Australia and Vietnam Renew Education Partnership

Education and training ties between Australia and Vietnam will be  strengthened following the signing February 26 of a cooperative agreement by the  Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Education, Julia Gillard, and Vietnam's  Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Education and Training, Professor Nguyen  Thien Nhan.

 

The renewal of the Memorandum of Understanding on Cooperation in Education  and Training between Australia and Vietnam coincides with the 35th anniversary  of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries by the  Whitlam Government on this day in 1973.

 

Bilateral ties have grown strongly over the past 35 years, particularly in  the fields of education and training. The Rudd Government looks forward to  continuing the mutual benefits that accompany a close collaboration in  education, training and research.

 

Australia is well placed to work with Vietnam in achieving the education  reforms that will support Vietnam's continued robust economic growth. Vietnam's  Deputy Prime Minister Nhan is leading a senior delegation to investigate Australian initiatives in education and training.

Just as Australia is seeking to boost productivity through investment in  education and training, so too is Vietnam.

 

The Rudd Government looks forward to building on our long-established  cooperation, both through the exchange of ideas and the increased mobility of  students, educators and researchers between our countries.

 

Education and training related services accounted for more than 70 per cent  of Australia's service exports to Vietnamin 2006/07 and the number of  Vietnamese students enrolled in Australian education institutions grew by more  than 44 per cent from 2006 to 2007.