From December 1 to December 3, the Consulate General of Canada in Ho Chi Minh City organized a series of activities of the program "Virtual Canada - Vietnam Education Collaboration and Networking Event" with the aim of strengthening the connection and cooperation between Vietnamese and Canadian universities.
The program was attended by Dr. Pham Thi Bich Ngoc - Deputy Head of the Department of External Relations and Research Affairs and Ms. Nguyen Anh Quan - Director of the Center for International Education of University of Social Sciences and Humanities (USSH, VNU-HCM), along with representatives of universities and colleges in Canada as well as Vietnamese delegates.
At the opening ceremony, Mr. Bezhad Babakhani, Consul General of Canada, affirmed that the event aims to promote international cooperation between Vietnamese and Canadian educational institutions. It is also an opportunity for bilateral connection between both sides via a new online platform.
Mr. Bezhad Babakhani shared that Canada is the top choice for several international students to study abroad. Also, he added that Vietnam is one of the fastest-growing education markets and an important source country for Canadian institutions (ranked 1st in Southeast Asia and 3rd globally).
Mr. Bezhad Babakhani - Consul General of Canada spoke at the opening ceremony. Source: Screenshot
At the discussion session, Ms. Sandra Le Courtois, First Secretary of the Canadian Embassy in Vietnam, mentioned that the Canada - ASEAN Scholarships and Educational Exchanges for Development (SEED) is open to all 10 ASEAN Member States. This program was announced by the Government of Canada on August 6, 2017. It aims to provide opportunities for students and mid-career professionals from the ASEAN region to conduct short-term study or research in Canada in fields aligned with the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
“The objective of the program is to equip students and mid-career professionals, particularly women, with critical knowledge and skills that will enable them to contribute to ASEAN countries achieving the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.” - Ms. Sandra Le Courtois emphasized.
Dr. Pham Thi Bich Ngoc - Deputy Head of the Department of External Relations and Research Affairs spoke at the meeting. Source: Screenshot
According to Dr. Pham Thi Bich Ngoc - Deputy Head of the Department of External Relations and Research Affairs, the USSH received invitations as well as inviting 14 Canadian institutions to a private discussion session for the purpose of suggesting a bilateral cooperation plan. Most of these institutions are ranked high in Canada and the world, including Queen's University, University of Victoria, The University of British Columbia, University of Saint Mary, etc. The result of the bilateral meetings is that a couple of Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) will be signed between the USSH and its partner institutions, which may lead to some possibilities of cooperation in training the bachelor, master, and doctoral programs in the form of 2+2, 3+1+1, and 3+1. Apart from the MoUs, Memorandums of Agreement (MoAs) related to the exchange of students and lecturers were also approved by both sides. When it came to research cooperation, the two sides discussed a number of common concerns and the sources of funding for research.
Moreover, Dr. Pham Thi Bich Ngoc affirmed that this event provided several opportunities to promote the partnerships between the USSH and its Canadian partners when the USSH could discuss bilaterally with 14 top-ranked universities in Canada and the world. She also revealed that the cooperation will be implemented through an activity taking place from 2022. In addition, she believed that the cooperation will help the USSH improve the training quality and enhance its international standing.
Anh Trinh - Ngoc Han
Translator: Diem Trang
