UEH News

Mekong Talent 100 - UEH strives to contribute international human resources to the Mekong Delta

Mekong Talent 100 - UEH strives to contribute international human resources to the Mekong Delta

To build high-quality human resources, contribute to the development of the Mekong Delta region, the University of Economics Ho Chi Minh City (UEH) officially launched the International Bachelor's Training Program "Mekong Talent 100" period 2021-2025 at Vinh Long Campus. At the International Training Conference for the Mekong Delta region taking place on the morning of August 16, 2021, representatives of the provinces in the region highly appreciated the significance of the Program for the development of the Mekong Delta.

Facing the development of the Covid-19 pandemic, the International Training Conference for the Mekong Delta region was held in the online form with the participation of more than 140 officials, including 35 delegates from units of the People's Committee, Department of Education and Training, Board of Directors of Gifted High universities in the Mekong Delta.

The Conference took place online with the participation of 140 officials

The Mekong Delta faces the challenge of high-quality human resources

The Mekong Delta plays a key role in the development of the country, being an area that attracts huge international attention and investment, especially in the field of agriculture. However, it is facing difficulties and challenges when integrating internationally, especially the shortage of well-trained human resources to meet the needs of business, expansion, cooperation, access, exchange knowledge, and experience with international partners.

In addition, the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic has not only short-term but also long-term impacts on the economy, society and development of the whole country in general and the Mekong Delta region in particular. One of the greatest challenges today is the risk of disruption in education and training activities, affecting human resources, which is still one of the region's weaknesses.  

Mr. Nguyen Quoc Liem - Deputy Director of the Department of Home Affairs of Bac Lieu province, said: "The 16th Party Congress of Bac Lieu province for the 2020-2025 term sets out three specific tasks for the economic development of the province, including i) Build Bac Lieu into a national clean energy center; (ii) Develop and enhance human resources; (iii) Develop infrastructure, roads, seaports, and airports. In particular, the task of developing and enhancing human resources is the most important, playing a direct role in the economic development of the province.

Facing the requirements of society, the training of high-quality human resources in the Mekong Delta has become more urgent than ever.

Mekong talents - Going to return: Building high-quality human resources, contributing to the development of the Mekong Delta region

Aware of its responsibility for the development of the Mekong Delta region, with its prestige and strength in international cooperation in higher education for many years, in 2021, the University of Economics of Ho Chi Minh City has established the Mekong International Training Center located at Vinh Long Campus and shortly thereafter launched the Australian - New Zealand Bachelor Program with the mission of bringing university training programs meeting international standards from UEH's prestigious international partners into the Mekong Delta region. As such, learners will be trained to become global citizens, being ready to integrate, improve their expertise, English skills, and meet international standards.

The Australian - New Zealand Bachelor Program trains learners to become global citizens with foundational knowledge and standard English language proficiency. 

Selected students will participate in the international training Program phase 1 at Vinh Long Campus for 1.5 years, and phase 2 they will experience an international learning environment for 1.5 years at Australian or New Zealand universities, which are in the top 1.2% of the world's best universities and receive a Bachelor's degree from these Universities. A special feature of the Program is that the motto of combining international Programs, whose quality has been confirmed, with the understanding of the identity and characteristics of the Mekong region, so that "Mekong Talents" can "Go to return" and start-up businesses succeed in their homeland - the Mekong Delta.  

Dr. Bui Quang Hung - Vice President of UEH, shared: “Right from the idea to the implementation of the Program, UEH has always maintained that this is a social responsibility and the duty to be performed by UEH in human resource training with international standards for the development of the Mekong Delta, taking social effectiveness as the main assessment basis for the success of the Program. Therefore, through this Conference, the University of Economics Ho Chi Minh City wishes to receive the support and coordination of local leaders, educational management agencies, teachers and leaders of high universities, agencies, and units in the Mekong Delta region, accompanying, sharing responsibility, together with UEH to implement this Program.”

Assessing the Program, Mr. Nguyen Phuong Toan - Deputy Director of the Department of Education and Training of Tien Giang province, said: “This is a meaningful Program to create opportunities for students in the Mekong Delta region to participate in learning in advanced countries, thereby bringing knowledge to contribute to the construction of their homeland. After receiving the Program information, we promptly sent it to universities in the province for students to register for admission."  

Mr. Nguyen Quoc Liem - Deputy Director of Bac Lieu's Department of Home Affairs, also emphasized: "The Department of Home Affairs was assigned by Bac Lieu province to develop human resources to serve the province's economic development goals. We are also looking for many solutions and are pleased with The International Bachelor's Program of the University of Economics Ho Chi Minh City because it has met Bac Lieu province's urgent demand for training and enhancing human resources. In the coming time, the province hopes that UEH will pay attention and create favorable conditions to help improve the quality of human resources for the province."

Looking forward to long-term cooperation to train high-quality human resources for Kien Giang province, Mr. Tran Quang Bao - Director of Kien Giang Department of Education and Training, said: “The Mekong Talent Program is perfectly suitable for Kien Giang province to have a faculty of high-quality human resources meeting international standards, this is one of the three breakthrough tasks that the province has set. Kien Giang will quickly notify students who have just graduated from high university in 2021 so that they have the opportunity to participate. At the same time, the province hopes that UEH will cooperate with the Department of Education of the province to foster English for children to meet the criteria to participate in the Mekong Talent Program. Simultaneously, it is important to introduce good training and scholarship models for Kien Giang, and to  implement the signing within ten years to ensure the building of high-quality human resources of international standards, when the graduated students can confidently talk with their colleagues, work with foreign business agencies, associations, leading to global integration."

Actively supporting candidates participating in the Mekong Talent program

In an effort to contribute to the development of the Mekong Delta, from 2021 to 2025, UEH will deploy the "Mekong Talent 100" scholarship each year (for five years), spending 20 scholarships in the Mekong Delta region with a scholarship of 100% - 50% - 30% for the period of study at Vinh Long Campus, in which, each province in the region is allocated 01 scholarship of 100% of the tuition fee. In addition, in order to attract international students to the Mekong Delta, the Program also provides scholarships to students from countries in the Mekong sub-region (Laos, Cambodia, Thailand, Myanmar) as well as strengthens exchanging training activities with international students, gradually turning Vinh Long Campus in particular and Vinh Long province in general into UEH's international training, exchange and cooperation base in the Mekong Delta region.

At the same time, the university will also cooperate with partners to create all favorable conditions for students to complete the training program.

Professor Yi-Chen Lan - Vice President of Western Sydney University, said that it would create favorable conditions for international students to complete the Program.

Professor Yi-Chen Lan - Vice President of Western Sydney University, Australia, said: “Mekong Talent 100 is a very meaningful project and Western Sydney University is honored to participate in the project and accompany the University of Economics Ho Chi Minh. At Western Sydney University, when talented students from the Mekong region come to Australia, we will wholeheartedly assist with accommodation exclusively for them on campus or arrange accommodation according to students' requirements outside the university. When they graduate and return to their home country, they can contribute what they learned in Australia to the region and the community.”

A former student who studied abroad in Australia shared his feelings

As one of the alumni studying abroad in Australia (2014 - 2015), Mr. Phan Chi Cuong, who is working in Vinh Long province, shared: “My starting point had many difficulties, but with effort and passion, I have achieved my certain goals while studying in Australia. When I choose to return to my hometown, I want to share my story so that the next generations know that studying abroad will allow us to access new styles, new ways of working, and concrete, realistic vision, thereby helping us develop comprehensively. If we have a clear direction and vision from the beginning, after completing the study abroad course, we will stand at a new level.”

Prof. Dr. Nguyen Dong Phong - Secretary of the Party Committee, Chairman of the UEH University Council delivered the closing speech

Speaking at the closing of the Program, Prof. Dr. Nguyen Dong Phong - Secretary of the Party Committee, Chairman of the UEH University Council emphasized: "Today we are sitting here, participating in the Program with the theme "Mekong Talent - Going to return" is a very meaningful activity for the Mekong Delta, with the future development of the region that the University of Economics Ho Chi Minh City - UEH has always identified this as an important responsibility of the university in its mission. Especially with this Program, UEH wishes to provide high-quality human resources with international standards because the Mekong Delta still has limited high-quality human resources compared to other places. Hopefully, in the next 3 or 4 years, UEH will contribute this important resource to the development and integration of the region. Furthermore, in the coming time, the university is ready to sign cooperation agreements with localities to train Masters, Graduates, or short-term programs in research and consulting."

Delegates attending the Conference took a photo

With 45 years of establishment and development, the University of Economics Ho Chi Minh City is one of the pioneers in implementing international training cooperation and association. Western Sydney (Australia) and Victoria Wellington (New Zealand) universities are also the first two long-term, reliable, and reputable partners of the university in the process of integration, development of training activities, and international cooperation. This is an important basis for us to fully believe in the prestige and quality of UEH's Mekong international training program. Along with the establishment and operation of the University's Campus in Vinh Long province in January 2020 with a scale of 500 full-time university students, more than 100 graduate students, the establishment of the Mekong International Center and implementing the international training program for Mekong Talents in 2021, including scholarships for international students from countries in the Mekong sub-region, is an essential step with the goal in the next 2 or 3 years, Vinh Long and specifically the UEH Campus in Vinh Long will be an international center for training, research, consulting, cooperation and cultural exchange, a destination for students, lecturers and experts international with the Mekong Delta region has a lot of potential and friendly people.

Details about the Program can be found HERE.

News, Photos: Department  of Marketing and Communication.