AUT takes centre stage on Vietnam education mission
An AUT delegation accompanied Prime Minister John Key and Economic Development and Tertiary Education, Skills and Employment Minister Steven Joyce to Vietnam in November on a mission to look at opportunities for collaboration in the education sector and engage key alumni in the country.
The visit marked the 40th anniversary of diplomatic relations between New Zealand and Vietnam, and also the signing of the ‘New Zealand/Viet Nam Strategic Engagement Plan on Education’, which was agreed to during Joyce’s previous visit to Vietnam in August.
In a media release about the mission, Joyce said, “The Plan identifies areas for collaboration which are mutually beneficial to both countries including English language training, human resource development, and postgraduate and doctoral collaboration”
AUT has a long association with Vietnam, with the educational relationship existing for over 24 years.
Lester Khoo, Director of International Relations and Development, was the official AUT delegate and was supported by Sam Mickell, Director of Alumni Relations, Dr Howard Youngs from the School of Education, and Leo Hitchcock from the School of Engineering, Computer and Mathematical Sciences.
As part of the official visit, AUT signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Foreign Trade University, Saigon University and The University of Social Sciences, witnessed by Joyce and the New Zealand Ambassador to Vietnam HE Haike Manning. The MOU touches upon education leadership and public policy, and supports the ‘New Zealand/Viet Nam Strategic Engagement Plan on Education’ signed by both governments on this visit.
AUT also hosted an education reform workshop for school principals and boards of management from the greater Ho Chi Minh City area. The workshop was organised with Education New Zealand and panellists included representatives from ACG, Massey University, Victoria University Wellington and Vietnam National University HCMC, with Joyce as the guest of honour. AUT’s Dr Youngs moderated the workshop.
The official visit culminated in pan-New Zealand alumni events in both Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, hosted by the New Zealand Government and attended by officials from the Vietnamese government, NZTE, Education New Zealand and local chambers of commerce. It was a great chance for alumni to connect with each other, with AUT, and representatives from the government and business sectors. AUT had the largest group of alumni attend, who were very vocal in their support during speeches by politicians.
“In a country with an average age of just 29, the presence and influence of AUT alumni in Vietnam is already strong, and will grow as they enter leadership positions within government and the private sector. This represents a tremendous opportunity for AUT,” says AUT’s Mickell.
“Our alumni are passionate ambassadors for AUT, and for New Zealand. Their experience studying at AUT has changed them, and they want to stay connected and are hungry for opportunities to network and give back. Events like this are the perfect way to engage them, further validate the need to create ways for them to connect with each other through the university.”
Feedback from key alumni interviewed during the visit is feeding into a pilot alumni model that will be tested in Vietnam next year, in partnership with the New Zealand Government’s presence in the region.