Media Release
Waikato University develops links with Vietnam
University of Waikato
25 July 2005
A high-level government delegation from Vietnam is in Hamilton this week to develop a partnership with the University of
Waikato which could see Waikato graduate linguistics courses offered in Vietnam.
Associate Professor Dr Do Huy Thinh, Director of the South East Asian Ministers of Education Organisation (SEAMEO),
Regional Training Centre in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam and Mr Than Trong Minh, Head of English Language Teaching are
visiting the University from 24-27 August.
The Vietnamese delegation will sign a Memorandum of Understanding with the University on Monday 25 July.
The visitors will discuss a proposal for the University's Master of Arts (MA) in Applied Linguistics to be taught in
Vietnam next year.
Teaching a graduate qualification overseas represents a new direction for the University. Face-to-face teaching in
Vietnam would be complemented by electronic learning tools such as web-conferencing, a digital library and
video-conferencing.
Pro Vice-Chancellor International Prof. Shayne Quick says the visit illustrates the strong reputation Waikato University
has abroad. "Being approached to offer a graduate programme overseas shows that Waikato University's expertise is in
demand and internationally-respected," he says.
"South East Asian countries' needs are moving beyond introductory English language courses and have become more
sophisticated. A graduate linguistics programme will help Vietnamese students attain quite a sophisticated level of
English literacy. This is a specialised area, and the University of Waikato is one of the few centres with the required
expertise."
SEAMEO represents eleven South-East Asian countries and seven associate countries, of which New Zealand is one.
ENDS