8 May 2005 Vietnamese PM Opens NZ Tour with Lincoln Offers of Collaboration

His Excellency and a party of about 40 Vietnamese officials, including the country's Minister of Education, spent an hour at Lincoln University this morning learning about research and other activity in which Lincoln University could collaborate with universities and organisations in Viet Nam.

Environmental research, biotechnology and bio-protection, sustainable tourism and agribusiness were all areas in which Lincoln could offer collaboration, he was told, in a presentation by senior staff.

The campus visit foreshadows the future signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between Lincoln University and Hanoi Agricultural University as the basis for staff and student exchanges and shared research.

Lincoln already has such an agreement with Viet Nam's Hue Agricultural University.

Earlier this year Lincoln University's Vice-Chancellor, Professor Roger Field, was the first New Zealand university vice-chancellor to visit Viet Nam.

The New Zealand Government has identified Viet Nam as an important regional partner with the potential to be a strong ally.

Among speakers at the presentation to the Prime Minister was Vietnamese student Miss Van Thi Nguyen of Binh Dinh province, who is studying for a masters degree in tourism management at Lincoln University.

Ian Collins, Journalist, Lincoln University, Canterbury, New Zealand