Good afternoon, everyone.
I’m delighted to be here with you in Hanoi to celebrate the continuing growth of RMIT Vietnam and to celebrate the education links that are such a central part of the Australia-Vietnam relationship.
I am pleased to be joined by Professor Alec Cameron, RMIT Vice-Chancellor, who has travelled from Australia to join his team on this occasion. And I’m especially pleased to be joined by Professor Claire Macken, Pro-Vice-Chancellor of RMIT Vietnam, who is the face of RMIT in this country.
I’ve just arrived in Hanoi, and am marvelling at the sheer pace of life.
The energy on the streets is unmistakeable.
The scale and pace of economic development is remarkable.
And so it makes sense that RMIT is launching its Industry and Innovation Hub here.
Because industry and innovation thrives on this kind of energy.
The kind of energy that you can feel around you.
That inspires.
The kind of energy that drives you to excel.
Which is exactly what Vietnam is doing, as it continues to grow as an economic power in the region.
My government in Australia is ambitious for our education sector – to build on our reputation as being cutting edge, innovative, and globally competitive.
I see that drive reflected here too.
Australia and Vietnam share a commitment to excellence in education – and this is the natural foundation for this partnership.
Our 50 years of diplomatic relation have been defined by shared efforts that bring mutual benefits and support both of our countries’ economic growth and resilience.
And there’s no greater economic investment — no greater investment in our people, and their futures — than education.
Education is the biggest and most powerful weapon we have against disadvantage.
It opens the doors of possibility.
Education lifts us up - not just as individuals but it lifts our countries and our economies too.
And so I’m pleased that, today, we’re celebrating the evolution of an education partnership between our nations that began more than two decades ago.
When RMIT established Vietnam’s first foreign-owned university, the goal was to be:
“… a new university using new technology in a new millennium.”
In short: to be an innovator.
RMIT has certainly been delivering on this.
And, with this new Hub – RMIT’s first in Southeast Asia - it will continue to do so.
This Hub will be a gateway to international expertise.
Like RMIT’s first campus has done in Melbourne, it will contribute to the vibrancy of Hanoi’s inner city.
It will collaborate with community, government and industry to find innovative ways to tackle local and shared priorities.
Like sustainable cities or emerging technologies.
Today I’m looking forward to hearing about RMIT’s plans to expand its extraordinary campus in Ho Chi-Minh City, through a $250 million commitment.
This is a vote of confidence in Vietnam’s future.
And in the strength and the potential we see in joining forces on education.
Australia brings a lot to this partnership.
Our higher education system is world class. \
Our history of innovation and research is a proud one.
And we are making sure our universities have strong links to industry to drive our nation’s economic potential into the future.
We also know there is much we can learn from Vietnam in this partnership.
And we know there is more we can do together – through more joint action, joint research and collaboration.
And, importantly, making sure that the knowledge we create is spread in ways that boost our economies and improve the lives of our people.
It is great that while RMIT was the first Australian university in Vietnam, it is now not the only one – Monash, Swinburne, UTS and Western Sydney Uni have all joined RMIT in investing in the education of Vietnam’s next generation.
In addition to RMIT’s investments, I am pleased today to acknowledge Western Sydney University’s new Whitlam Scholarships.
These scholarships will allow 60 students to study degrees in business, communications and data science here and in Australia.
Qualifications that we need for today, and for the future.
Let me thank everyone who has been involved in these new initiatives
For your hard work and for contributing to the mutual trust and respect that Vietnam and Australia enjoy today.
Here’s to you. Thank you.