A provincial delegation led by Mr. Thai Dai Ngoc, Secretary of the Gia Lai Provincial Party Committee, discussed the proposals with university representatives on October 2 during a working visit to Australia.
Mr. Thai Dai Ngoc called for the two sides to designate contact points and identify two or three feasible areas for further discussions. Initial activities could include scholarship support for Gia Lai students, expert connections, needs assessments, online exchanges, short courses and applied research proposals.
He said the province wanted cooperation to address practical needs, including improving labour productivity and making efficient use of land, water and clean energy.
Expanding learning opportunities and workforce skills, particularly in rural and ethnic minority communities, was another priority.
Mr. Thai Dai Ngoc outlined four areas for cooperation: education and training; applied research in tropical agriculture, animal husbandry, aquaculture and biosafety; energy, environment and digital transformation; and stronger connections between universities, government agencies and businesses.
In education, he proposed direct links between Charles Darwin University, Quy Nhon University and other suitable training institutions in Gia Lai. These could cover lecturer development, specialised English, digital skills, STEM teaching methods and the use of artificial intelligence in teaching and learning.
Other proposals included professional development courses at Charles Darwin University for lecturers from Gia Lai, English classes for the province’s teachers and Vietnamese language instruction for the Australian university’s students and lecturers.
Professor Fiona Coulson, acting vice-chancellor and president of Charles Darwin University, said similarities in natural and geographical conditions, particularly their coastal settings, offered opportunities for joint research, expert exchanges and student mobility.
She suggested Gia Lai develop a concrete plan for annual training, exchange and applied research programmes.
Coulson said the university was ready to share scholarship information and explore cooperation in undergraduate, master’s and doctoral education, including joint-degree programmes involving Charles Darwin University and international universities. It also offers a two-year vocational training programme designed around practical needs.
She expressed interest in continuing discussions to identify suitable fields, connect researchers, training institutions and businesses, and develop specific cooperation programmes.
Gia Lai has two universities, four university branches and 21 vocational education institutions.
Alongside Quy Nhon University, the province hosts the International Center for Interdisciplinary Science and Education (ICISE), TMA Innovation Park and FPT Software Quy Nhon, which could support connections in education, research and business.
At the meeting, Charles Darwin University representatives outlined the institution’s teaching and research strengths, particularly in fields relevant to northern Australia’s natural conditions and socioeconomic needs.
The multidisciplinary public university provides both higher education and vocational training.
Its research focuses on practical applications and connections with government, businesses and communities, with areas of interest including tropical agriculture, aquaculture, biosafety, energy, natural resources, the environment and tropical health.
The university maintains partnerships with more than 100 organisations, educational institutions, governments and research institutes worldwide, and a student exchange network covering more than 30 countries.
During the visit, Mr. Thai Dai Ngoc also presented gifts to representatives of the Vietnamese Student Association at Charles Darwin University and the Vietnamese Student Association in Northern Australia.