On January 12, 2024, Mr. Andrew Goledzinowski - the Australian Ambassador in Vietnam visited Foreign Trade University and shared insights on "Promoting the Strategic Cooperation between Australia and Vietnam: The Role of Education”.

Representatives of Foreign Trade University attending the program included Assoc. Prof. Dr. Le Thi Thu Thuy - Chairwoman of the Board of Trustees; Assoc. Prof. Dr. Pham Thu Huong - Vice President; Assoc. Prof. Dr. Dao Ngoc Tien - Vice President; Assoc. Prof. Dr. Cao Dinh Kien – Director of the Office of International Affairs; Assoc. Prof. Dr. Ho Thuy Ngoc – Dean of the Faculty International Education; Ms. Pham Thanh Ha - Deputy Head of Department of Undergraduate Studies; Heads/Deputies of several units within the university, along with officers, lecturers, and students.

From the Australian Embassy in Vietnam, Mr. Andrew Goledzinowski - the Australian Ambassador to Vietnam and Ms. Jennifer Bahen - Education Counselor, were present.

In her welcoming speech, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Pham Thu Huong - Vice President warmly welcomed the delegation from the Australian Embassy in Vietnam during session. This event is expected to further strengthen the friendship between the University and the Embassy, and between the two countries, Australia and Vietnam, especially after the celebration of the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Vietnam and Australia (February 26, 1973 - February 26, 2023). The Foreign Trade University takes pride in being a leading educational institution in Vietnam, providing high-quality human resources for the domestic and international labor markets. With a vast international partner network, including 12 partners in Australia, the university encourages its staff and students to participate in academic, professional, and cultural exchange activities, aiming for a diverse and comprehensive international education environment. On this occasion, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Pham Thu Huong expressed the desire to continue receiving support from the Embassy in seeking educational opportunities in the future.

In 2023, Foreign Trade University officially signed a comprehensive cooperation agreement with the University of Queensland (Australia) in various areas of higher education. In the initial stage of this collaboration, both sides will develop an esteemed Bachelor's Joint Program, a cooperative model organized for the first time in Vietnam by the University of Queensland. Vietnamese students will have the opportunity to receive an esteemed bachelor's degree from the University of Queensland and a regular bachelor's degree from Foreign Trade University. Additionally, in the 2024 university admissions, Foreign Trade University plans to enroll students in the field of Computer Science, the Computer Science and Data program in Economics and Business, and start enrolling students in the joint program with the University of Queensland in International Business, International Business program, and Business Analytics in Hanoi headquarters.

During the program, Ambassador Andrew Goledzinowski shared insights into the potential development of cooperation between the two countries, particularly in the field of education, and expressed optimism about the current potential of Vietnamese students. At the beginning of his sharing, the Ambassador acknowledged that Foreign Trade University is one of the leading universities in Vietnam, making this visit an honor to share with the university's officials, lecturers, and students.

Discussing challenges in expanding educational opportunities, the Ambassador addressed regulatory environments, emphasizing the need to create a favorable atmosphere for foreign investment in education and highlighting its importance in Vietnam's development process. Recognizing the significant growth and investment potential in Vietnam, Ambassador Goledzinowski expressed optimism about Vietnam's future development. While acknowledging the challenges ahead, such as increased international competition, especially in manufacturing, the Ambassador believed in Vietnam's ability to overcome these challenges, thanks to the youth, intelligence, and resilience of the Vietnamese people.

The concluding part of the sharing focused on encouraging Vietnam to seize opportunities and interact with the international community. The Ambassador reiterated his confidence in Vietnam's ability to overcome challenges, emphasizing the country's persistent spirit over its more than 4000-year history. As an optimist, he encouraged the audience to approach change with an optimistic mindset, seeing it as an opportunity for improvement and innovation, much like how Vietnam has undergone comprehensive changes and gained recognition worldwide through the Renovation policy since 1986.

In the framework of the program, Ambassador Andrew Goledzinowski spent time interacting and exchanging ideas with students from the university on topics such as the perception of trade cooperation between the two countries, educational policies for international students, Australian government scholarships, etc.