HCMC – Consul General of the Netherlands in HCMC Daniel Stork has expressed optimism about the prospects of an educational partnership between Vietnam and the Netherlands, noting that knowledge exchanges have significantly enhanced bilateral relations.
He made the statement yesterday, November 11, at an event held by the Netherlands Education Support Office (Nuffic Neso) Vietnam to highlight 16 years of efforts to foster educational cooperation between the two countries.
Stork lauded Nuffic Neso Vietnam’s dedications to preserving and strengthening the Holland alumni network, connecting professionals and businesses and contributing to the two nations’ growth.
For 16 years, Nuffic Neso Vietnam has promoted a wide range of Dutch government scholarships, such as the Holland Scholarship, the Orange Tulip Scholarship and the Orange Knowledge Programme, to expand educational opportunities for Vietnamese students.
Deputy Minister of Education and Training Nguyen Van Phuc praised Nuffic Neso Vietnam’s work in fostering ties between the alumni community and educational institutions in the two countries.
He stated that the Holland alumni could act as ambassadors to improve the close bond between Vietnam and the Netherlands.
In 2021, the Ministry of Education, Culture, and Science and the Dutch organization Nuffic Neso, agreed to shut down the Nuffic Neso offices to improve education and research partnerships through diplomatic cooperation networks.
As a result, Nuffic Neso Vietnam will keep running until December 31, 2022, while the organization will maintain its presence in Southeast Asia through a regional office in Jakarta, Indonesia.
In addition to education, the Southeast Asia office of Nuffic Neso would promote regional collaboration in the food system, water sustainability, health and tourism fields.
Nguyen Thu Thuy, a Rotterdam School of Management Erasmus University alumna, expressed confidence in the alumni’s determination to grow the network, adding that Nuffic Neso Vietnam’s 16-year legacy will be preserved and further expanded.
Nuffic Neso Vietnam is the official representative of Dutch higher education in the Southeast Asian country, funded by the Dutch Ministry of Education, Culture, and Science.
The office is in charge of key tasks in promoting educational cooperation between Vietnam and the Netherlands, namely increasing student mobility, facilitating Holland Alumni networks and supporting Dutch higher education activities.