On the morning of November 26, 2024, at Hall 602, Vo Van Tan campus, Ho Chi Minh City Open University held the Graduation Ceremony for the 2022 cohort of the international joint program between Ho Chi Minh City Open University and Flinders University (Australia), as well as the Opening Ceremony to welcome new students of the 2024 cohort. The new students are enrolled in the Bachelor of Business, Bachelor of Commerce, and Bachelor of Languages programs, which are part of the international joint programs in collaboration with several Australian universities, including Bond University, the University of Southern Queensland, and Flinders University.

Overview of the event

Attending the ceremony were: From Flinders University: Mr. Sebastian Raneskold – Vice President; Dr. Michael Gilding – Vice President; Mr. Matt Schultz – Director of International Recruitment; Mr. Bill Damachis – Director of the International Partnerships Office; Dr. Pham Thu Thuy – Representative of the College of Business, Government, and Law; Ms. Huyen Tran – Regional Manager, International Recruitment; From Ho Chi Minh City Open University: Prof. Dr. Nguyen Minh Ha – President; Dr. Le Thi Thanh Thu – Former Chairperson of the University Council; Assoc. Prof. Dr. Van Thi Hong Loan – Head of Advanced School, Director of the International Joint Program; along with faculty members, university staff, parents, and students of the international joint programs

In his speech, Prof. Dr. Nguyen Minh Ha, President of the University, congratulated the 2022 cohort students who successfully completed Phase 1 of the joint program in Vietnam and are preparing to enter Phase 2 at Flinders University in Adelaide, Australia, to complete their bachelor's degrees. He encouraged students to make the most of this opportunity to learn, grow, and contribute to promoting the image of capable and responsible Vietnamese students in an international environment.

"The international joint program between Ho Chi Minh City Open University and Flinders University (Australia) was initiated in June 2017, marking an official partnership between the two universities. This collaboration not only aims at multidisciplinary education but also opens up diverse learning and experiential opportunities, particularly through the advanced 2+2 program model." – Prof. Dr. Nguyen Minh Ha said.

Prof. Dr. Nguyen Minh Ha speaking at the ceremony

Dr. Michael Gilding, Vice President of Flinders University, reaffirmed: "Flinders University is committed to supporting students, especially during their transition to a new learning environment. With a student-centered philosophy, Flinders University continuously implements comprehensive support initiatives, from extracurricular activities and specialized courses tailored for joint program students to events celebrating multicultural communities. This creates a friendly, inclusive, and inspiring learning environment. In the future, Flinders University aims to strengthen and develop its long-term partnership with Ho Chi Minh City Open University, delivering an outstanding educational experience that meets the growing demands of the global workforce."

Dr. Michael Gilding, Vice President of Flinders University sharing at the event

As part of the program, Ho Chi Minh City Open University, in collaboration with Flinders University (Australia), awarded Certificates of Completion for Phase 1 and Phase 2 scholarships to students of the 2022 cohort. For the new students of the 2024 cohort enrolling in the joint programs, the university granted a scholarship fund worth over 520,000,000 VND to encourage academic excellence and support their transition into a dynamic and modern learning environment.

The international joint programs have provided students with new opportunities to pursue high-quality education and experience the Australian academic environment. At the same time, these programs contribute to developing a high-quality workforce in Vietnam, fostering the strategic partnership between Vietnam and Australia.

Some pictures at the event: