Author: Mark A. Ashwill

Helping Academic Dreams Come True in Vietnam: A Little Goes a Long Way

Mark A. Ashwill Programs , , ,

Fact #1:  In Vietnam, about one million students finish secondary school (i.e., junior high school) every year but public high schools can only accommodate 80% of that number. Fact #2:  An estimated 200,000 students who failed one single high school entry exam have no other choice but to enroll in private schools. For students with economic difficulties, … Continue reading Helping Academic Dreams Come True in Vietnam: A Little Goes a Long Way

Culture Shock: The Exploitation of J-1 Cultural Exchange Workers

Mark A. Ashwill Commentary, Reports , , , ,

“Employers, sponsors, and overseas recruiting agencies have hijacked the cultural exchange program, turning it into a low-wage guest worker program that benefits their bottom lines at the expense of these workers and the United States’ reputation.  Each year that the State Department and Congress fail to reform this program is another year thousands of young … Continue reading Culture Shock: The Exploitation of J-1 Cultural Exchange Workers

Nonimmigrant B Visa Adjusted Refusal Rates: Vietnam’s Stock Is Rising

Mark A. Ashwill Commentary, Updates, vietnam , ,

While B visas are not F1 (i.e., student) visas, a look at issuance statistics since 2006 reveals a positive trend for Vietnamese traveling to the U.S. on business or on holiday.  (B-1 visas are for tourism, pleasure or visiting, while B-2 visas are a combination of both purposes.) In Fiscal Year (FY) 2013 20.3% of … Continue reading Nonimmigrant B Visa Adjusted Refusal Rates: Vietnam’s Stock Is Rising

An Anti-Ode to Security Guards

Mark A. Ashwill Commentary , , ,

They are legion and ubiquitous, these.. dispensers of disdain, guardians of the gutter, helpers of the haves, keepers of the gate, monitors of the masses, movers of the motorbikes, protectors of the pavement, rulers of the realm, supervisors of the street, takers of the tickets. You know who - the bane of many people's existence, the guys … Continue reading An Anti-Ode to Security Guards

Over 20,000 Vietnamese Students in the U.S., Says SEVIS

Mark A. Ashwill Reports, Updates , , ,

SEVIS (Student and Exchange Visitor Information System) came online in 2003 to track and monitor the status and activities of nonimmigrant students and exchange visitors who enter the U.S.  This web-based system collects real-time information on these two groups, plus approved schools and program sponsors. SEVIS by the Numbers (1.8 MB PDF download ) is … Continue reading Over 20,000 Vietnamese Students in the U.S., Says SEVIS

Ingroup, Outgroup, or Caught In Between?

Mark A. Ashwill Commentary , , , , ,

My last post of the 2013 Lunar Year... Vietnam is a highly homogeneous society.  I'm reminded of this whenever I look in the mirror and see a white guy staring back at me.  For those who are not Kinh, or ethnic Vietnamese,  it's pretty cut-and-dried.  We look different and therefore are different. There is a … Continue reading Ingroup, Outgroup, or Caught In Between?

Vietnam: Fastest Growing Facebook Market in the World

Mark A. Ashwill Commentary, Updates , , , ,

The number of Facebook (FB) users has doubled over the past year to over 22 million, which amounts to 61% of all netizens in Vietnam.  As one post pointed out, "Global brands are definitely eyeing the Vietnamese Facebook market."  The implications for student recruitment are also obvious.  If you want to reach out to young people, you need … Continue reading Vietnam: Fastest Growing Facebook Market in the World