Our history
How we established the Institute
The University of Sydney Vietnam Institute follows a rich history of collaboration between Vietnam and Australia.
Vietnam and Australia have benefitted from more than 50 years of diplomatic relations.
In 1974, just one year after establishing diplomatic recognition, the Australian federal government awarded its first educational scholarship to a Vietnamese student. This was the official start of significant collaborations between Australian universities and Vietnam.
The University of Sydney’s partnerships and research in Vietnam have been developing steadily since the 1990s. Projects in the areas of agricultural science and economics formed the initial focus of these partnerships, before research expanded into areas such as medicine and health, sciences, business and commerce, economics and policy, and the arts.
Many of these research projects and outcomes were made possible through more than a decade of conducting research and clinical trials in Vietnam through an affiliation with the Woolcock Institute of Medical Research and its team in Woolcock Vietnam.
The University has historically worked with students, academics, practitioners and government departments at national and local levels in Vietnam and in Sydney to offer training, research partnerships, and opportunities to collaborate.
The University of Sydney Vietnam Institute marks a new chapter in the University’s cooperation with Vietnam and seeks to increase our ability to give back to the community by providing a hub for future research and engagement activities.
Research highlights from the University’s history of working with Vietnam
University of Sydney researcher Professor Greg Fox, University of New South Wales researcher Professor Guy Marks and University of Sydney Vietnam Institute Executive Director Professor Thu-Anh Nguyen, along with other researchers and partners, have conducted large-scale public health intervention and clinical trials to pave the way to prevent, treat and end tuberculosis. Aligned with the World Health Organisation’s End TB Strategy, this work has seen researchers partner with leading international tuberculosis research networks, national and regional infectious diseases institutes, and medical universities. The value of this work was translated into the WHO global guidelines and recognised with the prestigious Ho Chi Minh Scientific Prize in 2022.
Research into Antimicrobial Resistance has strengthened the stewardship of antibiotics in local health hospitals in Vietnam. Working with over 20 hospitals across the country, University of Sydney and local researchers developed new guidelines which help hospitals reduce inappropriate use of antibiotics. This research has shown that training and support for healthcare facilities can significantly reduce antibiotic use, and is continuing through current research underway at the Institute.
In addition to work on tuberculosis and antimicrobial resistance, the University of Sydney’s research to support disease prevention and management in Vietnam has increased our understanding of lung disease, breast cancer, and cerebral palsy. Research has supported clinicians, communities, and maternal and child health.
University researchers have supported the production of safe and healthy agriculture through sustainable farming policy and technologies, food safety advancements, and increasing crop resilience. By identifying research gaps with partners in Vietnam, researchers have promoted cross-country exchanges and multidisciplinary research, understanding the effect of a strong agricultural industry on the nation’s health and economy.
The University of Sydney’s Conservatorium of Music have spent several years working with the Vietnam National Academy of Music, with University of Sydney students travelling to Vietnam to compose cross-cultural music and perform sold out concerts. Associate Professor Jane Gavan has also curated in-country collaborations between creative practitioners and organisations to offer opportunities for sustainable, innovative ways of raising productivity and valuing Vietnamese creativity. University researchers and students have collaborated with organisations and departments including the Vietnam Institute of culture and arts studies and the Ministry of Culture.