Author: Mark A. Ashwill

Vietnam Ranks 3rd in International Enrollment at US Community Colleges

Mark A. Ashwill Survey, Updates , ,

According to the 2011 Open Doors report on international academic mobility, there were 89,853 international students enrolled at America’s community colleges, a 3.2% decrease over the previous year.  (This is out of a total of 723,277 international students in the U.S. during the 2010/11 academic year.)   Of that number, 9.9%, or 8,895 students, were Vietnamese.  This … Continue reading Vietnam Ranks 3rd in International Enrollment at US Community Colleges

“Increasing international relations: University opening Vietnam office”

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

Below is a reprint of a press release issued by Kansas State University on 29 February 2012.  MANHATTAN -- Kansas State University is expanding its international outreach to welcome students from Vietnam. Administrators at the office of international programs recently announced a partnership agreement with Capstone Vietnam and its managing director, Mark Ashwill. Capstone and Ashwill will … Continue reading “Increasing international relations: University opening Vietnam office”

International Academic Centers (IACs) in Vietnam

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

On behalf of Capstone Vietnam, I'm pleased to welcome Kansas State University to our International Academic Center (IAC) in Hanoi.    What is an IAC? The IAC is a unique offshore development model for US and other foreign institutions of higher education, a shared facility that serves as a home base and an incubator from which a school can promote … Continue reading International Academic Centers (IACs) in Vietnam

If You’ve Got It, Flaunt It!

Mark A. Ashwill Commentary, Updates , ,

Luxury, of course, is a revolutionary new way of life in the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, whose citizens have had to contend with war, poverty, a devastating US-led economic embargo that ended in 1994 (i.e., only 18 years ago!), dislocation, corruption and mismanagement in recent generations. This explains the typically nouveau riche behavior on display, mostly in the nation's big … Continue reading If You’ve Got It, Flaunt It!

US-Based or Affiliated Unaccredited Institutions in Vietnam

Mark A. Ashwill Commentary, Updates , ,

Consider the following list of (22) U.S.-based or affiliated unaccredited schools that have entered the higher education market in Vietnam as a dishonor roll of sorts.  Most are "online universities" and some are diploma mills, defined  as "a usually unregulated institution of higher education granting degrees with few or no academic requirements." For information about New Typologies for Crossborder Higher Education, … Continue reading US-Based or Affiliated Unaccredited Institutions in Vietnam

Nationally Accredited U.S. Institutions with a Vietnam Connection

Mark A. Ashwill Commentary, Updates , ,

Below is a list of thirteen (13) known nationally accredited U.S.-based institutions operating in Vietnam, many in cooperation with a local partner. For the record, national accreditation (NA) is not comparable to regional accreditation (RA), which is generally considered to be the "gold standard" of higher education accreditation in the U.S. If you're interested in learning more about the differences … Continue reading Nationally Accredited U.S. Institutions with a Vietnam Connection

The bad stories in the education sector in 2011

Mark A. Ashwill Articles , ,

Never a dull moment in Vietnamese education.  Check out the bad stories in the education sector in 2011, including "bad behaviors of teachers, problematic students’ morality, and the 'achievement disease.'"  The excerpts below were taken from an article with the same name.    The bad behaviors of teachers On May 13, Trieu Ngoc Diem, a primary school … Continue reading The bad stories in the education sector in 2011

Winter 2012 Update: Vietnam’s Mixed Messages Sideline Foreign Investors

Mark A. Ashwill Updates , , ,

This winter 2012 update is from Vietnomics, a global sourcing consultancy that links US and Vietnamese investors and companies.  Thanks, Jeff!  Summary Vietnam begins 2012 at a crossroads and needs meaningful reforms to complete the transition to a market economy that it started a generation ago.  At times, the country seems to be moving decisively toward … Continue reading Winter 2012 Update: Vietnam’s Mixed Messages Sideline Foreign Investors

Online Survey: Your Institution & Vietnam

Mark A. Ashwill Survey

I developed a brief (10 question) survey on SurveyMonkey for regionally accredited US colleges and universities that have incorporated, or are beginning to incorporate, Vietnam into their internationalization strategies.  This includes student recruitment and a variety of other activities, current or planned.  I intend to share the overall results with everyone who participates.  Personal information will be kept … Continue reading Online Survey: Your Institution & Vietnam