Latest news with #TNE
News.com.au
7 days ago
- Business
- News.com.au
Government contracts are golden, and these ASX tech stocks are raking it in
TechnologyOne becomes Canberra's digital backbone 'Buy Australian Plan' aims to make it easier to land a public sector contract ASX tech stocks with signed government deals The third largest technology stock on the ASX, Technology One (ASX:TNE), is becoming the go-to IT backbone for governments across Australia. In its half-year deck released to the market last week, TNE reported that more than half (53%) of its revenue came from governments. With more than 230 departments and agencies already on board, the company has indeed stitched itself deep into the public sector. Recent wins include a major contract with the Australian Energy Regulator, and a $5.6 million deal with the ACT government to overhaul its development application system. So why do governments keep signing up? Well, because TechOne offers a no-fuss, fixed-fee SaaS+ model that delivers software, upgrades and support in one clean annual bill. No cost blowouts, no army of consultants, just results. Headquartered in Brisbane, TNE builds enterprise software that helps governments, councils and universities run their finances, payroll, HR, and procurement. Think of the company as the digital plumbing that keeps public services humming. In its presentation deck, TNE also said it was planning to double in size every five years. Buy Australian Plan For tech companies – especially the smaller caps – a government contract is a bit like landing a Fortune 500 client, only with steadier legs. It might not always be fast or flashy, but the revenue tends to stick around, and payment's generally reliable. A government contract could provide a stable, long-term, and recurring income for a tech company. Sure, it might take a while to get through the red tape, but once you're in, you've got a customer who doesn't ghost you when markets wobble (well, not usually anyway). Now the Australian government wants to make those contracts more accessible. Under the new 'Buy Australian Plan', Canberra is putting its money where its mouth is, using its huge buying power to back local operators, not offshore giants. The plan is all about making it easier for small businesses, First Nations companies and regional outfits to land government work without getting buried in red tape. That means clearer rules, simpler tenders, faster payments and shutting the door on tax dodgers. There's also a new Procurement Capability Branch under the plan, which will help Aussie businesses go toe-to-toe for contracts. Tech/biotechs with government deals Several ASX-listed tech and biotech names have either locked in government contracts or are being officially linked to key programs. Here are some notable examples: Macquarie Technology Group (ASX:MAQ) MAQ is one company the Aussie government seriously trusts. Around 42% of federal government agencies reportedly use MAQ's services through its Macquarie Government division. The company's Australian data centres are all Certified Strategic, meaning they're cleared to handle top-secret workloads and built to meet the toughest security standards in the country. DroneShield (ASX:DRO) DroneShield has been securing notable contracts with the Australian Defence Force (ADF) and other government agencies. In 2023, the company was awarded a $10 million Electronic Warfare contract by the Australian government, following the successful completion of a prior $3.8 million contract. Additionally, DroneShield received a $9.9 million two-year research and development contract from a Department of Defence within the Five Eyes alliance. In 2025, the company scored a $32.2 million deal via a local reseller tied to a global defence giant, with all gear heading to a major Asia-Pacific military force. Harvest Technology Group (ASX:HTG) Back in mid-2023, Harvest landed its first defence contract with a Five Eyes customer for its Nodestream technology. Nodestream helps stream high-quality video and data even in super low-bandwidth or remote environments. This tech could be used for critical defence applications involving surveillance and remote communications. It was a big step for HTG, marking the start of a potentially long-term relationship. Fast forward to early 2024, and HTG announced a follow-up – not just one, but two more orders from the same customer. The company also had other wins, including orders from the European Union Defence Force and new UK-based offshore contractors, plus a successful drone trial with Japan's Self-Defence Force. WhiteHawk (ASX:WHK) In early 2025, WhiteHawk was selected as the exclusive cyber risk partner on the US General Services Administration's SCRIPTS program. This is a 10-year, US$920 million contract vehicle focused on supply chain risk management across federal agencies. Teaming up with Knexus Research, Babel Street, and Dun & Bradstreet, WhiteHawk will provide AI-driven cyber analytics to help US agencies detect and mitigate supply chain vulnerabilities. In Australia, WhiteHawk is gradually expanding its footprint. In July 2024, the company secured a cybersecurity contract with Tabcorp. Micro-X (ASX:MX1) In February, Micro-X scored a $6 million contract extension from the US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to keep building its self-screening airport checkpoints. It's part of a bigger deal worth up to US$14 million, and this next stage funds two more units and a full round of testing over the next 16 months. If things go well, DHS could tip in another $7.5 million to take the system all the way to live airport trials with real passengers. Micro-X was also awarded up to US$16.4 million by the US Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health (ARPA-H) to develop a world-first portable full-body CT scanner. The project leverages Micro-X's proprietary Nano Electronic X-ray (NEX) technology to create a lightweight CT scanner, approximately 225 kilograms, significantly lighter than conventional models exceeding 2000 kilograms. HiTech Group Australia (ASX:HIT) HiTech isn't your average recruiter, the company's been in the game over 30 years, quietly supplying top-shelf IT talent to more than 43 federal government departments across Australia. From Defence to Home Affairs, HIT is trusted to scout for and deliver security-cleared tech brains. As a DISP-accredited outfit, the company has practically got the keys to Canberra's back office, helping plug skill gaps in everything from IT and finance to project support. Audeara (ASX:AUA) While not holding direct government contracts per se, Audeara's headphones are officially approved as assistive listening devices under the NDIS (National Disability Insurance Scheme), DVA (Department of Veterans' Affairs), and the Hearing Services Program. This means the Australian government might help cover the cost if your hearing needs a boost. NDIS participants can claim them as low-cost assistive tech, DVA veterans can get them through the rehab appliance scheme, and under HSP, they're listed as fully subsidised alternatives. At Stockhead we tell it like it is. While Audeara and Harvest Technology are Stockhead advertisers, they did not sponsor this article.
New European
27-05-2025
- Business
- New European
Letters: Resounding silence greets Starmer's reset
Why not put a referendum on joining the European Economic Area (and therefore the single market) as a pledge for the next manifesto? Joanna Roland Re: 'A new start… and the same old lies' by Jonty Bloom (TNE #436). I hope Keir Starmer is encouraged by the right's response to his Brexit reset agreements with the EU. Lacklustre from Kemi Badenoch, absurd from Boris Johnson and Mark Francois – and Nigel Farage took himself off on holiday rather than get involved. Jonty Bloom is right – this is a pragmatic attempt to restore trade relations with our nearest and most important trading partners after a near decade of damaging disruption from a hard Brexit that the OBR (Office for Budget Responsibility) calculates has cost the UK £32bn a year. In that context, the forecast boost to the economy of £9bn by 2040 looks modest, but this deal and the UK's commitment to dynamic alignment hopefully sets us on the right course to single market status, or even re-integration itself, when the political climate allows. Paul Dolan Northwich, Cheshire It is always an immense pleasure to watch Brexiteers melt down on X and GB News whenever the letters E and U are mentioned together. Maybe one day they will understand the value of compromise and win/win, and that this is not the definition of betrayal. Guy Masters The reset deal is welcome. As for Brexit itself, as my grandad used to say: no matter how much polish, time and elbow grease you put in, the simple fact is you can't polish a turd! Christopher Harrison One important aspect missed by Ros Taylor in her fascinating article on Brexit and fishing ('Bone of contention', TNE #436) is the lack of government action over decades to help coastal communities transition away from fishing, in much the same way as former industrial areas have been left to fend for themselves in the post-industrial economy. Margaret Thatcher, of course, was the culprit-in-chief with her conviction that the state must not interfere with the free market. The real culprit is decades of underinvestment. If Lowestoft and Grimsby had been helped to diversify into other industries and were now thriving towns, I doubt fishing rights would be much of an issue. Mark Grahame Biden's advisers failed In his review of Jake Tapper and Alex Thompson's book about Joe Biden's disastrous second bid for the US presidency (TNE #436), Matthew d'Ancona rightly amplifies the argument that covering up Biden's cognitive decline was an egregious error with terrible consequences. However, the responsibility for this error lies entirely with Biden's circle of advisers, not with the man himself. While it may be tempting to blame Biden's ego, this rests on a misunderstanding of dementia. It doesn't just make people forgetful or confused about immediate circumstances. It affects all aspects of personality and judgment. It's typical for dementia sufferers to be unable to grasp what's happening to them. This is an uncomfortable and scary situation at the best of times – but when the sufferer is the leader of the free world, the risks are obviously much broader in scope than those affecting the average pensioner. Biden's advisers found themselves in an unenviable position – but they had an overwhelming responsibility, for everyone's sake, to find ways to address what was happening honestly at a much earlier stage than they did. Eleanor Toye Scott Cambridge Biden was on the side of the angels for several very good reasons. He genuinely cared about 'ordinary' people, he beat the crap out of Trump in 2020, and he and Nancy Pelosi and Chuck Schumer got some seriously good legislation through Congress despite wafer-thin majorities in the House and Senate. He (or his administration) also got the US out of Covid in good order and left the odious Trump administration an economy in very good order. The only thing I would hold against him was his inability to rein in Benjamin Netanyahu in Gaza. Biden firing on one brain cell would be better for the US and the world than Trump and his Project 2025 freakshow. David Webb Conforming to type I most certainly would not bet against David Roberts's prediction of a Conservative-Reform merger (Letters, TNE #436). Mulling it over, I also predict a name change, to Conform Party, and a Tory continuation rump party until a really embarrassing by-election loss finishes them: think the SDP's loss to the Monster Raving Loony Party, Bootle 1990. Then, with far right parties across Europe in the ascendant and teetering on the brink of EU control, it will be none other than Nigel Farage who promises a glorious future if we rejoin the EU and consequently, he secures a general election win in 2034. Finally, we then have to endure years of a hard left party agitating to take us back out. Plus ça change, plus c'est la même chose! Robert Boston Kingshill, Kent The Tories have been a major force in British politics since about 1690 (the exact date is disputed). They won elections by adjusting their sails to take advantage of any wind changes. Some called this cynical. Others called it realistic. I would never have expected the Tories to wreck themselves over an idiotic point of principle (Brexit). Is this what David Cameron meant when he described the Tory Party membership as 'swivel-eyed loons'? Don Adamson Bradford, West Yorkshire Fuel for thought Good to see a reversal of the winter fuel allowance cut in the offing (Alastair Campbell's Diary, TNE #436). It was always a mad policy, as it attracted deep criticism while raising very little. The big problem, though, is that wherever you draw the new line, how on earth do you identify the individuals who qualify? Currently it's easy but if, say, you put the line at £25,000, how do you implement payment to individuals whose income is below that line? I don't think HMRC can help. Pensioners at that level of income hardly ever complete tax returns. Tony Slater Bristol Far from unloved It was good to see two pieces in TNE #436 by Marie Le Conte – except both of them were about different ways she had been made to feel unloved and unwanted. Please be reassured that your readers, here and elsewhere, still love you! Keep up the good work. Tony Jones I felt shame and despair reading Marie Le Conte's Dilettante column in TNE #436. Keir Starmer's 'island of strangers' comment makes no sense. Most of us live in cities surrounded by strangers. Worse are his quotes 'Britain had become a one-nation experiment in open borders' and 'the damage this has done is incalculable'. Are these really the words of a leader of the Labour Party? The first statement is questionable in every word. The second seems not to be backed up by the available statistics. Why not attempt to calculate the incalculable and set out the facts plainly so we can decide ourselves? I still hope good sense will prevail. Thank you for continuing to publish your interesting and thought-provoking paper. Rosemary Brown Marie Le Conte's characterisation of the dismal no-man's-land in which she finds herself rings depressingly true. But can I assure her that the mindset and values that she espouses aren't confined to those in the age range, income brackets and locations she describes. We are everywhere: old and young, better and worse off, rural and urban. What really prevents us from making common cause is the antediluvian voting system for UK elections. That is what drives so much of the political positioning that she rightly decries. A system that seriously tried to give equal weight to everyone's preferences would be a massive step towards a truly enfranchised population and more grown-up politics. Above all, it would offer new hope – at virtually no cost. John Thomson Castle Douglas, Dumfries and Galloway Marie Le Conte is most definitely welcome in Britain. If a person of such charm, wit, and compassion isn't welcome here, then I'm off too. RSP Zatzen To counteract the threat of Reform (Letters, TNE #435), Keir Starmer should enact proportional representation to replace our first-past-the-post voting system, which in Europe we share only with the dictatorship in Belarus. This would almost certainly result in a coalition, but it would allow progressive parties to form a coherent bloc able to address the concerns of the electorate and the undemocratic voices coming from the far right. Changing the political landscape for ever would definitely be a case of thinking outside the box – clearly necessary when the whole shape of the box has so recently changed. To Starmer I would say: 'Feel the fear and do it anyway.' Robert Smith Totnes, Devon Freedom to die Sonia Sodha is in the wrong in opposing assisted dying (TNE #435). Such a decision should be entirely the prerogative of an individual without interference from anyone else. When my father was admitted to hospital in his final weeks, he knew his illness would end in delirium and hallucinations, and repeatedly expressed the wish to be 'given a pill' so that he could end his life in dignity on his terms while he was still compos mentis. A friend in Germany recently ended her life, as the German constitution allows, in the presence of a doctor and having had the necessary psychiatric/medical approval. If I ever fall ill or become disabled to the extent I can no longer enjoy life, I want the legal right to end it in a way of my choosing. No one should have the right to make me prolong my life against my wishes. No one who does not want to use a process of assisted dying need do so, but they should never impose their wishes on me. Bill Cooper Kinross, Scotland Language exchange Peter Trudgill's article on the variety of languages in the USA (TNE 434) reminded me of the London journalist William Howard Russell's trip there in 1863. In 'My Diary: North and South', Russell recorded this exchange outside Washington on the late arrival of his horse: ''Good heavens! Did I not tell you to be here at seven o'clock?' 'No, sir; Carl told me you wanted me at ten o'clock, and here I am.' 'Carl, did I not tell you to ask James to be round here at seven o'clock.' 'Not zeven clock, sere, but zehn clock. I tell him, you come at zehn clock.' 'Thus at one blow was I stricken down by Gaul and Teuton, each of whom retired with the air of a man who had baffled an intended indignity, and had achieved a triumph over a wrong-doer.' Phil Jones Bourne End, Bucks BELOW THE LINE Comments, conversation and correspondence from our online subscribers Thanks for 'The power of the underdog', Simon Barnes's wonderful tour of random underdogishness (TNE #436). 'Part of football's universal popularity is the way it provides more underdog victories than any other sport in the calendar' gives me a tiny inkling of a reason for our incomprehensible national obsession with football. John Valentine Philip Ball (Critical Mass, TNE #436) asks why MAGA is anti-science. Donald Trump is anti-science because it remains true whether you believe it or not. Science is the search for truth – anathema to Trump and MAGA. Russell Sage Re: 'A nuclear leap into the unknown' by Paul Mason (TNE #436). From the end of WWII we have had a clear idea about what was what and who was who. We were able to handle shocks like Sputnik, the death of Stalin and various White House changes, but we are no longer in that world. We now have technology we don't fully understand, coupled with an apparent collapse in old political structures. With hindsight, at the collapse of the Soviet Union we should have been looking for unforeseen consequences rather than business opportunities. Learn from this and accept we need to be nimble and cooperative, and beware of carpetbaggers like Trump. John Simpson Unfortunately, it seems the more 'intelligent' technology gets the more idiotic humanity becomes, or perhaps it's just that human intelligence is simply going to remain static while machines outpace us. The development of 'assets' such as these – ditto, hypersonic missiles and God knows what other 'toys' the military technologists are dreaming up – will, no doubt, be of enormous benefit to mankind. Steve Buch Great Lives (TNE #436) missed Robert Capa's coverage of the Battle of Troina, part of the forgotten war in Sicily, where he took poignant pictures of the encounter between the defeated Germans (with the Italians) and the ultimately victorious Americans. The inspired mayor, Fabio Venezia, has devoted a whole museum to Capa and his coverage of this largely unknown encounter. The museum is well worth a visit. Simon Stoddart JOIN THE CONVERSATION Subscribe and download our free new app to comment and chat with our writers
Medscape
14-05-2025
- Health
- Medscape
Train Advanced Practice Providers in Transnasal Endoscopy?
Advanced practice providers (APPs) can be trained to perform transnasal endoscopy (TNE) with a single-use ultra-slim gastroscope with only topical anesthesia, a pilot study showed. 'Our study showed that TNE can be performed safely by APPs, is well tolerated by patients, and significantly impacted patient management,' Whitney Kucher, PA-C, with Northwestern Medicine, Chicago, told Medscape Medical News . 'The chief benefit of having APPs perform TNEs is increasing patient access and expediting management of upper GI [gastrointestinal] symptoms in patients,' said Kucher who presented the study at Digestive Disease Week (DDW) 2025. The EvoEndo single-use endoscopy system received 510(k) clearance from the US Food and Drug Administration in early 2022. The system includes a sterile, single-use, flexible gastroscope designed for unsedated transnasal upper endoscopy and a small portable video controller. Unsedated TNE can be used to evaluate and diagnose a wide range of upper GI conditions that may require frequent monitoring, including eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE), dysphagia, celiac disease, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), Barrett's esophagus (BE), malabsorption, and abdominal pain. Kucher and colleagues assessed the ability for APPs to use the EvoEndo system to perform safe and accurate esophageal assessment using in-office TNE, following training. TNE training lasted about 4 weeks and consisted of a stepwise approach involving lectures, simulation-based training, and hands-on supervised TNEs (10 per APP). Once training was completed, and after providing consent, 25 patients were enrolled to undergo supervised TNE by an APP. Their mean age was 55 years, and 58% were women. Indications for TNE were uncontrolled GERD symptoms in 12 patients, history of EoE in six patients, high-risk screening for BE in five patients, and dysphagia in two patients. Technical success was achieved in all but one patient (96%), and there were no adverse events. All 25 patients completed the procedure, with 17 (72%) giving it a TNEase score of 1 (with ease/no discomfort) or 2 (mild/occasional discomfort). Only two patients reported a score of 4 (very uncomfortable) but still completed the exam. The average TNE procedure time was 7.3 minutes. TNE findings changed management in 23 of 25 (92%) patients. The test led to a change in proton pump inhibitor dosing or interval in 14 patients (56%). Esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) interval was extended in five patients (20%) and scheduled sooner in three patients (12%). Two patients (8%) had no change in management. The study team said more data are needed in terms of learning curves, competency metrics, and health economics before widespread adoption can be supported. 'We are working on developing a standardized training plan so we can train more GI APPs in our department. We have plans to start an APP-driven TNE program in the coming months,' Kucher told Medscape Medical News . Caveats and Cautionary Notes Commenting on this study for Medscape Medical News , Amitabh Chak, MD, president of the American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy, noted that the results are 'similar to older studies where TNE appeared quite promising and APPs could be trained. There have been previous studies that APPs can perform colonoscopies and EGDs.' Chak cautioned that previous studies showed that it took at least 50 supervised examinations for APPs to achieve the needed skills. 'Intubation transnasally can be painful for patients if not done with skill. Cognitive skills take longer. The gastroesophageal junction is dynamic, and recognition of subtle pathology takes training,' Chak noted. 'TNE has been around at least two decades. The challenge with uptake of TNE for Barrett's screening has been acceptance by primary care physicians, patients and payers,' Chak told Medscape Medical News .
New European
29-04-2025
- Politics
- New European
Letters: After that ruling, let's restore respect
Most of us are happy to live and let live, but objected to being told that we were bigots, transphobes or Nazis. Margaret Ellwood Abingdon, Oxfordshire Thank you for Matthew d'Ancona's 'How did it get so bad?' (TNE #432). The court's judgment was thoughtful, measured and extensive. No rights were lost by anyone, but the rights of women, gays and lesbians, all hard fought for, have been confirmed. I am now in my 80s and have occasionally found myself on the frontline, fighting for equality between men and women in our society. Rarely have I met such crass bullying as that used by some trans people against women. I welcome the legal clarification from the Supreme Court. My rule of thumb is to be delighted to welcome anyone born male who should feel sufficiently female as to use their qualities in the pursuance of the wellbeing of all women, and of all people. When their interest appears to be solely in the service of trans, then I see them as trans. Janta Silvey As someone whose job was jeopardised way back in 2017 for daring to say that men weren't really women even if they themselves didn't feel they were men, I watched last week's decision with tears in my eyes. Kate Newey Thank you Matt for putting it all so eloquently. This is such a sensitive issue. Respect for all, regardless. Wendy Hodgson I agree with most of what is said in Matthew d'Ancona's article. What I think is disappointing is his blindness to the behaviour of the 'other side' (for want of a better expression). One only needs to take a short gander down JK Rowling's X feed to see that she is not taking a sensitive and balanced approach – she is often malicious and mean-spirited. Most feminist activist biological women I know take great lengths to distance themselves from the likes of Rowling. D Jago I wonder if Matthew d'Ancona spoke to any trans people before penning his column about the recent Supreme Court decision? If he had, he might have realised that the term TRAs he uses is just as reductive and derogatory as the term TERF, which he rightly criticises. He might also have realised that the concerns of trans people are – regardless of the Court's intentions – about how this ruling will be interpreted and applied. His silence on such issues betokens a failure to understand or even engage with the anxieties of trans people. I am sure that there are many of us who would be willing to discuss such matters with him, if he is willing to listen. Pippa Catterall I am disappointed in Matthew d'Ancona's failure to fully address the impact this ruling is likely to have on the lives of trans individuals who are simply looking to be granted dignity and the ability to be themselves. In addition, he fails to discuss the further questions this ruling may raise, such as how one may be asked to prove they are a woman in the eyes of the law, and whether this now means that trans men must use women's spaces. I am happy to hear arguments and viewpoints that may differ from my own, although I am disappointed when these arguments are presented in poor taste. The comment relating to women's rights being boring compared with the 'newest multi-coloured flag', and the suggestion that individuals may be supporting trans rights due to that stance being 'fashionable', are particularly unnecessary. Daniel Agnew Re: Marie Le Conte's Dilettante on her trans friend (TNE #432). It is such a relief to read an article that doesn't see trans people, particularly trans women, as either completely abstract creatures or deluded grotesques. Our beautiful daughter is trans. She socially transitioned in public at 13; if it hadn't been for the much-maligned but wonderful Gender Identity Service at the Tavistock and Portman NHS Trust in London, she would never have made it to adulthood; as puberty approached, her anger turned to despair, self-loathing and self-harm. Our daughter, now in her 20s, can and does pass as female, but she will not use any form of public transport unless with someone she trusts, nor take a taxi unless she knows and trusts the driver. She loves swimming but avoids all but an occasional night swim in the sea. She avoids changing rooms, cafes, and all public places unless she has arranged to meet friends who she hopes can protect her. This is not paranoia, but hard-lived experience. If people, usually men, clock her as trans she is at risk of physical and verbal abuse. She has had credible death threats. As she remarked to me yesterday, she feels there is now a target on her back and that she could so easily end up as another victim of a fatal transphobic attack. She lives in fear of having the 'Female' removed from her birth certificate and passport. Her already very restricted life just became an awful lot smaller. Fiona Bowie Keir Starmer was wrong on women, is wrong on Brexit, and it seems wrong on Donald Trump. Let's hope he starts getting it right. RSP Zatzen Reform: boom or bust? Re: Steve Richards on Nigel Farage ('A flaw unto himself', TNE #432). I'm not sure that Reform having no thought-through and plausible policies is a handicap any more. To me it all seems very similar to the referendum campaign. Voters with no very clear idea of the policy issues, only a feeling that their life and living standards aren't going in the direction they want, and a willingness to listen to plausible rogues peddling promises of sunlit uplands. I would not be in the least surprised to see Reform emerge as the largest party at the next election. To be followed with regret when it all goes to hell in a handbasket. Paul Blake The Reform bubble will eventually burst. First, governing is hard and invariably upsets significant groups of voters. Second, party organisation and coherence are what hold you together through the inevitable downturn in support. Reform is a one-man band. Remove Farage now and it will go back to being irrelevant. Let us not forget that current Reform polling is just 25%. I suggest it is not going much higher. That will not produce a majority, and would need a coalition. But who would feel able or willing to work with Reform? No other party, not even the Tories. They risk being gobbled up by Reform. As one who comes from a long Liberal tradition I know from experience that life as a third party is an uphill battle much of the time. Your time with momentum is fickle. One event and it fades quickly away. At that point, Farage will surely be off. David Rolfe A deeper split in the Tory Party should be encouraged. Let the Brexit right join Reform and then move the remaining Tories back to a common-sense, pro-EU position. Margaret Thatcher helped to create the single market, as she knew it was essential. Lauren Smith Bold Burnham Adam Primhak writes (Letters, TNE #432) that 'Keir Starmer needs to understand that the public want radical change, bold policies and far-reaching projects'. Bang on. The public are yearning for meaningful change. Change that Labour and the Tories haven't delivered, but the populist Reform claims it can. Keir Starmer and Kemi Badenoch leading their respective parties into the next election seems unlikely. Apart from on Ukraine, the prime minister has been too cautious. Badenoch behaves like a sixth-former who thinks she's a frontline politician. For me, Andy Burnham is the man to lead Labour and the country. A few months ago he did an interview where he said – in the context of mainstream British politics – the unsayable: that Margaret Thatcher's policies between 1979 and 1990, continued variously in diluted, disguised and undisguised forms by all governments since, were a disaster for the UK. Now that is 'radical', 'bold' and 'far-reaching'. Will Goble Rayleigh, Essex The Donald in fiction 'President Ahab' was a chillingly prescient article by Simon Barnes (TNE #432). As for other literary characters who resemble Trump, what about Adrian Veidt, Alan Moore's Ozymandias in Watchmen? A man lost in his own fame, leading to meltdown. Or Count Dracula, the rabid bloodsucker? Or Philip Pullman's CCD (Consistorial Court Of Discipline), an organisation driven by right wing religious ideology that seeks to control the population through lies and manipulation? DC Kneath Swansea, Wales Rock and rollitos Visiting new places and sampling the local cuisine is surely one of life's great pleasures. So it was disappointing that, in his words, Josh Barrie 'didn't stick around' very long on what he calls 'that silly rock', Gibraltar (TNE #432). If he had, he might have been able to sample torta de acelga (a sort of spinach pie), a hot plate of lentejas or meaty rollitos, all at Figaro or Tasty Bite in Irish Town. Gibraltar's food, like its people, is a curious mix of Mediterranean influences, and its national dish, made with chickpea flour, probably originated in Genoa. Local restaurants and bars also reflect this cultural diversity, from Amar's, the Jewish bakery open since 1820, to the Moroccan-influenced cuisine of El Kasbah, Indian tapas at Little Bay, or much-loved local instititions like The Dolphin in Camp Bay or Sea Wave in Catalan Bay, where you can enjoy pescaíto frito (fried fish) while gazing out to sea. Josh may have a point about the unecessary journey taken by some of the fruit that ends up in Morrisons, but many Gibraltarians, including my 93-year-old aunt, choose to buy their fresh fruit and vegetables from small family-run sellers like Sosi's in the old town. And if all this isn't enough to tempt him back, the people of Gibraltar – who are still in Brexit-limbo – are the most Remain-y in the world, with 96% of the electorate voting to retain our cherished place within the European family, from where so much of our cultural, and culinary, influences are drawn. Dr Tommy Norton What's the matter? Our universe, so far as we know it, is profoundly odd (Philip Ball on dark energy, TNE #432). Starting from nothing, with energy-mass ever constant and related by Einstein's equation, yet it is made almost entirely of empty space and matter with virtually no antimatter. Is that imbalance rebalanced by anti-energy pushing against gravity to accelerate the expansion of the universe, as dark energy is designated to do? While hoping for the best from theoretical physicists interpreting the Dark Energy Spectroscopic Instrument data to explain away, or just explain, dark matter and dark energy, and by doing so, explaining our universe; if it remains beyond them, it may be that DESI could not see what it had to see because of dark light! Roland Lazarus Billericay BELOW THE LINE Comments, conversation and correspondence from our online subscribers Re: Patience Wheatcroft on Kemi Badenoch (TNE #432). If Kemi is the answer, it must be a damn silly question. Keith Hobbs As a Scot, I read 'Britain needs a new national story' (TNE #432) with growing anger. Paul Mason seems to think that Britain is a nation. It is not. Instead, it is a weird mixture of four neighbouring nations brought together by circumstance and by the overweening ego of the largest of the four. Keir Starmer likes to remind us that he is prime minister of all the country. Yet he ignores St Andrew's Day, St David's Day and St Patrick's Day as they do not suit his narrative, while appearing under a union flag on St George's Day. Ann Rayner It is not just the 'LibDems, Greens and nationalists (who) want to align with Europe.' Scotland, which voted 62% Remain, is overwhelmingly pro-EU and Scots shake their heads in despair at what they see as English voter foolishness. There is also huge concern in Scotland that the UK's Trident nuclear deterrent is based just 15 miles from Glasgow. A nuclear strike on Royal Navy's Clyde submarine base might wipe out much of central Scotland and its 2.5 million people. At a time of rising tensions and if the UK seeks national unity, the Westminster government needs to think deeply about how it protects Scotland from the devastation of a nuclear war. Doing nothing may well see Scotland voting to go its own way, dump Trident and rejoin the EU. Martin Roche Paul Mason is right in one sense – we need national projects to enliven the economy and make our citizens take a small modicum of pride back in a country whose infrastructure is crumbling and has been for years. As for national pride, I for one think that ship has sailed. Brexit , Covid and current world events have promoted insularity in many. It would take a monumental effort to enthuse the UK with a sense of national togetherness. Let's try, but it won't be easy. Adam Primhak 'The downside of the Italian dream' (Carousel, TNE #432) told me more about some British self-styled 'expats' (immigrants!) than about rural Italy. If you move to another country, being British doesn't exempt you from obeying the law! Tony Jones JOIN THE CONVERSATION Subscribe and download our free new app to comment and chat with our writers
Korea Herald
28-04-2025
- Business
- Korea Herald
Vietnam: A Hub for Accessible World-Class British Transnational Education for Resilient Global Graduates
HANOI, Vietnam, April 28, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Vietnam is emerging as a leading destination for affordable British transnational education (TNE) in Southeast Asia, offering high-quality local programmes that develop resilient global graduates. Vietnam hosts 28 self-licensed TNE universities and eight foreign-invested institutions over the last two decades. Among them, British University Vietnam (BUV) boasts a 100% graduate employment rate within three months, while RMIT Vietnam serves over 12,000 students and has 20,000 alumni since 2000. Vietnam's Leadership in UK Transnational Education Within this landscape, the UK plays a leading role. According to the 2024 British Council report, Vietnam is now the 5th largest UK TNE market in East Asia and 3rd in Southeast Asia. It's also a priority country in the UK's International Education Strategy. Vietnam's TNE programmes follow strict partner-country standards, offering flexible, student-centred learning and industry-relevant skills that boost employability. BUV, recognised by the British Council as an exemplary foreign-invested university, offers degrees from prestigious UK institutions such as the University of London (with academic direction from LSE), Bournemouth University, and more. These programmes equip graduates with globally valued qualifications. BUV remains the only university in Vietnam formally accredited by QAA, following a rigorous year-long process that included site visits to its 5-star Ecopark campus. Driving Graduate Success As a leading UK TNE example in Vietnam, BUV equips students with practical skills, global exposure, and internationally recognised qualifications - preparing them to succeed across startups, corporates, and academia. BUV alumni have built successful startups across diverse industries, from business, creative industries, marketing, retail, to technology and hospitality. Many have rapidly expanded their businesses with multiple branches in Vietnam and have taken their ventures to international markets. In the corporate sector, BUV graduates hold high-level leadership roles at major companies. In Vietnam, they contribute to leading firms like VinFast, Samsung, Nestlé, etc. Internationally, they work at top corporations such as PwC, KPMG, McKinsey, Generali, etc. demonstrating their ability to lead in both local and global business environments. Academically, BUV alumni have secured prestigious doctoral positions and graduated with master's degrees with scholarships at world-renowned institutions, including the University of Oxford, the University of Colorado Boulder, the University of Sydney, and the University of Strathclyde, etc. "At BUV, we offer quality British education that nurtures dreams and builds resilience," said Professor Raymond Gordon, Vice-Chancellor and President of BUV. "Our graduates exemplify the transformative power of TNE, equipped to thrive in a dynamic global world." A Benchmark for Excellence BUV's achievements rest on academic excellence and international quality. BUV stands out for its exceptional standards as the first university in Vietnam and ASEAN accredited by the UK's QAA, and the first in Vietnam to receive a 5-Star Excellence Rating from QS. Over 60% of faculty hold doctorates, bringing global experience that enriches student learning. Students benefit from strong career support, global exposure through 400+ industry partners, and nearly 50 partner universities including Russell Group institutions. Located in the eco-friendly Ecopark, just 25 minutes from central Hanoi, BUV's 85 million USD campus is Vietnam's first to earn EDGE Advanced certification. It features cutting-edge facilities and technology that meet top global standards. BUV offers up to 100% scholarships for outstanding undergraduate and postgraduate international students holding foreign passports. Applications for autumn 2025 close on June 30, 2025. International students receive airport pickup, orientation, and accommodation in Ecopark. The Global Buddy programme matches them with local peers for support, while clubs, cultural trips, career counselling, and mental health services help students thrive in a global environment.
