Education New Zealand (ENZ) held a ceremony to award New Zealand Government scholarships for secondary school students (New Zealand Schools Scholarship-NZSS) in District 1, Ho Chi Minh City to 15 Vietnamese students.
This is a scholarship program launched in 2019 exclusively for students of Vietnamese nationality, studying in grades 8, 9, 10 in Vietnam. To date, Vietnam is the only country to receive this scholarship from the New Zealand government.
9 Vietnamese students receive NZSS scholarship certificates in Ho Chi Minh City
Focus on personal "color"
Speaking at the ceremony, Ms. Tredene Dobson, New Zealand Ambassador to Vietnam, expressed her honor to be awarded the 2023 scholarships to talented students in Vietnam. After a 2-year suspension due to the pandemic, the return of the NZSS scholarship program is also an important demonstration of the stronger connection between Vietnam and New Zealand every day, Ms. Tredene affirmed.
"We hope you will have the opportunity to develop yourself, and look forward to your contributions in the classroom and the local community so that New Zealand students can also learn more about the country, people and culture of Vietnam. Therefore, when you come to New Zealand, ask lots of questions, tell lots of stories and be as true to yourself as possible," Ms. Tredene advised.
Ms. Tredene Dobson, New Zealand Ambassador to Vietnam, shared online at the NZSS scholarship award ceremony
Speaking to Thanh Nien Newspaper reporters on the sidelines of the event, Master Bành Phạm Ngọc Vân, ENZ Director in Vietnam, said that the 15 scholarship winners were selected from 60 applications nationwide. According to Ms. Vân, the difference between the NZSS scholarship and other government scholarships is that it requires candidates to record a video introducing themselves instead of writing an essay or taking an aptitude test.
"Through the eyes, smiles, passion and ambition that you show in the videos, we can see the personal 'color' of each candidate. In the videos sent, some candidates share their hobby of reading books, but there are also mature candidates who talk about their career orientation, wanting to study in New Zealand and return to Vietnam to contribute. These are all factors that the selection board is looking for," Ms. Van explained.
In addition, the female master said that although the 15 students are young and come from different learning environments and provinces, they all share the same burning enthusiasm as their older brothers and sisters. "This year's candidates shared a lot about the image they want to become in the future, completely different from the first year students who mainly talked about studying, ability and understanding of New Zealand," Ms. Van shared.
Man Nhi (middle) is one of 15 Vietnamese students receiving the NZSS scholarship in 2023.
Because she did not put much emphasis on the "test" factor, Tang Man Nhi, class 9A1, Tang Bat Ho Secondary School (HCMC) said she was very comfortable throughout the scholarship application process, and almost did not encounter any significant challenges. "Although I was a bit shy in front of the camera, I still tried to share that I have enough passion and skills to carry out my plan well after receiving the scholarship, such as how to develop myself, thereby contributing to the school and Vietnam," the new student of Kerikeri High School shared.
3 levels of support for Vietnamese international students
According to Mr. Ben Burrowes, ENZ's Regional Director for Asia, sending their children to study abroad early is not an easy decision for many families. To reassure parents, Mr. Ben said that each international student will receive attention right from the school level and this is also something that New Zealand focuses on. "We have a set of regulations to sponsor and care for international students right from the moment they land in New Zealand," Mr. Ben informed.
According to Master Bang Pham Ngoc Van, Director of ENZ in Vietnam, personal "color" is a criterion highly appreciated by the NZSS scholarship selection board.
Regarding this aspect, Ms. Ngoc Van added that New Zealand has designed support for Vietnamese students at 3 different levels, namely government, school and peers. Accordingly, with level 1, the New Zealand Government has programs and websites specifically for students of this age group to share "close" information from studying to physical, mental and emotional development.
"On the second floor, high schools that want to accept international students must ensure extremely strict conditions, and each Vietnamese student receives guidance from subject teachers, homeroom teachers, and the department in charge of international students. On the third floor, you will have a buddy (close friend) who is a local student to accompany you throughout your study journey in New Zealand," said Master Van.
Students enthusiastically asked the speaker questions about life in New Zealand.
To quickly adapt to life in New Zealand, Ha An Nguyen, a student at Victoria University of Wellington (New Zealand) and President of the Vietnamese Student Association in New Zealand, noted that international students need to contact their high school and host (local family that will let them stay with them) in advance, and make a list of things to do in the first 2 weeks of arriving in this country such as opening a bank account, paying insurance premiums, etc.
Gia Huy (screen, left cover) shares his experience of living in New Zealand and gives advice to international students.
As a former NZSS 2019 scholarship recipient, Tran Gia Huy, a dual environmental science and psychology student at the University of Canterbury (New Zealand), also advises international students to be proactive and make the most of their time to have the most fulfilling experience. "I was surprised because classes in New Zealand only lasted from 8am to 3pm and exams were not held until the end of the year. Because I had a lot of free time, I joined clubs and sports activities, and from there I gradually realized that the residents here highly value community," Huy shared.
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