Latest Foreign Assistance Briefs

- Eighty outstanding students from Ho Chi Minh City have been granted the Japan-Vietnam Human Resource Development Scholarship for the 2012-2013 academic year. At the scholarship award ceremony held in the city yesterday, the Japanese Business Association of HCM City (JBAH) presented the scholarships worth VND3 million ($144) each to 80 students from HCM City University of Technology and HCM City University of Social Sciences and Humanities. The scholarship aims to promote the spirit of learning among students and encourage them to overcome difficulties to strive for higher academic achievement. It is also expected to facilitate human resources development in the country and strengthen the friendship and co-operation between Japan and Vietnam. Since the 2002-2003 academic year, the JBAH has provided a total of 1,074 scholarships to disadvantaged students in the City who have recorded outstanding achievements in studying, training and participating in community activities. (nhandan.org.vn Dec 14).- Toyota Vietnam Foundation (TVF) and Toyota Motor Vietnam (TMV) awarded 146 scholarships to technical and environment students and scientific study groups worth VND543 million. The awarding ceremony of Toyota Scholarship 2012 was held at the universities in Hanoi, HCMC, Can Tho and Danang. This program has been carried out since 1997 to encourage learning and to promote creativity in scientific research for university students as well as to contribute to the human resources training and development for Vietnam’s industry in general and the automobile industry in particular. This year 131 scholarships were given to technical and environment students (VND3 million) and 15 students/scientific study groups (VND10 million) from 16 universities around the country. TMV also granted nine auto engines to nine universities. During 16 years of implementation since 1997, Toyota Scholarship Program has awarded over 1,660 scholarships worth more than VND4.5 billion to excellent Vietnamese students. (thesaigontimes.vn Dec 13).- The Australian Ministry of Tertiary Education, Skills, Science and Research (MTSSR) has granted Asian scholarships to six Vietnamese outstanding students, state media reported. These are one of the 20 Australian Prime Minister’s scholarships granted to Vietnamese students and their peers from other Asian countries at a ceremony held in Canberra. In his speech, Vietnamese Ambassador to Australia Hoang Vinh Thanh applauded the the six recipients of the scholarship on their talent, intelligence and passion for research. The achievement is of greater significance in the context that Vietnam and Australia are preparing for the 40th anniversary of diplomatic ties in 2013, Mr. Thanh added. Australia is one the countries offering the highest number of scholarships to Vietnamese students. In 2011, the Asia-Australia scholarship program offered 400 out of a total 5,000 scholarships to Vietnamese students. (Sai Gon Giai Phong – Saigon Liberation Dec 9).- Ireland will raise the number of scholarships given to Vietnamese students for master courses in the Northwestern Europe country to 40 each year, said Irish Minister for Training and Skills Ciaran Cannon. The minister made the commitment at a meeting with Vietnamese Minister of Education and Training Pham Vu Luan in Hanoi during his visit to Vietnam from Dec. 9-12. The courses are part of the Irish Aid Development Experience and Sharing (IDEAS) Program and will cover majors in pharmaceuticals, tourism and hotel management, said Mr. Cannon. They also looked at the current cooperation programs in information technology and communications, digital training and vocational training. (Vietnamplus.vn Dec 11)