Post-graduate Scholarship Programs - UQ collaborates with top Vietnamese Universities

Post-graduate Scholarship Programs - UQ collaborates with top Vietnamese Universities

The University of Queensland has entered into a number of ground-breaking post-graduate scholarship and staff doctoral development agreements with three of the major universities of Vietnam.

The agreements, involving programs worth an estimated US$4.1 million (A$7 million) were announced today by UQ Deputy Vice-Chancellor (International and Development), Professor Trevor Grigg.

Professor Grigg, who has just returned from Vietnam, said the agreements were a major achievement.

'These collaborations between The University of Queensland and the three universities in Vietnam signal the beginnings of a major commitment by UQ to participate in the development of higher education and research in Vietnam,' he said.

The agreements involve:

 A five-year program to provide 15 fully funded scholarships a year for graduates of the Vietnam National University - Hanoi, to undertake post-graduate masters studies at The University of Queensland in Brisbane, Australia;

 Confirmation that a similar 5 year program involving the Vietnam National University - Ho Chi Minh City, will continue into its second year;

 An initial 18 month doctoral support program with the University of Danang, whereby 18 staff of that university who are undertaking PhD studies in Vietnam, will spend up to 6 months at UQ in order to gain access to staff expertise, research resources, library services and various research development and training programs;

 A similar 12 month program with Vietnam National University - Ho Chi Minh City to involve an initial cohort of 6 of their staff.

Australia's Ambassador to Vietnam Michael Mann, applauding the announcement.

"These new scholarships by one of Australia's oldest and renowned research universities, the University of Queensland, would be very valuable to Vietnam to assist it in its development," he said.

The University of Queensland is also working with the University of Danang in providing staff expertise to assist in the development of a nearly constructed Information Resource Centre.

All agreements were signed under the umbrella of the 1999 Memorandum of Understanding for Education and Training cooperation between Australia and the Socialist Republic of Vietnam.

The University of Queensland and VNU-Hanoi, VNU-HCMC and the University of Danang are being assisted by Australian Education International in Vietnam in the coordination of the programs in Vietnam.

For further information contact Peter McCutcheon at UQ Communications on 3365 1088 or 0413380012 or p.mccutcheon@mailbox.uq.edu.au