New Scholarships for Vietnamese Students
NEWS
Students from two Vietnamese universities are now eligible to apply for a new financial aid programme for studies at KTH. A combination of direct funding and the possibility of on-campus employment are designed to make it easier for up to 10 outstanding students to pursue master’s degrees each year.
Recently signed agreements with Vietnam National University Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi University of Science and Technology will provide partial financing for up to five students from each institution.
Professor Anders Hult, Director of International Affairs at KTH with responsibility for Southeast Asia, says the new scholarships are intended to close the gap between existing financial aid from Vietnam’s Education Ministry and the full cost of completing a master’s degree at KTH.
“In addition to these partial tuition waiver grants of up to 45,000 Swedish kronor [$6,700], we’ll be able to offer paid employment on campus, for example in labs or as teaching assistants. Together with the $20,000 grants available from the Education Ministry, students should be able to live and study in Stockholm without taking loans or relying on their families,” Professor Hult explains.
Prospective KTH students currently studying in Vietnam are encouraged to apply locally for the grants, either through the financial aid offices at their home universities or through Vietnam International Education Development (VIED).
While the new programme is aimed at high-achieving students with limited financial resources, it’s far from a charitable enterprise. KTH administrators see substantial long-term benefits both for the university and for the Swedish economy in offering educational opportunities to the next generation of Vietnamese business leaders, researchers and government officials.
A small country with a highly export-driven economy, Sweden is home to a number of large, successful companies. But while global enterprises like Ericsson, Scania and ABB are well-known market leaders in many countries, only a small fraction of their production facilities and employees are based at home. “More than 80 Swedish companies are active in Vietnam,” Dr Hult says. “And when students get their education here, they return home with the Swedish language, a network of personal contacts, and memories of some of their best years. They’re our alumni, and when a Swedish company is doing business in Vietnam, it’s a huge advantage to have someone on the other side of the table who’s familiar with Swedish culture and practices.”
A veteran of many trips to the region, Professor Hult says former students make the best ambassadors for promoting trade and academic exchanges between the two countries. “Former international students are often more enthusiastic in presenting Sweden and Stockholm than we Swedes are,” he says. “They’ve spent enough time here to know the country pretty well, and they tend to be extremely positive about what they’ve learned.”
By Kevin Billinghurst | kb2@kth.se