Mekong 1000 scholarships

Jul 27, 2011

The Mekong 1000 (2005-20015) project was launched as a platform project for high-level human resource training in Vietnam’s Mekong Delta region. It aims to promote the Delta’s regional development goals through training young university staff and local provincial administrators. The total budget of US$50 million is funded by the 13 provinces from the Mekong Delta.

On the Can Tho University (CTU) website the program’s objectives are as follows: “1. Training staff abroad for graduate levels to promote the process of industrialization and modernization in the Mekong Delta, Vietnam. 2. Training and upgrading working staff to serve the process of integration and economic development of the region. 3. Promoting international exchange and integration especially in technology; impulsing and uniting the strengths of every province with various resources for the regional development in order to cope with the economic globalization/competition process. 4. The specific target of the project from 2006 to 2011 is to train abroad at least 1000 young staff at Master and doctoral levels with different disciplines feeding the needs of the development of the region.”

The Mekong 1000 programme has the following funds available for a student:

USD 740 per month living cost
Up to USD 900 per year for insurances
A maximum of USD 10000 per year for tuition fees

To date, 400 Masters’ and PhD candidates have been sent overseas. English skills can be a challenge for the candidates. The Mekong 1000 caters to the needs of the Mekong Delta and is administered by the Can Tho University.

In order to become involved in this program, we need to work with the University of Can Tho. This is the key educational institute in the Mekong Delta. Can Tho University is the coordinating institution and screens, selects the prospective candidates. Its board advises the steering committee on which candidate to approve.

Can Tho University is also very much in tune with the needs of the region; it organizes meetings with the people’s committees and companies to adjust existing or develop new curricular, based on the needs of the region. This university not only provides future skilled workers to the area directly surrounding the university, but also the entire Mekong Delta region. The university is also consulted by People’s Committees from surrounding areas such as Kien Giang, Ca Mau, Bac Lieu, Soc Trang, Tra Vinh, Vinh Long etc.

Since its establishment in 2005, only 20 candidates have studied in the Netherlands, although there exists a number of extenuating circumstances which provide many opportunities for Dutch institutes to initiate and develop educational projects or programs with the Can Tho University. Four Dutch institutions have signed agreements to support this programme (Delft University, Wageningen University, Groningen University and Amsterdam University). The Can Tho University has 120 Dutch alumni working at its institute who could encourage their colleagues and other students to study in the Netherlands. The needs of the Mekong region coincide with Dutch strengths, such as water management, agriculture and the Can Tho University has advised the provincial leaders to choose the Netherlands to cooperate with because of these strengths. However, candidates are not aware of Dutch education and its strengths and are inclined to study in the US.

Candidates Preparation Process

- Candidates who qualify the standards of the project are selected quarterly;

- Candidates who live in the Mekong Delta are chosen from outstanding students and young staff;

- They must be under 30 for master and under 35 for PhD study and willing to work in the Mekong Delta;

- Candidates must undergo 6-12 months of intensive training courses of English in Can Tho University to upgrade their language as well as professional ability;

- Candidates who pass the TOEFL - 550 or IELTS - 6.5 will be selected and sent to an appropriate institution according to the direction of local authorities. They will often adhere to CTU’s advices.

- Local authorities will be responsible for all financial requirements of the study.

Other elements of the programme

- Selecting and training official resources in profession and English.

- Selecting candidates for training abroad.

- Managing candidates who are studying abroad.

- Arranging work for candidates after they finish studying.

Disciplines

• Mechanics, Engineering and Technology • Information and Telecommunication • Food Sciences and Technology • Civil Engineering, Transportation, Water Supply. • Material Sciences, • Chemical Technology • Social sciences • Biotechnology • Urban Planning and Management, Architecture…. • Economics, Financing, Trading and Banking • Law, Public Relations and International Relations • Public Health • Others…

Partnerships

In order to participate in the program, foreign universities develop partnerships with CTU. Below you will find their main partners.

I. USA

University of California Davis, USA www.ucdavis.edu
Michigan State University, USA www.msu.edu
University of Missouri, Columbia www.missouri.edu

II. Europe

University of Ghent, Belgium www.ugent.be
University of Antwerp, Belgium www.ua.ac.be
Open University of Brussels, Belgium
Catholic University of Leuven, Belgium www.crwflags.com
Technical University of Delft, The Netherlands www.tudelft.nl
University of Wageningen, The Netherlands www.wau.nl
University of Groningen, The Netherlands www.rug.nl
University of Amsterdam, The Netherlands www.english.uva.nl
Ruhr University of Bochum, Germany www.ruhr-uni-bochum.de
University of Dortmund, Germany www.uni-dortmund.de
University of Bonn, Germany www.uni-bonn.de
Leibniz University of Hannover, Germany www.uni-hannover.de

iii. Australia

University of Queensland www.uq.edu.au
Rmit- Melbourne www.rmit.edu.au
University of Sydney www.usyd.edu.au
University of Massey, New Zealand www.massey.ac.nz
Victoria University of Wellington, New Zealand www.vuw.ac.nz

iv. Asia

Asian Institute of Technology, Thailand www.ait.ac.th

Mekong 1000 and Dutch education

The Netherlands could support the Mekong 1000 programme in several forms, with special attention paid to the above mentioned sectors:

- Provide funds to Mekong 1000 students who wish to study Master and PhD programmes in the Netherlands.

- Offer a reduction in tuition fees for Mekong 1000 students who wish to study in the Netherlands. Presently tuition fees are too high, compared even to the US whose institutes have lowered their fees to accommodate the limited financial resources of these provinces.

- Provide financial assistance to develop the English skills of Mekong 1000 students who wish to study in the Netherlands.

- Simplify and speed up admission process at Dutch institutes;

- Develop a pro-active and concerted effort of various Dutch stakeholders (business, Consulate General, Nuffic Neso, Dutch higher education institutes).

For further information contact Nuffic Neso Vietnam or the Mekong 1000 office directly:

Office of Mekong 1000

Can Tho University

Mr. Le Viet Dung

Vice rector

Address: 3/2 street, campus II, Can Tho city, Viet Nam

Phone: +84-71-3731 781

Fax: +84-71- 3838 262

Email: lvdung@ctu.edu.vn

Web: http://app.ctu.edu.vn/mk1000

Dr. Nguyen Anh Tuan, Rector

Can Tho University, 3/2 street , campus II, Can Tho city, Vietnam