Deputy Minister of Education and Training Nguyễn Văn Phúc and New Zealand Ambassador to Việt Nam Wendy Matthews signed a refreshed Strategic Engagement Plan on Education for 2020-2023 period. — VNA/VNS Photo Thanh Tùng

HÀ NỘI — Việt Nam and New Zealand have renewed their Strategic Engagement Plan on Education for the next three years (2020-2023).

The plan was signed between Việt Nam’s Ministry of Education and Training and Education New Zealand at a ceremony in Hà Nội on Tuesday.

In accordance with the plan, initiatives across education sectors in New Zealand and Việt Nam will be carried out including joint programmes in the tertiary sector, innovative education models in blended and online delivery. Collaboration to improve institution-to-institution partnerships for English language training and alumni engagement will be continued.

Speaking at the event, Vietnamese Deputy Minister of Education and Training Nguyễn Văn Phúc said the fact that the plan was signed on the occasion of 45 anniversary of Việt Nam-New Zealand diplomatic ties contributes to deepen the good relations between the two countries.

“The enhanced education engagement has strengthened people to people links, mutual understanding and supports the goals of both countries to develop the human capacity for their people.

"As Việt Nam is integrating its economy extensively into the global economy, education and training have become the key in the development of high quality human resources for national development," Phúc said.

He proposed New Zealand continue supporting the country in education, especially in human resources training in higher education, improvement of English proficiency for students, teachers, and officials.

Wendy Matthews, New Zealand Ambassador to Việt Nam, said education has always been an integral part in the growth of the Việt Nam-New Zealand relationship.

Tuesday’s signing would serve as an effective platform to further advance education cooperation between Việt Nam and New Zealand and deliver successful education outcomes for their students, she said.

“I hope to see a growing number of students from Việt Nam choosing to study in New Zealand, more collaboration between New Zealand universities and Vietnamese counterparts as well as more joint research between the two countries,” she told Việt Nam News.

She also said New Zealand would create favourable conditions for Vietnamese officials to study in the country, adding that the alumni would act as a bridge that helps connect New Zealand and Việt Nam after returning to the country.

Chief Executive of ENZ, Grant McPherson, said the Strategic Engagement plans’ renewal provided an important opportunity to leverage the longstanding education partnership between the two countries.

He expected to welcome more Vietnamese students to New Zealand after normal travel resumed through initiatives such as the New Zealand Schools Scholarships and the New Zealand Scholarships programme for post-graduate students.

He pledged to offer Vietnamese students more opportunities to study in New Zealand and tighten cooperative ties with the Vietnamese education ministry.

By the end of 2018, more than 2,700 Vietnamese students opted to study in New Zealand. Of these, 600 are secondary school students.

More than 300 Vietnamese students and 550 officials have received awards to pursue a postgraduate qualification or study English in New Zealand.

143 New Zealand students have chosen Việt Nam as their study and intern destination under the ENZ-administered Prime Minister’s Scholarships for Asia, which was launched in 2013. — VNS