NEW STUDENT ALUMNI STUDENT STAFF VIETNAMESE

Australian Ambassador to Vietnam visits Can Tho University

On April 28, 2022, Can Tho University (CTU) was honored to welcome Ms. Robyn Mudie, Australian Ambassador to Vietnam, and Ms. Sarah Hooper, Australian Consulate-General in Ho Chi Minh City to visit and work. Prof.Dr. Ha Thanh Toan, Rector; Assoc.Prof.Dr. Nguyen Hieu Trung, Vice-Rector and leaders of affiliated units.

Welcoming the Australian Ambassador at the Administration Building, CTU

At the meeting, Prof.Dr. Ha Thanh Toan, Principal of the University sent a warm welcome to the delegation of the Australian Embassy in Vietnam. The Principal also shared information about the university's training, scientific research, and technology transfer activities, especially the important role of the University in training high-quality human resources to contribute to the development of the Mekong River Delta region. Regarding international cooperation activities, the Principal also shared the growing cooperation relationship between CTU, provinces in the Mekong Delta, and other organizations, institutes, and partner schools in Australia. Accordingly, within the framework of the Mekong 1000 program, CTU has sent 116 staff from the region to study master's and doctoral programs at 23 Australian institutes and schools.

CTU has signed a memorandum of understanding to cooperate with more than 20 Australian institutes and schools on academic exchange and cooperation in scientific research. Thanks to scholarships from the Vietnamese Government and the support of Australian partners, the University has 126 doctoral and master's graduates here. During the period 2017-2021, the University sent 05 students to Australia in short and long-term exchange programs. Many research programs and projects are implemented on the basis of cooperation between CTU and Australian organizations such as ACIAR (Australian Center for International Agricultural Research), Commonwealth Scientific & Industrial Research Organization (CSIRO), and The International Rice Research Institute (IRRI, Australia). From 2015 up to now, there are 14 cooperative projects with a total budget of more than 1.5 billion AUD that have been implemented by the University and Australian partners.

Prof. Dr. Ha Thanh Toan greeted the delegation of the Australian Embassy and shared about the University and the situation in the Mekong Delta.

The Rector hopes that the recent cooperation will be a solid foundation in enhancing cooperative training activities; exchange students, lecturers; cultural exchange programs and research cooperation, and ect between CTU and Australian partners through the connection and support of the Australian Embassy in the coming time.

Mrs. Robyn Mudie, Australian Ambassador to Vietnam, discussed with the University's experts: Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Hieu Trung, Vice-Rector and Assoc. Prof. Dr. Van Pham Dang Tri, Director of the Research Institute for Climate Change about the current difficulties and challenges of the Mekong Delta

Dr. Dang Duy Minh, School of Agriculture, shared with the Ambassador about the ongoing project sponsored by ACIAR

Mrs. Robyn Mudie, Australian Ambassador to Vietnam expressed her impression of CTU's long history and, more importantly, its position and role in training high-quality human resources as well as achievements in scientific research for the development of the Mekong Delta region. During this working visit, in addition to sharing about the good relationship between the two countries, Ms. Robyn Mudie discussed with the University experts on issues that the Embassy is interested in such as difficulties and challenges of the Mekong Delta in the context of coping with climate change, saline intrusion, drought, floods, subsidence, and ect; programs, projects as well as future action plans of the Government, the Mekong Delta authorities and CTU in the above context, especially cooperation programs in education, scientific research, and technology transfer to respond to climate change is done between the University and partners from Australia.

On this occasion, the School leaders introduced the Forum of Sustainable Development Mekong Delta (SDMD 2045) established and chaired by CTU with the aim of connecting, providing, and sharing information about the present. status, potentials, challenges, and proposing solutions to develop key areas of the Mekong Delta with stakeholders through regular Forums every 2 years to serve as a theoretical and practical basis that seeks to support the development of policies, strategies, and policies for sustainable development of the Mekong Delta with a vision to 2045. The University is strengthening connections and cooperation with domestic and international stakeholders, from research institutes and universities to local businesses and communities. Thereby, CTU wishes to receive strong support from the Australian Embassy and partners for the expansion of upcoming partnerships in the fields of higher education, scientific research, and response to climate change, especially to support and contribute to the achievement of the set objectives for the SDMD 2045 Forum. Mrs. Robyn Mudie affirmed that the Australian Embassy will continue to strengthen its support and at the same time promote opportunities for cooperation between CTU and Australian partners in the coming time.