AUSTRALIAN EXPERTS TO VISIT AND WORK WITH THE FACULTY OF ECONOMICS AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT ON COOPERATION OPPORTUNITIES IN RESEARCH AND TRAINING

On February 24^th, 2023, the Faculty of Economics and Rural Development (FERD) was pleased to welcome a delegation of Australian experts including Assoc. Prof. Gordon Rogers, Managing Director of Applied Horticultural Research Ltd. - lecturer at the University of Sydney, Dr. Oleg Nicetic, University of Queensland, together with experts from the Australian Center for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR) and representatives from the ACIAR Vietnam Country Office visited and worked at the Faculty. Attending the meeting with the delegation, on the Faculty of Economics and Rural Development's side, there were the Faculty's Deans and lecturers who had studied and researched in Australia, and participated in the implementation of collaborative research projects funded by ACIAR.

Opening the working session, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Thi Minh Hien - Dean of Faculty of Economics and Rural Development introduced the Faculty, emphasizing the Faculty's potentials in terms of facilities and human resources; summarized the successes in research activities and shared the research directions that the Faculty is carrying out. Assoc. Prof. Hien also affirmed and appreciated the contribution of Australian universities in training and fostering knowledge for many lecturers and researchers of Vietnam National University of Agriculture in general and FERD in particular. Dr. Nguyen Huu Nhuan, Vice Dean of the Faculty introduced an overview of the Faculty's activities, results and research areas including research projects funded by ACIAR and raised some potentials for cooperation in research and training between the two sides in the near future. On behalf of the Australian delegation, Mr. Tran Nam Anh - Deputy Head of ACIAR Representative Office in Vietnam expressed his gratitude for the welcome of FERD and expressed his wish that the two sides would be able to cooperate more in both scientific research and training.

Discussing cooperation in research between the Faculty of Economics and Rural Development with Australian experts

The working group discussed issues related to the Vietnamese agricultural product market, especially digital transformation and traceability in the fruit value chain in the Northwest provinces in order to improve the value of Vietnamese agricultural products. Professor Gordon Rogers from Applied Horticultural Research Ltd. introduced the project Digital monitoring of compliance with VietGAP standards in the Northwest fruit export value chain of Vietnam funded by ACIAR. Dr. Howard Hall, Special Advisor for Commercial Engagement and Adoption of ACIAR's Agribusiness program, also shared his experience of orienting students in scientific research which provides good graduate employment opportunities. more for students.

The open and friendly working session ended at 12:00 on the same day. This meeting is expected to open up opportunities for cooperation in scientific research between the Faculty of Economics and Rural Development, prestigious Australian universities and the Australian International Center for Agricultural Research.

Tran Thi Minh Hoa – Specialization research group of Rural Development Management