University of Queensland opens office in Vietnam

The University of Queensland has established an office in Hanoi, Vietnam, to tap the country's fledgling education market.

In a joint venture with the Vietnam Institute of Physics (VIP), the University began operating an office in VIP's premises in January.

The University's VIP office is the initiative of Engineering, Physical Sciences and Architecture Faculty executive dean Professor Paul Greenfield; Dr Shantha Liyanage, a senior lecturer in the Technology Management Centre; and Nick Volk, of the University's technology transfer company, UniQuest.

Professor Greenfield will officially launch the University's programs offered through the office in April.

Professor Greenfield said the office was established as a low-cost exploratory operation, to ascertain market interest and create a presence in Vietnam, with a view to developing and delivering courses, collaborative research and eventually exchange programs.

He said the Institute's headquarters provided an appropriate networking link for the Faculty, but the office was set up to cater for and to promote the activities of all disciplines offered by the University of Queensland.

'We've set limited benchmarks for the first year of operation and we don't envisage attracting thousands of students in the short-term.'

The University's VIP office this year will run technology management courses for Vietnamese industry and government including a program for the entire Vietnamese telecommunications industry.

Dr Liyanage said the Vietnamese people seemed eager to participate in commercial and training opportunities provided by the University.

VIP Professor Tran Duc Chinh is director and Vuong Thuy Ha the administrative officer of the University's VIP office, which is located near the Australian Embassy.

For more information about the office, contact Professor Greenfield (telephone 3365 3329) or Dr Liyanage (telephone 3365 3922).