The Vietnamese Graduates from Australia Club (VGAC) has announced a membership expansion project to graduates from courses in Vietnam and Australian citizens whose qualifications are from Australia’s institutions currently living in Vietnam.
VGAC national chairman Huynh Du An announced the “Thanks, Australia!” project during the Australian Alumni Gala, held by the five-chapter club in Ho Chi Minh City Nov. 13 for its members nationwide to gather and share experience in studying and working, as well as build relations and sound out business opportunities in both countries.
“This project also aims to upgrade our database in order to bring more benefits to existing members as well as professional development opportunities to new members,” Mr. An added.
“Moreover, the VGAC directory is going to be published this year. We cordially invite you [members] to join the program “Thanks, Australia!” and believe it will bring more activities and great achievements to you and VGAC in the future.”
Found in 1991, the club is a non-profit organisation with a network of Vietnamese alumni from Australian universities and colleges and currently has over 5,000 members of five chapters in Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi, Hue, Danang and Can Tho.
Addressing the gala, the Australian Consul General in Ho Chi Minh City, Mr. Graeme Swift, said, “Vietnamese alumni of the world’s universities have made a huge contribution to this country’s future.
“But tonight we celebrate the connection with Australia and the excellent work the Vietnamese Graduates from Australia Club does in keeping the links between Australia and the Vietnamese alumni alive… Australia and Vietnam enjoy very special people-to-people links and the Vietnamese alumni from Australian universities are a perfect example.
“And Australia’s education partnership with Vietnam continues to go from strength to strength.”
Mr. Jack Snelling, South Australian Minister for Employment, Training and Further Education, told the gala, “I know the aim of this dinner tonight is for members of the VGAC to thank Australia. But I’d like to say, to those of you who studied in my home town of Adelaide, South Australia, even if it was many years ago, thank you.
“I’m asking you tonight to draw on your experiences and success to be ambassadors, spreading the word of the benefits of studying and living in Australia to your friends and families.
“In doing this you will be playing an important role, fostering the strong economic, social and cultural links between Adelaide and Vietnam, our very important regional neighbor.
“In South Australia, we value very highly the academic, cultural and social contributions made by international students. They have helped to grow Adelaide’s reputation as Australia’s premier learning city.”
Mr. Snelling is on a visit to Vietnam to promote his state’s educational and training links with the Southeast Asian nation.
Around 23,000 Vietnamese are studying across all levels and faculties throughout Australia, said Consul General Swift.
