Vietnam and the 2013 Intel Science & Engineering Fair

 I recently had the opportunity to work with a group of academically talented 10th graders from Chu Van An High School, one of five magnet schools in Hanoi, who were preparing for participation in the 2013 Intel International Science and Engineering Fair (Intel ISEF) from 12-17 May in Phoenix, AZ.  Vietnam sent five teams to the fair, including four … Continue reading Vietnam and the 2013 Intel Science & Engineering Fair

Guest Post: MOOCs for Vietnam?

I first familiarized myself with MOOCs (Massive Open Online Courses) in 2009 as an undergraduate student.  Since then, I’ve been a fan of sites like Coursera, iTunes U and edX, where I can hang around doing additional reading, submitting essays and listening to lectures by top professors from Harvard, Yale and MIT. Something I haven’t … Continue reading Guest Post: MOOCs for Vietnam?

Yes, No, Maybe? NACAC Straddles the Proverbial Fence

A special commission studying the use of commission-based recruitment of  international students has urged the National Association for College Admission  Counseling to lift a ban on the practice, while at the same time discouraging  it.  (Shift on Agents, Inside Higher Ed, 13.6.13) Jekyll & Hyde Approach to Policy Statements How much time and money were invested in … Continue reading Yes, No, Maybe? NACAC Straddles the Proverbial Fence

Nearly 20,000 Vietnamese Students in the US

According to the latest SEVIS update, Vietnamese enrollment stood at 19,541 as of April 1, 2013.  (Unlike the Open Doors data, which are always a year old and limited to institutions of higher  education, SEVIS information is up-to-date and all-inclusive.)  Vietnam continues to lead the third tier of “top ten” schools (8th) with more students than … Continue reading Nearly 20,000 Vietnamese Students in the US

Facebook Users Reach 15 Million Mark in Vietnam!

Break out the champagne bottles and pop those corks!  As of 11 June 2013, there were 15 million Facebook (FB) users in Vietnam, a penetration rate of 16.39%.  This means that nearly half of all Vietnamese connected to the Internet are "facebooking."  Vietnam ranks 17th in the world in FB use between Spain (16th) and Egypt (18th).  In fact, there are … Continue reading Facebook Users Reach 15 Million Mark in Vietnam!

Vietnam: Trends in International and Domestic Education (repost)

By Nick Clark, Editor, World Education News & Reviews Vietnam is currently one of the fastest growing sources of international students for U.S. institutions of higher education, according to data from the Institute for International Education. In academic year 2011/12, Vietnam was the eighth largest sender of tertiary students to the United States, behind Japan … Continue reading Vietnam: Trends in International and Domestic Education (repost)

Corruption Sans Borders: U.S. Visas for Sale in Ho Chi Minh City

Say it ain't so, Mike!  Michael Sestak, the former NIV (Non-Immigrant Visa) chief in the US Consulate General in HCMC, got caught with his hand in the cookie jar.  To paraphrase a verse from the The Good Book:  greed and arrogance goeth before a fall.  Apparently, his generous foreign service officer salary and the various goodies that … Continue reading Corruption Sans Borders: U.S. Visas for Sale in Ho Chi Minh City

The College of St. Scholastica Comes to Vietnam

Omnes semitae eius pacificae, which means All Her Paths Are Peace. (From the CSS College Crest) It’s unusual for a US institution of higher education to send a delegation consisting of its president, a dean and a director of international education to Vietnam.  For an entire week.  But that’s exactly what The College of St. Scholastica (CSS) … Continue reading The College of St. Scholastica Comes to Vietnam

“From the Lion’s Den: An Open Letter (and Invitation) to Vietnam Veterans”

What America owes Vietnam it can never repay, though there are many Americans in the U.S. and Vietnam today, including veterans, who are striving mightily and in myriad ways to contribute to the physical and spiritual healing process.  The "Nam," as some of you still think of it, this country of your dreams and your … Continue reading “From the Lion’s Den: An Open Letter (and Invitation) to Vietnam Veterans”

“Washington Eyes Raising State Tuition of Foreigners”

This headline  in a recent New York Times article caught my attention.  Washington state ranks 11th in international enrollment, according the 2012 Open Doors report, with 20,198 foreign students, an increase of 13.4% over the previous year.  Vietnam ranks 3rd with 8.2% of total enrollment at WA colleges and universities.  (In case you're counting, that's over … Continue reading “Washington Eyes Raising State Tuition of Foreigners”