Five Vietnamese students are taking in Tasmania’s highlights and touring the University’s campuses as part of a UniGO scholarship.
The students, from Van Lang University in Ho Chi Minh City, are the inaugural recipients of a University Global Opportunity Program (UniGO) exchange scholarship.
They’ll explore the connections between the two universities around place, culture, technology and sustainability.
On a 12-day itinerary the students will take part in a range of environmental and cultural activities, including visits to the Wilderness World Heritage Area and Mona, and the Indigenous takara nipaluna/Walking Hobart tour.
“I’ve never been to Australia or Tasmania,” Graphic Design student Ngo Hoang Dung said. “I did a bit of research and the nature here is so beautiful, it’s fantastic.
“As a graphic designer I like to seek the beauty from nature, from the people, from the trees, the mountains so it’s totally amazing if I get a chance to see and to get inspired by the beauty of Tasmania.
“My major is about communication through images so I hope to learn about how Tasmanian people transfer their images through signs and language.”
Around 180 students from disciplines across the University of Tasmania undertook the inaugural UniGO program in January, embarking on a fully-funded three-week experience in Vietnam, Indonesia or Malaysia.
The connection with Van Dang was cemented when students collaborated with their Vietnamese counterparts on a sustainability ‘hackathon’.
Environmental Engineering Technologies student Nguyen Vu Minh Thy said meeting the University of Tasmania students at home had convinced her to be part of the exchange.
“I had a chance to meet with students from the University of Tasmania,” Ms Nguyen said. “I really liked their attitude and their way of study so, when the opportunity came up to come to their university, I knew I had to catch this opportunity.”
Travelling with Environmental Scientist Dr Huynh Tan Loi, the students will also head to Launceston to explore the sustainable Inveresk Campus, Cataract Gorge and QVMAG.
UniGO academic lead professor Nicholas Farrelly said UniGO, funded in partnership with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade’s New Colombo Plan, had been a game-changer in the University’s relationships with institutions in Southeast Asia.
“This is a student and cultural exchange but more importantly it is a catalyst for a different way of working together, for academic growth and for innovation,” Professor Farrelly said.
“The University is proud of the work we do on climate, environment and sustainability, but we want to do much more and that will only be possible by having partnerships with universities like Van Lang and its talented students.”
Applications for UniGO are open for eligible University of Tasmania students until July 3.