Intel will provide US$210,000 to develop the lab to assist in the program on electronic and computer engineering at the Saigon South campus of RMIT Vietnam in HCMC’s District 7 under a just-signed agreement between the two parties.

RMIT told the Daily that the facility would have over 30 workstations, a video conferencing system linked to RMIT’s engineering lab in the Australian city of Melbourne, test and measurement equipment, micro development systems among others.

RMIT Vietnam President Merilyn Liddell said, “Along with current learning resources available at RMIT Vietnam, the lab sponsored by Intel will enhance students’ practical experience as well as giving them opportunities to interact more regularly with academic staff and students at RMIT Melbourne in Australia.”

RMIT Vietnam said the agreement extended Intel’s previously announced commitment to provide 20 full scholarships in 2010 for the university’s new Master of Engineering program.

RMIT Vietnam has introduced Serge Demidenko as the new head of its Centre of Technology and the professor who will lead the new Master of Engineering program.

Students of the first intake will have the chance to apply for scholarships provided by not only Intel, but also RMIT Vietnam and the Australian government. The scholarship winners will study at the Saigon South campus from this October.

Each scholarship will cover the total tuition fee, including pre-program English program from advanced level, all course materials, a small stipend for living expenses and the opportunity to do an exchange semester in RMIT University in Australia.

The winners of Intel scholarships will join the engineer workforce at Intel’s assembly and test factory based in HCMC after they have graduated from the program in 2013.