At the MoU signing ceremony, the University of Auckland and HCMUT agreed on long-term partnerships for training, research, student and staff exchanges, and undergraduate and postgraduate articulation arrangements.

The programmes will provide students at HCMUT with the opportunity to gain advanced standing in either the computer or data science programmes offered at the University of Auckland’s Faculty of Science. This partnership will not only have financial benefits for students but will also allow them to have a global education experience.

New Zealand trade commissioner and consul-general to Vietnam, Joseph Nelson said, “I am enthused about the coming together of two of our countries’ top institutions, Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology and the University of Auckland. Partnerships like this are hugely important, and I am looking forward to seeing them progress their relationship with the creation of new pathways and new opportunities for students.’’

The signing ceremony was conducted in the presence of New Zealand trade commissioner and consul-general to Vietnam, Joseph Nelson (left)

Erik Lithander, University of Auckland's deputy vice-chancellor of Strategic Engagement noted, “Here at the University of Auckland, we place considerable importance on international partnerships. We recognise the positive impact that they have on student and staff mobility and knowledge transfer. These collaborations also foster global innovation and support the institutions’ intercultural identity.”

He added, “It is because of this that we are delighted to take this opportunity to develop a long-standing, mutually beneficial partnership with the Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology. It is an institution that, like the University of Auckland, is committed to supporting the advancement of its learners and communities.”

This partnership allows Vietnamese students majoring in computer science at HCMUT to broaden their study and research at the largest and most highly ranked science faculty in New Zealand.

With the 2+2 pathway of the undergraduate articulation arrangement, computer science students at HCMUT will study for two years at HCMUT, then transfer to the University of Auckland’s Bachelor of Science – majoring in either computer science or data science – for a further two years, before graduating with a degree issued by the University of Auckland.

Along with this, the 1+1 postgraduate articulation agreement will allow HCMUT Master of Computer Science students the opportunity to transfer to the University of Auckland after just one year. Then, after completing a year of study in New Zealand, students will be awarded either a Master of Professional Studies – Data Science, or a Master of Professional Studies – Digital Security.

The partnership with HCMUT is the most recent initiative that the University of Auckland has developed in Vietnam over the past 12 months.

The University of Auckland, in partnership with UP Education and LightPath Consulting Group, also offers a Study Hub service in Ho Chi Minh City to enhance the online learning experience for Vietnamese students while they are unable to enter New Zealand.

The Hub is a shared space for students based in Vietnam to connect with their peers, tutors, and teachers to maintain motivation and prepare for on-campus study.

Additionally, the University of Auckland offers the Vietnam Excellence Scholarship, covering up to $6,920 of the compulsory tuition fees for exceptional students.

The University of Auckland is New Zealand’s leading university, ranked 81^st in the world in the QS World Rankings 2021 and is in the top 10 in the Times Higher Education University Impact Rankings that measure performance against sustainable development goals.