I received a number of comments in response to my recent article entitled A “Patriotic” Education Study Abroad Program in Viet Nam: God Bless America, Right or Wrong!, mostly from US veterans of the war in Viet Nam, or "Vietnam-era" veterans. One who falls into the latter category decided to take it one step further … Continue reading The College of the Ozarks Patriotic Education Travel Program to Viet Nam: A Vietnam-Era Veteran Responds
Articles
“PM Nguyen Xuan Phuc receives Harvard University’s professor”
When I saw this headline, I was curious to see who the Harvard professor was. It was none other than Thomas Vallely, who is not a professor but an administrator with neither an academic appointment nor a Ph.D. More importantly, this is the same Thomas Vallely (TV) who made a series of cruel and insensitive … Continue reading “PM Nguyen Xuan Phuc receives Harvard University’s professor”
Fake News: “Australia ‘first choice’ for overseas Vietnamese students”
This is presumably an editor's mistake. Fact-checking is important and really easy these days. Is Australia the world's leading host of Vietnamese students, meaning their "first choice"? As of 10-18, there were 23,803 young Vietnamese studying in Australia at all levels out of a total of 673,296 international students, according to the Australia's Department of Education and … Continue reading Fake News: “Australia ‘first choice’ for overseas Vietnamese students”
“I Love America. That’s Why I Have to Tell the Truth About It”
I liked most of this recent Time magazine essay by Viet Thanh Nguyen (VTN). (The title is the very definition of patriotism, by the way.) I was, however, troubled by the parts in bold italics in the following statements. It's as if he's trying to sugarcoat his message in an effort to make it more … Continue reading “I Love America. That’s Why I Have to Tell the Truth About It”
A “Patriotic” Education Study Abroad Program in Viet Nam: God Bless America, Right or Wrong!
This is an essay I felt compelled to write about a US American study abroad program to Viet Nam that reinforces and indeed celebrates US nationalism. It is a textbook example of how not to structure such a program. The country of Viet Nam is but a sideshow, a prop that enables students and veterans to … Continue reading A “Patriotic” Education Study Abroad Program in Viet Nam: God Bless America, Right or Wrong!
Vietnam Hangs Out the Welcome Sign for International Schools
The Vietnamese government is keen on attracting more FDI and expanding educational opportunities for its young people. Decree 86 covers both bases. In the spirit of giving credit where credit’s due, it is an example of good governance, a smart and timely decision that will pay off in the long-term for both individuals and society. … Continue reading Vietnam Hangs Out the Welcome Sign for International Schools
#YouAreWelcomeWhere? A Call to Action
This is a post I wrote for The World View, a Boston College Center for International Higher Education blog hosted by Inside Higher Ed (IHE). It is as much a wake-up call as it is a call to action. One of my main points, which obviously went over the heads of some readers who commented, … Continue reading #YouAreWelcomeWhere? A Call to Action
Gun Violence & Study in the USA
I spoke to some students last Friday at a top private high school in Hanoi about overseas study. Among the small group that was planning to study overseas, they mentioned Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Japan, and New Zealand as potential destinations. Not one expressed interest in studying in the US. When I asked why, they … Continue reading Gun Violence & Study in the USA
An ethical approach to commissions-based recruitment
Below is the unabridged version of an article with the above title that Eddie West and I wrote for University World News (UWN). Follow this link to read that version. Incentive-Based Compensation & International Student Recruitment: Is There a Better Way? By Mark A. Ashwill & Eddie West The agent issue in the US is reminiscent … Continue reading An ethical approach to commissions-based recruitment
When in Viet Nam, Drive as the Vietnamese Do!
An expat shares some philosophical reflections and practical tips on the free-for-all that is Vietnamese traffic. This is my latest English language article for VNExpress International. Follow this link to read it in its entirety. Below is the unabridged version: In any country, driving culture and etiquette, or a lack thereof, is a window into … Continue reading When in Viet Nam, Drive as the Vietnamese Do!
An International Educator in Vietnam 
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