Under the framework of the project "Integrating Smallholder Households and Farm Production Systems into Commercial Beef Supply Chains in Vietnam" (Project AGB/2020/189), alongside cooperative research activities, the project organized exchange activities to facilitate learning and research experience sharing between Vietnamese and Australian students. With funding from the Crawford Fund (Australia), from November 6 to 8, 2024, Bharath Dinakaran, a master student in Agriculture and Food Sciences at the University of Tasmania (UTAS), Australia, visited, exchanged ideas, and interacted with students at the Vietnam National University of Agriculture (VNUA).
During his visit, Bharath Dinakaran explored the activities of units and organizations engaged in development projects in Vietnam, including the Department of Economic Management, the Center for Research and Tropical Beekeeping (VNUA), the Fruit and Vegetable Research Institute (FAVRI) (Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development), the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) in Vietnam, and COOPLUS, a company specializing in local pork products.
In particular, during his time at VNUA, Bharath participated in a series of activities where he shared learning and research experiences and engaged in cultural exchanges with VNUA students. These exchange activities included interacting with two student groups who received research scholarships from Project AGB/2020/189 in 2024. Specifically, the student group led by Nguyen Minh Nguyet and students from the 67A Digital Economics class worked on a topic entitled "Evaluating the economic efficiency of applying a circular economy model in beef cattle farming in Song Mai commune, Kim Dong district, Hung Yen province". while Nguyen Ngoc Loan and her classmates from the Economic Management class (cohort 67A) focused on "Analyzing the beef cattle supply chain in Tan Tien commune, Van Giang district, Hung Yen province". Bharath also connected with the English Club at the Faculty of Economics and Management, sharing knowledge, research experiences, and discussing economic and management topics within an international context. This exchange offered excellent opportunities to strengthen English communication skills, foster confidence, and expand insights into economics and management. Both Vietnamese and Australian students exchanged insights, viewpoints, and ideas on research themes, presenting and improving skills in academic English and professional communication.
Bharath also participated in sharing research experience with students from the Advanced Program of the Faculty of Agronomy. He presented his master’s research project titled “Optimising rearing procedures for a novel fly pollinator Eristalis tenax”, which focused on enhancing the breeding procedures for Eristalis tenax, a highly potential insect species in pollinating crops. The project contributed to pollinator entomology while also exploring cost-effective solutions for implementing pollinators in agriculture. Bharath’s research evaluated different pollen types to determine the most effective for the growth and reproduction of Eristalis tenax. Results showed that bee pollen was the most effective control sample, despite being the highest cost, as it improved egg production and hatch rate due to its high nitrogen content, enhancing the reproductive potential of the flies. This session provided excellent opportunities for students from both universities to develop their study and work competencies. Through these research exchanges, VNUA students gained valuable practical insights from an international graduate, learning advanced research methods and techniques. These sessions helped students better understand research processes, from planning and data collection to analysis and presentation of findings. In addition, the students enhanced soft skills, including presentation, teamwork, and critical thinking, key elements for confidence in academic and professional settings.
During his time at VNUA, Bharath was actively involved in educational activities, exploring partnerships in international cooperation projects and sharing research and study experiences with VNUA students. Bharath was deeply impressed by the students of VNUA. This meaningful engagement offered students the chance to learn from each other, broaden their knowledge, and strengthen their personal skills. Through exchanging research experiences and cultural exchange, students from both universities shared insights on modern research methods and tools, along with the challenges and solutions encountered in research and project implementation. Such cooperative activities enhance Bharath’s understanding and skills in Vietnam and VNUA. As the University of Tasmania (UTAS) is ranked in the top 15 universities in Australia and the top 2% worldwide (QS 2023), the exchange program provided VNUA students the opportunity to improve research skills and explore international collaboration possibilities, building relationships among young researchers for the future.
Additionally, through the Vietnam-Australia cultural exchange, students gained deeper insights into the customs, lifestyles, and cultural values of each country, fostering global thinking and respect for cultural diversity. This engagement not only enriched professional knowledge but also promoted solidarity between cultures, laying a foundation for sustainable cooperation and future development. These activities open up more international cooperation opportunities in agricultural research and contribute to career development prospects for VNUA students.
Nguyen Thi Ly, Pham Van Hung
Project AGB/2020/189