Two Vietnamese graduates from VinUniversity (VinUni) have secured fully funded PhD scholarships at The University of Queensland (UQ), marking another milestone in UQ’s growing partnership with Vietnam and Vingroup.
Ms Le Nu Uyen Phuong and Mr Nguyen Quang Hung, among the first alumni of VinUni’s inaugural cohort, progressed to doctoral study at UQ after completing their master’s degrees through an accelerated 3+2 pathway program. Both have now been awarded prestigious UQ Research Training Scholarships to undertake their PhDs in Australia.
Ms Phuong completed a Master of Data Science, while Mr Hung graduated from the Master of Mechanical Engineering (Professional). Their studies were initially supported by the Vingroup Science and Technology Scholarship Program, highlighting the strength of collaboration between UQ, VinUni and Vingroup in developing future research talent.
Founded in 2019 by Vingroup – Vietnam’s largest conglomerate – VinUni is the country’s first private not-for-profit university. Despite its young age, VinUni has rapidly established a strong global reputation, achieving a QS 5 Star overall rating in 2024, being appointed Vietnam’s first UNESCO University Chair in 2024, and gaining institutional accreditation by FIBAA in 2025.
VinUni has also become the only Vietnamese institution to join the Association of Pacific Rim Universities (APRU), a leading global network that includes UQ and connects universities across the Americas, Asia and Australasia.
UQ’s partnership with VinUni dates back to 2019, with a formal Memorandum of Understanding established in 2021. Since then, the collaboration has expanded to include accelerated admission and articulation pathways across engineering, data science, business and commerce, alongside joint research initiatives and industry-linked programs.
UQ Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Global Partnerships) Mr Brett Lovegrove said the students’ progression from coursework to PhD study demonstrated the impact of structured international pathways.
“These outcomes show how strategic partnerships can support talented students to move seamlessly from study into high-impact research,” Mr Lovegrove said.
“UQ values its engagement with Vingroup and VinUniversity, particularly where education, research and industry come together to create global opportunities.”
VinUni Vice-Provost for External Engagement Professor Sunmee Choi said the partnership provides students with opportunities to pursue advanced research in leading international environments.
“The success of these students at UQ reflects not only their strong academic capabilities, but also the solid foundation they have built during their time at VinUni,” Professor Choi said.
“Their progression from master’s to fully funded PhD programs demonstrate both their potential and their commitment to academic excellence. We are very proud to see our graduates continue to thrive and contribute to the global academic community.”
Beyond student mobility, UQ and VinUni, together with Vingroup, have developed a growing portfolio of collaboration spanning research, education and industry engagement. This includes joint projects in robotics and automation, participation in agricultural technology symposia, and exploration of initiatives such as Smart Ocean Cities developments in Vietnam.
UQ continues to strengthen its engagement with Vietnam through education pathways, research collaboration and global partnerships, including encouraging nominations for the prestigious VinFuture Prize – a leading international science and technology award founded by Vingroup.
Read about the UI-UQ Collaboration Centre
Images: VinUni Website and supplied.
