Sydney (VNA) – The Vietnam-Australia Scholars & Experts Association (VASEA) officially launched its chapter in South Australia on March 13, marking a significant milestone in fostering academic, professional, and technological collaboration between the two nations.

Addressing the launching ceremony at the University of Adelaide, Vietnamese Ambassador Pham Hung Tam said that VASEA is not only a network for the Vietnamese expat community in Australia but also plays a crucial role in strengthening bilateral cooperation.

He said the Vietnamese Government places great importance on this organisation. One of VASEA’s key recommendations to Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh during his visit to Australia in March 2024 laid the foundation for a government-backed initiative – the global Vietnamese scholars and experts forum, which convened for the first time in August last year.

Tam expressed his hope that the new chapter would become a driving force for collaboration between South Australia and various provinces in Vietnam. With its strengths in education, agriculture, information technology, and digital transformation, South Australia offers abundant resources for partnership, benefiting both countries.

Professor Jessica Gallagher, Deputy Vice-Chancellor (External Engagement) at the University of Adelaide, described the establishment of the chapter as a pivotal step in expanding VASEA’s influence at the state level. She stressed its role in deepening ties between South Australia and Vietnam, particularly in education, research, and business collaboration.

Dr Tran Nam Nghiep, head of the chapter and Associate Dean of Internationalisation (Southeast Asia) within the university’s Faculty of Sciences, Engineering and Technology, affirmed that the chapter will serve not only as a professional network but also as a platform for academic exchange, support, and collaboration among Vietnamese scholars, researchers, and businesses in South Australia.

Speaking to the Vietnam News Agency (VNA)'s reporters on the sidelines of the event, VASEA Vice President Jane Tran expressed her confidence that, with over 500 members from various professional fields across Australia and a rapidly growing membership base in different states, VASEA will provide a strong foundation for the chapter to drive initiatives, implement high-quality collaboration programmes, and build a thriving community of Vietnamese intellectuals and professionals in the region.

Meanwhile, Nghiep outlined the chapter’s key activities in the time to come, including a career mentoring programme, a quarterly academic-industry forum connecting scholars and professionals with businesses, and a series of community networking events./.