries, gaining valuable experience along the way. For those completing high-level qualifications, New Zealand offers post-study work rights for up to three years, allowing them to further develop their careers.

Our goal is to ensure that education is just the beginning of a much deeper relationship. We want to go beyond academics, creating long-term opportunities for students to thrive in New Zealand and beyond.

How does New Zealand’s education system foster personal development and community connection for international students, particularly from Vietnam?

Whānau Āwhina Plunket is one of New Zealand’s most unique and long-standing initiatives, established over 115 years ago to support mothers and newborns. This foundation of care, support, and encouragement extends beyond early childhood and applies just as much to international education. While the approach may look different, whether nurturing a newborn or guiding a university student, the core values remain the same.

Reflecting on my own journey, my first job after university was at Lincoln University in the South Island, where I had the privilege of working with international students. What struck me most was the incredible value they bring, not just to their own education but to the learning experience of New Zealand students as well. As a small country at the bottom of the world, these global connections are invaluable, broadening perspectives, fostering friendships, and creating lifelong relationships that extend far beyond the classroom.

With your leadership experience across education, healthcare, and marketing, what innovations do you aim to introduce to enhance New Zealand’s global education standing?

At ENZ, our mission is to bring New Zealand to the global stage and showcase our world-class education providers. We understand that New Zealand is geographically distant, and choosing to study there is a significant decision.

That’s why my role, and that of the entire ENZ team, is to bring a piece of New Zealand to the world, ensuring students see how warmly they will be welcomed, how safe they will feel, and the exceptional education they will receive. Bringing a touch of New Zealand to Vietnam is part of our broader vision: making sure students recognise the incredible opportunities that await them.

Under my leadership, ENZ is committed to expanding academic exchange programmes, joint training initiatives, and research cooperation. We have dedicated representatives in Vietnam who are actively identifying opportunities to foster these partnerships, ensuring that our academic institutions and technology companies can build strong, long-term relationships.

Another crucial aspect of ENZ’s role is raising awareness of New Zealand as a top-tier education destination. Our mission is to ensure that Vietnamese students recognise New Zealand as a welcoming, safe, and world-class study environment. Ultimately, we see ourselves as ambassadors for New Zealand’s education system, committed to promoting its excellence and strengthening our ties with Vietnam.

New Zealand PM’s visit to tighten bonds with Vietnam: Ambassador New Zealand Ambassador to Vietnam Caroline Beresford described a relationship as a piece of cloth and its structure like threads woven together for strength, saying that PM Christopher Luxon’s trip to Vietnam set sights on tightening these threads, particularly in the current unpredictable global context.

Education cooperation continues between New Zealand and Vietnam New Zealand is increasing the number of scholarships for Vietnamese students by up to 56 per cent, aiming to welcome more students to experience academic and cultural exchange in the country.

New Zealand and Vietnam upgrade ties to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and his Vietnamese counterpart, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, on February 27 announced the elevation of the New Zealand-Vietnam relationship to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.