A student-exchange scheme between Australia and Vietnam: a UMAP case study

The internationalisation of engineering education has great potential to increase the knowledge and ability of undergraduate engineers. In this article, the authors analyse the UMAP (University Mobility in Asia and the Pacific) student exchange scheme sponsored by the Australian Department of Education and Training (DEST), and how it has been used within the Griffith School of Engineering in Queensland, Australia, to send a group of undergraduate students to Vietnam. The main purpose of this article is to outline the scheme, the necessary actions required by the hosting institutions and, importantly, student expectations. An examination of the scheme also highlights its ability to assist with the educational development of the undergraduate student, with a particular focus on relevant engineering generic skills, including an understanding of the social, cultural, global and environmental responsibilities of the professional engineer