Below is an excerpt from a recent article written by Daniel H. Garrett, a former US Department of State foreign service officer and currently a senior associate at The Asia Institute. I am posting it because it offers an insider's view of the work of US consular officers, including student visas. In addition to … Continue reading Five-Minute Glass: What Our Government Sees When It Looks Out the Window
Articles
Interesting Facts About the Vietnam Education Foundation
This is a recent search engine term that brought some unsuspecting netizen to my blog. It reminded me of a recent conversation with a young Vietnamese who was a Fulbrighter a couple of years ago. He insisted that Vietnam Education Foundation (VEF) funding was from the U.S. government because that's what a VEF official told … Continue reading Interesting Facts About the Vietnam Education Foundation
Jumping on the Vietnam War Commemoration Bandwagon: The Vain Search for Honor
Overcoming the Past? The good news is that while most of America continues to indulge in this national charade, and refuses to come to terms with its bloody past and prevent the "past" from becoming "prologue" again and again, the tiny S-shaped country upon which the U.S. military visited so much death and destruction has … Continue reading Jumping on the Vietnam War Commemoration Bandwagon: The Vain Search for Honor
The State of Vietnamese Higher Education: Point/Counterpoint
Below is a recent exchange on the Vietnam Studies Group (VSG) listserv between a Vietnamese-American professor and a young Vietnamese who recently graduated from a U.S. institution of higher education. The original post is in reference to an article by Roy J. Nirschel, president of the American University of Vietnam (AUVN), entitled "Picking Up the … Continue reading The State of Vietnamese Higher Education: Point/Counterpoint
It’s Hard To Find Good Help These Days…
A.K.A. Skilling Up Vietnam: Preparing The Workforce for A Modern Market Economy This is a chronic problem that receives ongoing and extensive coverage in the media here. Follow these links to read a recent article about this World Bank report and download all 138 pp. of it. Below is an infographic that pretty much sums it up.
98% of Vietnamese Students Prefer English!
According to the Ministry of Education and Training (MoET), 98% of all students want to learn English. While I knew that English was the most popular foreign language, I didn't realize it was THAT popular. This popularity, however, is a double-edged sword. While it makes it easier to focus resources on one area, it is exceedingly … Continue reading 98% of Vietnamese Students Prefer English!
“In Return to Vietnam, Vets Tackle Mess They Left Behind”
Some excerpts from this 2 December 2013 Newsweek magazine article written by Jeff Stein: It’s not easy to find a turkey dinner in Hanoi, but a handful of Americans and their Vietnamese friends gathered last Thursday over an imported bird cooked for them at a fancy restaurant in the capital’s old quarter, and they gave thanks. … Continue reading “In Return to Vietnam, Vets Tackle Mess They Left Behind”
Businesses criticize universities’ training quality
Tell us something we don't know. This is a perennial issue that should be addressed sooner rather than later. I can attest to the results of this survey as an observer of the education scene here and an employer in two different sectors. (The bold in the article excerpt is mine.) Keep in mind that this survey is specific to … Continue reading Businesses criticize universities’ training quality
Vietnam should teach kindness to children
This is an interview I recently did with Tuổi Trẻ. Note: The title is from the editor. Editor’s Note: Mark Ashwill is the managing director and founder of Capstone Vietnam, a human resource development company that provides education and training solutions. He was the country director of the Institute of International Education in Vietnam from 2005 to … Continue reading Vietnam should teach kindness to children
Two Universities Request Permission to Charge $5,000 for Tuition
As everyone knows, establishing and maintaining a quality university does not come cheap. The Vietnamese-Germany University, which is an example of cooperation between the Vietnamese and German governments (i.e., the state of Hessen), was established in September 2009 in HCMC with total investment capital of $177.14 million, 90% of which is from foreign loans. The University of Science … Continue reading Two Universities Request Permission to Charge $5,000 for Tuition
An International Educator in Vietnam 
You must be logged in to post a comment.