At the recent MOU signing ceremony, the University of Auckland and HCMUT agreed on several long-term partnerships in training, research, student and staff exchanges, and most notably the undergraduate and postgraduate articulation arrangements. The two joint programs will provide students at HCMUT the opportunity to gain advanced standing into either Computer or Data Science programs offered at the University of Auckland’s Faculty of Science. This partnership will not only have financial benefits for students but will also allow Vietnamese students to have a global education experience.

“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 their students,’’ said New Zealand Trade Commissioner and Consul-General to Vietnam, Joseph Nelson.

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. Joining the Computer and Data Science programs, they will be taught by academics who are major contributors in their fields, and among the most distinguished research scientists whose work is globally recognised.

With the ‘2+2’ pathway of the undergraduate articulation arrangement, computer science students at HCMUT will study 2 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.

Whereas the ‘1+1’ postgraduate articulation agreement will allow HCMUT masters in computer science students the opportunity to transfer to the University of Auckland after just 1 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).

Dr Erik Lithander, University of Auckland Deputy Vice Chancellor Strategic Engagement says, “Here at the University of Auckland, we place considerable importance on international partnerships. We recognise the positive impact that these partnerships have on student and staff mobility and knowledge transfer, but we also recognise that these partnerships foster global innovation and support the institutions’ intercultural identity. It’s because of this that we’re delighted to take this opportunity to develop a long-standing, mutually beneficial partnership with the Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology, an institution that, like the University of Auckland, is committed to supporting the advancement of its learners and communities.”

PV