The Forum on University-Industry Linkages, hosted by Aus4Skills with support of Vietnam’s Ministry of Education and Training and the Australian Government, aims to have students graduating from university with the skills that employers need now, and into the future. It also supported discussion on university research being accessed and applied by industry.

This is an example of the work Australia, through Aus4Skills, continues to deliver in partnership with Vietnam on education.

At the forum, Assoc. Prof., Dr. Nguyen Van Phuc, Deputy Minister of Education and Training, highlighted the importance of linkages between university and business in updating training programs, promoting applied research, and creating better job opportunities for students after graduation.

Ms. Sarah Hooper, Consul General of Australia in Vietnam, said the forum is the first of an intended series of forums to improve the University – Industry linkages, not least to ensure employability of university graduates.

“This is an important opportunity for Vietnam and Australia to exchange strategies, approaches and models, assisting higher education institutions to better meet workforce demands,” Ms Hooper said.

Representatives of several universities in Vietnam and Australian experts also discussed the roles of state management, school councils, and alumni networks in boosting university – industry linkages.

In addition, the forum offered a closer look at foreign investment in Vietnam and recruitment demand, presented by the Investment Promotion Center - South Vietnam, the Australian Chamber of Commerce (Auscham) Vietnam, and various enterprises.

Higher education capacity building is a component of Aus4Skills. It is part of Australia and Vietnam’s joint efforts to improve governance and quality in Vietnam’s higher education sector.

For more information, please see the original MOET article.