On June 21, 2019, TNU - University of Agriculture and Forestry (TNU – UAF) solemnly held the  Honorary Doctorate Conferment Ceremony for Mr. Graham Alliband, senior advisor of Aus4skills program, former Australian Ambassador to Vietnam.

Attending the ceremony, there were the presences of the representative of Aus4skills Program, leaders of Thai Nguyen University, leaders of TNU – UAF and more nearly 100 Australian Alumni.

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Tran Thanh Van - Vice-Presisent of TNU confer the Honorary Doctorate Degree

Born on August 5th, 1945, Mr Graham Alliband completed his bachelor’s degree from Australian National University in 1966 with a Bachelor of Arts Hons 1st (Oriental Studies). He pursued further studies in Cornell University, Ithaca, USA, earning a Master of Arts in Comparative Government in 1969. He started his career as a Diplomatic Officer, Department of Foreign Affairs, Canberra, Saigon (from 1972 – 1974), Seoul, Kuala Lumpur, and Hanoi (from 1978 – 1979), Vietnam. Then, he worked as National Director, Australian Freedom from Hunger Campaign, Sydney, Australia from March 1981 – June 1988. Based on his outstanding achievements, he was appointed as Australian Ambassador to Vietnam, Hanoi, Vietnam from July 1988 – September 1991. In addition, he also took on other important roles such as Advance Missions Team Leader, United Nations Study on Capacity Development for Poverty Elimination in Vietnam, UNDP, Hanoi, Vietnam; Team Leader, Evaluation Mission, Strengthening Disaster Management in Indonesia Phase II, UNDP, Jakarta, Indonesia ; Team Leader, Feasibility Study, Disaster Rehabilitation Fund in Vietnam, UNDP, Hanoi, Vietnam; Member of the Joint AusAID/Government of Vietnam Assessment Panel for Australia Vietnam Development Scholarships, Australia/Vietnam; Team Leader, Australia Awards Vietnam, DFAT, Coffey, Vietnam; Program Director Aus4skills…..

 Mr Graham has demonstrated unswerving dedication to serving the diplomatic missions assigned by the Australian Government through his leadership, expertise and commitment. As far as TNU – UAF as concerned, Mr Graham Alliband played a pivotal role in paving the way for its subsequent transformations and development, by creating linkages between TNU – UAF of with partners from Australia particularly with Aus4Skills program in Vietnam. During his successful term as Program Director of Aus4skill Program in Vietnam, TNU – UAF and Aus4skills Program in Vietnam have been implementing many cooperation activities focusing on strengthening the capacity of TNU – UAF such as improving university leadership and management skills, supporting students from ethnic minorities and other disadvantaged groups, reforming curriculum & advancing women in leadership.

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Tran Van Dien - Rector of TNU-UAF presents flower to Mr Graham

On behalf of TNU – UAF Rector Board, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Tran Van Dien – Rector express his sincere thanks to Mr Graham Alliband for his great contribution to the development of bilateral relationship between Australia and Vietnam in general and the development of Thai Nguyen University as well as Thai Nguyen University of Agriculture and Forestry in particular. He said that there were 20 TNU – UAF staffs graduated from Australian Universities, 80 TNU – UAF staffs who hold the leader position participated in the short training courses in Australia offered by Aus4skills program; and 05 staffs who are persuading graduate courses in Australia now.

Memorial Photo