NEW STUDENT ALUMNI STUDENT STAFF VIETNAMESE

Graduation Ceremony of International Master Program in Aquaculture - Course 1

On September 25^th, 2018, Can Tho University (CTU) solemnly held Graduation Ceremony of International Master Program in Aquaculture, first course. Attending the ceremony was professors from Ghent University, Belgium; representatives of the Rectorate Board and leader representatives of CTU's units, and first batch of graduates in international master program in Aquaculture.

The ceremony took place at Hall 2, the Administrative Building

The international master program in Aquaculture, one of the first international master programs at CTU, was officially offered in 2016 under VLIR-OUS financial support and the contribution of Belgian and Vietnamese university partners including Vietnam National University of Agriculture, Hue University, Nha Trang University, Research Institute for Aquaculture No. 2, and University of Ghent, Belgium. This is a special training program with new teaching model that has not been implemented at CTU as well as in Vietnam. The cooperation and support of many institutes and universities, especially partners from Belgium, have made the training program very special and beneficial for the learners.

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Vu Ngoc Ut, Vice Dean of Fisheries Department, Program Coordinator, presented the report on training process

During the two-year training course, the students has completed 24 courses (65 credits), including 15 compulsory and 4 elective credits (1st semester), 14 compulsory and 5 elective credits (2nd semester), 2 compulsory credits and 10 elective credits (3rd semester), 15 credits (4th semester). Most courses are co-taught by professors and teaching staff members of partner universities and institutes. The internship was made at the end of the first year; students were sent to practical sites/companies of university partners for doing internships. In addition to the practical training at the universities, field trips were organized for the students to visit fish hatcheries, fish farms and shrimp farms, etc. Finally, after successfully selecting and protecting the topic, students conduct the thesis. The thesis was conducted by each student after defending the proposal.

First batch of the international master program in Aquaculture included five students from Tanzania, Rwanda and Vietnam. They have successfully completed the course and deserved receiving the degrees. Two students were awarded the certificates of merit from the Rector of CTU for outstanding achievements in study.

Five students of the first batch of international master program in Aquaculture

Speaking at the ceremony, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Le Viet Dung, Vice Rector of CTU warmly congratulated the success of the new masters, affirmed that the graduation ceremony was a special event for the new masters to mark the moment of reaping achievements after two years of hard work in Vietnam, especially at CTU, and affirmed that this is the honor, pride and success of CTU in particular and the partners in general in enrollment and training international students.

The Vice Rector believed that the new masters have gained significant knowledge and techniques to bring home for practical application to develop aquaculture in their countries. On this occasion, The Vice Rector expressed his sincere thanks to VLIR-UOS for the financial support to generate and develop this master program. Without substantial support from VLIR-OUS, this training program would not have been exist. Additionally, he sent special thanks to all professors and staff from VLIR-Network partners including Vietnam National University of Agriculture, Hue University, Nha Trang University, Research Institute for Aquaculture No.2, and particularly University of Ghent for joining in teaching and contributing to the success of the program. The Vice Rector wished that the new masters would keep in touch with the university through a network of alumni through the university's connection activities and play a role as a focal point between academic and research activities of the university with the reality. CTU always welcomes alumni to come back for study at higher qualification and for cooperation activities in the future.

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Le Viet Dung, Vice Rector of CTU, sent congratulations to the new masters

Representing the graduates, new master Siwema Amran Luvanga from Tanzania, made a heartfelt speech about the process of more than twenty-month learning and researching in Vietnam. She expressed her joyfulness and pride when working in Vietnam, especially at CTU. She shared that to appear in master graduation gown at the graduation ceremony was not easy with the barriers of language, culture; difficulties and pressures during study; however, becoming a student of CTU brought her a very different experience, and every meeting and experience here will remain in her memory for the rest of her life. She shared that various courses with group work, presentations, experiments, internships, field trips and finally master thesis helped her and other students develop skills. In particular, the practical approach here in the education system has helped her answer the question of why Vietnam is one of the top five aquaculture production countries in the world, and she will apply what she learned in her daily work as researcher in Tanzania Fisheries Research Institute.

New Graduate Siwema Amran Luvanga with touching sharing on the learning process at CTU

The graduation ceremony is probably the last day for new masters as an international master student in Aquaculture at CTU, but a new learning process, new projects, researches and new success has begun. Expressing deep gratitude to the VLIR project, CTU and partner institutes and universities, the new masters determine to bring knowledge, techniques, experience and skills to apply effectively in real life, contributing to the development of the country.

With the initial success of cooperation between CTU and partners of the two countries, it is believed that the international master program in Aquaculture of CTU will be more and more widespread, marking the turning point in the postgraduate education of the university, reaching out nationally and internationally.

Prof. Jean Dhont, University of Ghent, shared that the graduation ceremony as an important milestone of the international master program in Aquaculture at CTU, as well as the milestone of the Belgian and Vietnamese partnerships, and hope that the program will develop in the future