Australia empowers alumni to apply their expertise for a prosperous and inclusive Vietnam
Yesterday in Hanoi, Australian Ambassador to Vietnam, H.E. Mr Craig Chittick, welcomed nearly 30 out of 80 newly returned Australia Awards recipients back to Vietnam. They will contribute to the socio-economic development of Vietnam using skills, knowledge and networks they developed in Australia.
This new group of alumni studied Master courses in diverse fields such as Justice and Criminology, Development Economics, International Trade, Governance and Public Policy, Agriculture and Financial Analysis at different universities in Australia. They are expected to utilise their Australian study and life experiences to make positive changes in their areas of expertise.
‘Studying in Australia has made me a much better version of myself. I am passionate about being exposed to new concepts and new ways of working and being able to know and use my strengths better. Besides professional development, I have developed valuable friendships and networks which are useful for my work and life in Vietnam’, said Ms Pham Thi Chung, Master of Human Resource Management & Industrial Relations, on behalf of the 30 new returnees at the event.
Australia’s support to alumni does not end when they return to Vietnam. The Australian Alumni Grants Fund aims to empower alumni to consolidate their professional knowledge and skills and strengthen links with Australia through undertaking research, organising workshops, training and improving their workplace. Under the 2018 grants round, 36 successful projects will be implemented by 79 alumni, aiming to address issues in gender equality, disability, education, agriculture and rural development, governance and economic growth, water and sanitation, climate change, health, regional stability and human rights.
Alumni Grants Fund recipient, Mr Nguyen Thanh Hien, Head of Social Enterprise Division, Centre for Rural Development in Central Vietnam said, ‘With support from the Australian Government through the Australian Alumni Grants Fund, we have successfully developed a process that uses agricultural waste to produce organic fertiliser for a more sustainable farming practice. After 12 months of activity, we have created jobs for nearly 40 local people with disability and helped them contribute to the socio-economic development of their community’.
Australia has grown and strengthened a dynamic network of nearly 70,000 alumni in Vietnam through various social and professional activities such as building professional groups and organising networking activities, seminars and workshops, in addition to grants under the Australian Alumni Grants Fund.
‘We are proud to support our alumni to spur on their passions and draw on their expertise developed from Australia’s world-class education to help their communities. I encourage all alumni of Australian education to look to next year’s grants for many more great opportunities to help Vietnam realise its aspirations to become a more prosperous and inclusive country,’ said Mr Craig Chittick.