Degree type
PhD
Closing date
1 June 2025
Campus
Launceston
Citizenship requirement
Domestic
About the research project
"Asia and Australia's Engagement with Asia" is a current cross-curriculum priority in the Australian Curriculum. In fact, over the past decades, the Australian Government has introduced many policies to develop Asia Literacy throughout the country (Lo Bianco & Slaughter, 2009). The importance of engaging with Asia and supporting Asian languages education to prepare students for success in today's globalized world was stated in the 2008 Melbourne Declaration on Educational Goals for Young Australians, the 2011 White Paper Australia in the Asian Century and the National Statement on Asia Literacy in Australian Schools 2011-2012.
During the past decade, the Australian Government's New Colombo Plan (NCP) have funded Australian universities (including the University of Tasmania) to support Australian undergraduate students' participation in short study tours, internships, practicums, and research in Southeast Asia, including Vietnam. 2023 marked the 50th anniversary of Australia-Vietnam diplomatic relations, recognising Vietnam as a strategic partner in many areas including education and training. The Vietnamese language has been included in these short study tour programs in many Australian universities for Australian students to learn. However, there is a lack of evidence-based research about how these short Vietnamese language courses have been designed and delivered at the national scale, and the perceptions of Australian students participating in these programs regarding their motivation, benefits of learning Vietnamese, and their continued development in this area.
Adopting a mixed research method approach, potential PhD students have the scope to investigate either:
- Vietnamese curriculum design and innovative teaching pedagogies in the short Vietnamese language courses in Australian higher education, or
- Australian university students' experiences of learning Vietnamese as a foreign language, particularly their motivation, benefits, and their own language development. This research will benefit multiple stakeholders, including learners, teachers, policy makers, and a wider community.
Primary Supervisor
Funding
Applicants will be considered for a Research Training Program (RTP) scholarship or Tasmania Graduate Research Scholarship (TGRS) which, if successful, provides:
- a living allowance stipend of $33,511 per annum (2025 rate, indexed annually) for 3.5 years
- a relocation allowance of up to $2,000
- a tuition fees offset covering the cost of tuition fees for up to four years (domestic applicants only)
If successful, international applicants will receive a University of Tasmania Fees Offset for up to four years.
As part of the application process you may indicate if you do not wish to be considered for scholarship funding.
Other funding opportunities and fees
For further information regarding other scholarships on offer, and the various fees of undertaking a research degree, please visit Scholarships and fees.
Eligibility
Applicants should review the Higher Degree by Research minimum entry requirements.
Ensure your eligibility for the scholarship round by referring to our Key Dates.
Additional eligibility criteria specific to this project/scholarship:
- Applicants must be able to undertake the project on-campus;
- If a scholarship is awarded, the candidate must enrol as a full-time student;
- Applicants must already have been awarded a first class Honours degree or hold equivalent qualifications or relevant and substantial research experience in an appropriate sector; and
- Applicants must be able to demonstrate strong research and analytical skills.
Selection Criteria
The project is competitively assessed and awarded. Selection is based on academic merit and suitability to the project as determined by the College.
Additional essential selection criteria specific to this project:
- Candidates from a variety of disciplinary backgrounds are encouraged to apply. Knowledge and skills that will be ranked highly include: knowledge of Vietnamese language and culture, language teaching pedagogies, and language learning strategies, languages and cultural studies.
Additional desirable selection criteria specific to this project:
- Fluent in the Vietnamese language for everyday, social and academic purposes.
- Vietnamese language and cultural studies.
Application process
- Select your project, and check that you meet the eligibility and selection criteria, including citizenship;
- Contact Dr Vinh to discuss your suitability and the project's requirements; and
- In your application:
- Copy and paste the title of the project from this advertisement into your application. If you don’t correctly do this your application may be rejected.
- Submit a signed supervisory support form, a CV including contact details of 2 referees and your project research proposal.
- Apply prior to 1 June 2025.
Full details of the application process can be found under the 'How to apply' section at Research degrees.
Following the closing date applications will be assessed within the College. Applicants should expect to receive notification of the outcome by email by the advertised outcome date.
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