The talk show "Enhancing people-to-people exchanges - connecting education and training between Vietnam and India", was jointly organized by the Vietnam-India Friendship Association in Hanoi and the Faculty of Oriental Studies, University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Vietnam National University - Hanoi on April 10, to boost cooperation in education and strengthen friendship between the two countries.

Speaking at the seminar, India's Deputy Ambassador to Vietnam, Subhash Prasad Gupta, highlighted the important achievements in cooperation between India and Vietnam in many fields, including education.

Subhash Prasad Gupta, Deputy Ambassador of India to Vietnam, speaks at the event. Photo: Thu Huong

India is famous for its thousands of years of knowledge and education. Hundreds of years ago, Buddhist monks and scholars, including Vietnamese, traveled thousands of miles to reach Taxila, the holy land of Buddhism, in search of learning.

According to Subhash Prasad Gupta, despite the scarcity of educational resources, India is always willing to share development experience and techniques with partners, including Vietnam.

It has provided more than 200 scholarships and training courses to students through bilateral support mechanisms. India has also supported many facilities for schools in Vietnam. The Indian government helped Vietnam set up the Vietnam-India English Language Training Center (VICELT) in Danang in 2007 and donated a high-performance computer to Hanoi University of Science and Technology in 2013.

Vietnam National University students at the talk show. Photo: Hoang Linh

Universities between the two countries also coordinate student exchange activities, educational counseling, and career guidance. Last year, the embassy co-hosted an education fair with Vietnam National University - Hanoi to promote knowledge sharing between leading Indian and Vietnamese institutions.

The two governments also cooperate in many other areas, including technology, agriculture, and security. In 2011, thanks to India's support, Hanoi opened the Advanced Resource Center for Information Technology. India also provided US$150,000 to support the establishment of the Indira Gandhi Hi-Tech Crime Laboratory.

Experts from Vietnam National University - Hanoi, and Indian education organizations also gave presentations on Vietnam-India education cooperation, India's national education policy, and learning experiences.

Director of the Swami Vivekananda Cultural Centre, Monica Sharma, introduced the Indian government's ICCR scholarship program. Photo: Thu Huong

Monica Sharma, Director of the Swami Vivekananda Cultural Center, introduced the Indian government's ICCR scholarship program to Vietnamese students and gave some tips for Vietnamese students studying abroad.

Subhash Prasad Gupta said that with the current progress, India will be a good destination for Vietnamese students.

Currently, this South Asian country ranks second in terms of higher education network, with more than 1,000 universities and more than 42,000 colleges offering quality education at an affordable cost.

According to Phan Lan Tu, Chairwoman of the Vietnam-India Friendship Association in Hanoi, the event is an opportunity to strengthen friendship and promote cultural exchange between the people of the two countries.