On March 14, as part of his official visit to New Zealand, Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc visited the University of Waikato, talked to students and witnessed the signing of a cooperation agreement on human resources development between the Vietnam Social Security (VSS) and the university.                                      

The University of Waikato based in Hamilton is among eight public universities of New Zealand. It accepts some 2,500 students from more than 80 countries worldwide annually.

Delivering a speech to teachers and students, PM Phuc expressed his delight at the university’s welcome ceremony for him, which was held following the performance of indigenous Maori people’s traditional culture.

PM Nguyen Xuan Phuc visits the University of Waikato, New Zealand (Source: VSS)

He lauded the university’s friendly environment and its achievements in educating excellent citizens for New Zealand and other nations.

New Zealand’s leaders like Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, and former Governor-General Lieutenant General Jeremiah Mateparae, were alumni of the university, which has the highest rate of Maori students among local universities.

PM Nguyen Xuan Phuc speaks at the University of Waikato (Source: VSS)

The PM also highlighted Vietnam – New Zealand diplomatic relations, which were established in 1975 and were elevated to a comprehensive partnership in 2009. He said education is a pillar of bilateral cooperation. Currently, New Zealand is training 3,000 Vietnamese students, ninth among educational destinations for the group worldwide.

PM Nguyen Xuan Phuc witnesses the signing of a cooperation agreement on human resources development between VSS and Waikato University (Source: VSS)

From a poor and underdeveloped country, Vietnam has been a developing and middle-income country since 2010. The Vietnamese economy grew 6.81 percent in 2017 with average income of roughly 2,400 USD, creating a buoyant market with growing consumption. Vietnam is also one of the top agro-fisheries exporters globally. Therefore, developing high-quality workforce is one of the three strategic breakthroughs to turn the Vietnam into a modern-oriented industrial nation.

The Prime Minister talks with students of the University of Waikato (Source: VSS)

According to the PM, Vietnam’s enhanced education collaboration affords a chance to learn highly-applicable training models to deal with practical issues. Tertiary and post-tertiary training cooperation between the University of Waikato, Hanoi Law University and the Vietnam National University – Ho Chi Minh City is proving effective. Vietnamese officials who joined training courses have new mindsets and solutions to improve personnel quality.

The PM and his delegation take photo with representatives from Waikato University (Source: VSS)

The PM said students here are young, passionate with dreams and aspirations to deal with regional and global issues, adding that they need to study well to recognise trends, challenges and developments in the world, especially in Asia.

“On the occasion, I would like to invite you to Vietnam – a country enriched with cultural identities, a historic tradition of thousands of years. In Hanoi, please visit the Temple of Literature – the first university of Vietnam built nearly 10 centuries ago where you will feel the beauty of a country with traditional fondness for learning and respect for teachers throughout its history,” he said.

A ritual of indigenous Maori people at the welcome ceremony for the PM (Source: VSS)

Afterward, the PM engaged in a dialogue with students of Waikato University and addressed some issues of the students’ concerns, including the prospect of bilateral educational and economic cooperation, policies to attract overseas students after they return home, fields of cooperation that Vietnam and New Zealand will pay heed to and the State’s policy for information technology development and taking advantages of Industry 4.0.

VSS Director General Nguyen Thi Minh poses with staff members of the sector who are studying at Waikato University (Source: VSS)

During his visit to Waikato University, PM Phuc also witnessed the signing ceremony of cooperation agreements between the VSS, Vietnam National University – Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi University of Science and Technology, the Hanoi University and Waikato University.

Vice-Chancellor of Waikato University Professor Neil Quigley said the university has nurtured close cooperation with Vietnam, notably with the student exchange programme and training courses for VSS employees. There are alreadly three batches of participating the courses with and the first and second batches of students have finished their studies and returned to Vietnam.

The cooperation agreement on education in 2018-2020 between VSS and Waikato University (New Zealand) aims to raise the efficiency of bilateral cooperation, contributing to the building and development of an advanced, professional, sustainable and effective social security sector.

After visiting Waikato University, PM Nguyen Xuan Phuc left Auckland city, wrapping up his visit to New Zealand.

International Cooperation Department