Author: Mark A. Ashwill

VietAbroader Summer 2013 “Passing of the Torch” Conferences

Mark A. Ashwill Announcement, Conferences , , ,

  Here's a note I recently sent to US higher education colleagues about the 2013 VietAbroader summer study abroad conferences and related institutional sponsorship opportunities:    Warm greetings from Vietnam!  I am writing to let you know about an outstanding sponsorship opportunity:  the 2013 VietAbroader (VA) Passing of the Torch Summer Study Abroad Conferences.  This is … Continue reading VietAbroader Summer 2013 “Passing of the Torch” Conferences

Diversifying Your International Student Recruitment Strategy: Virtual Student Fairs

Mark A. Ashwill Events , , ,

US institutions of higher education have a number of international student recruitment options at their disposal, depending upon their budget, including the use of education agents (in most cases), armchair methods, helicopter marketing events (e.g., fairs, high school outreach,  information sessions) and long-term, in-country representation.  One example of armchair recruitment is virtual student fairs.  In addition to … Continue reading Diversifying Your International Student Recruitment Strategy: Virtual Student Fairs

Hagel Hearings & The Vietnam War/Kill Anything That Moves (KATM)

Mark A. Ashwill Articles, Commentary , ,

Below is another Vietnam Studies Group exchange about Nick Turse's new book Kill Anything That Moves:  The Real American War in Vietnam (KATM).  I responded to a colleague from the University of Arizona whose main criticisms are that Turse "tells us nothing new" and that he commits a sin of omission by excluding information that contradicts this colleague's theory - hypothesis … Continue reading Hagel Hearings & The Vietnam War/Kill Anything That Moves (KATM)

Study in the USA to Publish Vietnamese Language Magazine

Mark A. Ashwill Advertisement, Announcement , , , , ,

Study in the USA ® has announced that it will publish the first-ever Vietnamese language magazine for distribution in the coming year to students and parents in Vietnam. This special pocket-size edition will feature content especially appealing to Vietnamese students, including information and articles about four-year colleges and universities, community colleges, high school completion programs, the … Continue reading Study in the USA to Publish Vietnamese Language Magazine

The US Student Visa: It’s Not Rocket Science!

Mark A. Ashwill Commentary , ,

This is a slightly expanded version of a short article I wrote for Capstone Vietnam's StudyUSA Higher Education and Community College Fair Guides and for publication on a news website. For those of you whose dream it is to study in the USA but who worry about the visa process, worry no more!  The truth is that US consular … Continue reading The US Student Visa: It’s Not Rocket Science!

Calling a Spade a Spade: Stanley Karnow, Stanley McChrystal & Vietnam

Mark A. Ashwill Commentary , , ,

Below is a recent exchange on the Vietnam Studies Group (VSG) listserv.  Members include Vietnam scholars and practitioners, current and former diplomats and spooks ("agents or people involved in espionage"), journalists, non-governmental (NGO) organization staff, etc.  Quite a few are overseas Vietnamese (Việt kiều).  Read from the bottom up.  Bernard Kalb, the journalist and former US State Department spokesman during … Continue reading Calling a Spade a Spade: Stanley Karnow, Stanley McChrystal & Vietnam

SEVIS by the Numbers

Mark A. Ashwill Reports, Updates , , ,

SEVIS by the Numbers is a statistical breakdown of the (SEVIS) system's performance and trends in foreign student representation in US academic and exchange programs.  Below is the "latest" SEVIS by the Numbers update.  (Note:  The PPT file has since been removed from the SEVIS website.)  What used to be quarterly updates appear to have changed to biannual … Continue reading SEVIS by the Numbers

Study Abroad Consultant Regulations Tightened

Mark A. Ashwill Articles, Updates , , ,

The winds of change are blowing in the regulation and oversight of education agents in Vietnam  This is the  result of recent scandals and demands from the public for closer scrutiny of education agents.  It seems that the Wild West environment in which many of these businesses have operated is going the way of the dinosaur, … Continue reading Study Abroad Consultant Regulations Tightened

Winning the Hearts & Minds of Young Vietnamese

Mark A. Ashwill Commentary, Updates , , , ,

Note:  If you’re an employee of the US State Department, do not pass go, do not collect $200, close this tab immediately.  This post contains a “sensitive” Wikileaks cable that originated in the US Embassy-Hanoi and commentary on the same.  If you read it, you are breaking the law, not to mention disobeying  Madam Secretary.  Please pardon … Continue reading Winning the Hearts & Minds of Young Vietnamese