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University of Auckland supports students from South-East Asia

With the borders now fully open, the University is keen to get South-East Asian students back on campus and has launched the University of Auckland ASEAN High Achievers Scholarship. Applications for the scholarship open on October 10, and both undergraduate and postgraduate students can apply.

Ainslie Moore, University of Auckland Interim Director International, said: “This is a significant investment for this University, and we very much look forward to welcoming these top students to Auckland, especially after the past few years of Covid and lockdowns. International students add diversity and richness to our campuses as well as playing a major role in research and in the New Zealand workforce outside the university.”

This new scholarship offering is set to reduce financial barriers for incoming students from the region to support them with the transition from online to on-campus learning.



Dr. Erik Lithander, University of Auckland’s Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Strategic Engagement, said: “Covid has been tough on everybody, especially our international students who have been in limbo for so long. We’ve been supporting them every step of the way and it’s so rewarding to now see them back on campus. There’s nothing quite like the buzz of students rushing between lecture theatres, debating in tutorials, and hanging out in the beautiful Albert Park - it’s what university life is all about”.

These scholarships underpin the University of Auckland’s support of its students from South-East Asia throughout the COVID-19 pandemic border closures.

This work has included the development of a Vietnam Study Hub in central Ho Chi Minh City to enhance the online learning experience for students in Vietnam while students were unable to enter New Zealand.

The Hub provided a shared space for University of Auckland students, based in Vietnam, to connect with their peers, tutors and teachers in person; while helping students maintain motivation and prepare for on-campus study, now that border restrictions have been lifted.

Located in the Sunwah Innovation Centre – a modern shared workspace in central Ho Chi Minh City – the Vietnam Study Hub provided students a bright and freshly designed ambience to create an exceptional online learning environment. Additionally, it provided complementary tailored services such as tutoring and career counselling, which were very beneficial for students’ progress.

The University also supported students from Malaysia, Indonesia & Thailand by offering online learning support providing a high contact, personalised learning support programme to help students achieve their education goals, whilst border restrictions were in place.

Dedicated Learning Advisors were made available to undergraduate students from these countries, to assist students in their local time zone anytime they needed a helping hand.

Throughout the pandemic, the University of Auckland continued to develop institutional partnerships across South-East Asia to strengthen ties within the region.

This included a Memorandum of Understanding with Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology (HCMUT) whereby several long-term goals were identified in areas such as joint-research and credit transfer agreements allowing students the opportunity study at both institutions throughout their degree.

With the New Zealand borders having opened to international students from August 1, 2022, the University of Auckland welcomes students from South-East Asia back to campus. With hopes that the initiatives that have been put in place throughout the pandemic will have set students on the right track to commence studies here in New Zealand in 2023.

PV


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