Building education capacity in Vietnam

Associate Professor Do Huy Thinh, Director, SEAMEO RETRAC, Ho Chi Minh City; Mr Tran Ba Viet Dzung, Director General, International Cooperation, MOET and Professor David Wood, DVC International, Curtin University

ATN universities have a strong reputation for their international focus – not only in teaching overseas students, but also in building partnerships with other countries that benefit local communities and strengthen international relationships.

Demonstrating that commitment, Professor David Wood, Deputy Vice-Chancellor (International) at Curtin University, has been recognised for his contribution to education in Vietnam with the county’s most prestigious education honour. Professor Wood was recently presented with the Medal for Educational Achievements (Ky niem chuong Vi su nghiep giao duc) by Tran Ba Viet Dzung, Director General, International Cooperation, Ministry of Education and Training.

Vietnam is a key education partner for Australia, which recognises the quality of Australian universities both as a collaborative partner and as an education destination. Vietnamese students represent the fourth highest cohort undertaking study in Australia and growing, with an additional 2,700 students enrolled since 2009.

The award was presented to Professor Wood in recognition for his involvement with Southeast Asian Ministers’ of Education Organisation Regional Training Centre’s (SEAMEO RETRAC) Master of Arts (Applied Linguistics) program.

The program is a full-time, year-long program designed for Vietnamese professionals working in the field of language teaching, and concentrates on teaching English as a Second Language (ESL).

Speaking about the program, Professor Wood, who has had a strong affinity with Vietnam since the 1970s, said “The program is helping to increase the English language capacity of the Vietnamese school students and people, because the teachers who graduate from the program go back to their local community or to teach in a school.

“For me, the success of the program has been a great reward in itself. To receive recognition from the Vietnamese government for undertaking this work is very gratifying.”

Vietnam is a key partner for the ATN, which is working to enhance the network’s profile in the area, and is committed to working closely with the Provincial Governments of Ho Chi Minh City and Vung Tau to build mutually beneficial partnerships.