Strengthening strategic leadership for Vietnam’s public sector is a key pillar of Australia–Viet Nam cooperation.
Last week, 41 emerging leaders from across Vietnam’s government and ministries joined the annual three-day Strategic Public Sector Leadership Workshop hosted by the Vietnam Australia Centre (VAC), in partnership with the Ho Chi Minh National Academy of Politics (HCMA).
The workshop is a core component of the nine-month Advanced Political Theory (APT) Program, which supports officials from the Party and public sector to strengthen strategic thinking, leadership capability and policy engagement in an increasingly complex environment.
Since 2022, the VAC and HCMA have jointly delivered seven APT workshops, establishing the program as a signature course for leadership development within VAC. This year’s program also included a side workshop at the Le Hong Phong Political Training School, broadening participation and deepening professional exchange among cadres and public officials.
Participants at Le Hong Phong Political Training School discuss with Australian and Vietnamese experts.
The Australia and New Zealand School of Government (ANZSOG) brings deep expertise in public sector leadership development, providing high‑quality, evidence‑based learning as a trusted delivery partner for this year’s workshop.
Drawing on the practical experience of Australian professionals and international best practice, the workshop helps to broaden perspectives and support Vietnamese leaders in addressing complex and multi-dimensional reform challenges.
Speaking at the workshop, Ms Estrellita Boskovic, First Secretary Development, Australian Embassy in Vietnam noted: “Australia’s partnership with Vietnam is built on long-term cooperation and mutual trust, underpinned by a shared commitment to developing the human resources and leadership our region needs for the modern era. Through collaborations like this, we are working together to strengthen public institutions and respond to the evolving demands of governance.”
Ms Estrellita Boskovic, First Secretary Development, Australian Embassy in Vietnam delivers remarks at the opening ceremony.
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Tran Quang Phu, Deputy Director General, Training Management Department, HCMA highlighted the value of sustained cooperation: “The APT Program reflects the depth of cooperation between Vietnam and Australia. Over time, this partnership has created a space for emerging leaders to engage with strategic issues, share perspectives and strengthen the capabilities needed for effective public-sector leadership to take Vietnam further.”
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Tran Quang Phu, Deputy Director General, Training Management Department, HCMA delivers remarks at the closing ceremony.
He added, “The 14th National Party Congress identifies human resource development as one of three key strategic breakthroughs for Vietnam’s new development era. Digital transformation and the rapid development of artificial intelligence (AI) have accelerated the need for a new training model – one that allows educators and learners to explore new knowledge together, respects learners’ autonomy, and places greater emphasis on practical experience and evidence‑based learning.”
Participants also shared the impact of the program on their professional development. Dr. Truong Cong Tuan, Director of the Student Innovation and Entrepreneurship Centre, Hanoi University of Science and Technology said, “The workshop provided valuable insights into strategic leadership and policy thinking, while allowing us to learn from peers across different agencies. Discussions with Australian and Vietnamese experts were highly relevant to the challenges we face in our work and strengthened our confidence in applying strategic approaches in the public sector.”
Participants engage in a group discussion.
A participant presents the results of his group discussion.
“ANZSOG is committed to developing public sector leaders who can navigate complexity with confidence and purpose, and we are delighted to partner on this workshop to help strengthen leadership capability across the region,” said Dr Anneke Schmider, Director, Global Initiatives ANZSOG.
Dr Anneke Schmider, Director, Global Initiatives ANZSOG facilitates the workshop at HCMA.
Australia’s support for the APT Program is delivered through the Vietnam Australia Centre, reflecting the depth of the Australia–Vietnam partnership and a shared commitment to strengthening public-sector leadership. Through sustained cooperation with key Vietnamese institutions, the partnership supports capable, responsive and future-ready public institutions equipped to address national and regional challenges./.
