A Vietnamese-Canadian businessman based in Vancouver is funding a scholarship for students to study at Canadian institutions which aims to foster “future leaders” and address labour market needs.
The Canada-Vietnam Youth Development Scholarship, sponsored by Dan-D Foods Group, which was founded by Vietnamese-born Dan On, will award five students CAN$13,000 each year for up to four years for a full undergraduate degree at a Canadian university.
“I want our scholarship program to produce future leaders who can return to Vietnam with the Canadian values and ethics that have become so important to me”
The fund aims to help Vietnamese students “become future community leaders” by funding their studies, the Consulate General of Canada in Ho Chi Minh City announced this month.
Applications are therefore being assessed on the basis of an essay in English or French, outlining applicants’ “commitment and ongoing interest in supporting their community”, along with their academic transcripts.
Priority will be given to students who have applied to a smaller institution in Canada and to those studying in one of the following fields: economics; engineering; environmental studies; police and correctional studies or criminology; and sciences.
“As a developing country, Vietnam is currently facing many problems ranging from meagre public health, civil administration to infrastructure; therefore, the scholarship objective is to provide more talented leaders in the different fields, especially civil administration and engineering to create a brighter future for Vietnam,” a spokesperson for Dan-D Foods Group said.
While the scholarship will be fully funded by the private company, which operates a number of large brands in Canada and has factories in Vietnam, it will be administered by the Canada-Vietnam Alumni Association.
“I want our scholarship programme to produce future leaders who can return to Vietnam not only with the benefit of an excellent Canadian education, but with the Canadian values and ethics that have become so important to me,” commented Dan On, who moved to Vancouver at 18 before establishing the business.
Candidates must have been accepted to a programme of study and must be Vietnamese citizens.
A selection committee consisting of representatives from the Consulate General of Canada, Dan-D Group and the Canada-Vietnam Alumni Association is currently assessing applications for the scholarship. Recipients will be announced on Canada Day, July 1, 2016.
A total of 4,843 Vietnamese students studied in Canada in 2014, according to the latest statistics published by CBIE. Though this represents a small proportion of international students in the country (1.44%), Vietnam nevertheless accounts for one of the fastest international student groups in Canada, up 16% in the year to 2014.
