Vietnamese officers in a training course in Australia (Source: the Australian Embassy in Vietnam ) Hanoi (VNA) – Australia has announced the ASEAN-Australia Defence Scholarship for 10 scholars from ASEAN member nations, including Vietnam, to complete a two-year ‘Master of Strategic Studies’ Post-graduates degree in Australia.
The announcement was made at the ASEAN-Australia Special Summit which took place in Sydney, Australia, from March 17-18.
Starting 2019, the programme will fund one representative from each ASEAN member nation and one Australian scholar.
“This programme will be the first of its kind for ASEAN defence officials, which will see ASEAN’s and Australia’s best and brightest working together to share their experiences and develop their strategic thinking,” said Senator the Hon Marise Payne, Australian Minister for Defence.
Colonel Nerolie McDonald, Australian Defence Attaché to Vietnam, said Australia commenced the Defence Cooperation Programme with Vietnam in 1999. Since then, Australia has provided more than 2,000 training positions for Vietnamese defence personnel, including defence scholarships in Australia and Vietnam.
McDonald expressed his belief that personnel from the Vietnam People’s Army will seek to take up this opportunity.
“Vietnamese Defence students are outstanding performers in our Defence Cooperation Programme courses and I know they will do well again in this programme,” he said.
According to the Australian Embassy in Vietnam, more details of the scholarship will be announced in the coming months through the Australian Defence Attaché Office in Vietnam.-VNA
VNA
