UEH and Western Sydney University (Australia): Raising the cooperation relationship between the two universities to a new level

08 Jun, 2023

Within the framework of the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Australia and Vietnam, on June 4, University of Economics Ho Chi Minh City (UEH) and Western Sydney University, Australia (WSU) officially signed a Memorandum of Understanding on granting 60 scholarships to Vietnamese and regional students to study at the WSU campuses in Vietnam and Australia. This was a significant event marking the increasingly close and extensive relationship of solidarity and cooperation between the two universities.

With more than 47 years of establishment and development, UEH constantly innovates training programs to improve the quality of teaching and learning, promote international integration, and nurture the future talents of the country. Towards that goal, the University always creates opportunities and conditions for students to have access to an international standard learning and training environment right in Vietnam through cooperation with leading universities worldwide. In the process of promoting the internationalization strategy of education along with the collaboration between Vietnam and Australia, UEH has a long history of cooperation in training and research with prestigious Australian universities, Australia University of Queensland, University of Newcastle, Monash University, Curtin University, Deakin University, University of South Australia, Victoria University... Besides, it aims to create more connections with universities with long-term cooperation with UEH. And one of the strategic partners of the University of Economics Ho Chi Minh City in Australia is, not to mention, Western Sydney University.

Western Sydney University (Australia) is a world-class university with a global educational influence, known for its academic quality and applied research. In 2022, Western Sydney University climbed more than 24 places from 58 (in 2019) to 34th on the Ranking of the World's Top Young Universities. The university is also ranked in the Top 250 (1%) of the world's best universities according to the prestigious Times Higher Education Rankings. This is an important basis for the prestige and quality of the educational cooperation and associate programs between the University of Economics Ho Chi Minh City and Western Sydney University (Australia). WSU started training programs at UEH in 2008 and signed a strategic cooperation agreement with this University in 2021, expanding its training program from Undergraduate to Doctorate.

Recently, in recognition of the existing partnership between UEH and WSU in the field of education since 2008 and the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Australia and Vietnam, at the ceremony to exchange legal documents of the Vietnam-Australia partnership as part of the official visit to Vietnam of Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, under the witness of Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, Prof. Dr. Nguyen Dong Phong - Chairman of the UEH Council and Prof. Dr. Su Dinh Thanh - President of UEH exchanged a memorandum with Professor Jennifer Westacott - Rector of WSU, Professor Barney Glover - Vice Rector, President of WSU on granting 60 scholarships to Vietnamese and regional students studying WSU programs at campuses in Vietnam and Australia.

UEH and WSU signing Memorandum of Understanding granting 60 scholarships to students studying at WSU campuses in Vietnam and Australia

Specifically, under the MoU, UEH, and WSU work together towards the development and implementation of the Whitlam Australia-Vietnam Scholarship program. The proposed program for UEH students aims to facilitate students to study WSU programs in Vietnam and Australia with a total value of AUD 2,000,000 of which the scholarship granted includes:

Whitlam Scholarships (in Vietnam): 50 scholarships for students enrolled in WSU undergraduate and graduate programs in Business and Communication, studying in Vietnam.
Whitlam Scholarships (in Australia): 10 scholarships for students enrolled in WSU graduate and doctoral programs studying at WSU campuses in Sydney, Australia.

The implemented scholarship program will open opportunities and create conditions for Vietnamese students to study and access advanced academic values in an international standard environment, thereby developing knowledge and skills in many fields and being ready to join the global labour market.

The exchange of this memorandum of understanding has raised the cooperation relationship between UEH and WSU to a new height, promoting the development of international standard human resource training in many fields, in line with the development orientation of the internationalization strategy of education, becoming a Multidisciplinary and Sustainable UEH. It is expected that the close and growing cooperation between UEH and WSU will continue to bring positive values to students, improve the quality of training and research, and contribute knowledge to the university community; at the same time, contributing to connecting and further expanding the good diplomatic relations of Vietnam and Australia over the past 50 years.