Viet Nam's education system is grappling with substandard training and dire shortage of teachers, according to a conference held in Ha Noi last week. This lead-off sentence in a 29 August article about the state of Vietnam's educational system pretty much sums it up, as another new school year begins. Pham Do Nhat Tien, former assistant to the … Continue reading “Vietnam battles with poor quality education”
Articles
“Vietnam: Graduate unemployment and ‘over-education’ rising” by Hiep Pham
Reposted from the 13 July 2013 edition of University World News. As a new batch of graduates emerged from Vietnam’s universities in recent weeks, the country was facing twin problems of increasing unemployment among young people and a phenomenon of ‘over-education’ – graduates who fail to find jobs that use their skills. By October last … Continue reading “Vietnam: Graduate unemployment and ‘over-education’ rising” by Hiep Pham
When Nationalism and Militarism Become One
Note: This HuffPo blog post is not related to Vietnam, at least directly, but is directly related to the field of international education, especially in the U.S. This image, captured in a Macy's Department Store, is a not-so-subtle appeal to American consumers' national pride (read nationalism) and respect for the military in a nation in which mindless … Continue reading When Nationalism and Militarism Become One
Yes, No, Maybe? NACAC Straddles the Proverbial Fence
A special commission studying the use of commission-based recruitment of international students has urged the National Association for College Admission Counseling to lift a ban on the practice, while at the same time discouraging it. (Shift on Agents, Inside Higher Ed, 13.6.13) Jekyll & Hyde Approach to Policy Statements How much time and money were invested in … Continue reading Yes, No, Maybe? NACAC Straddles the Proverbial Fence
Vietnam: Trends in International and Domestic Education (repost)
By Nick Clark, Editor, World Education News & Reviews Vietnam is currently one of the fastest growing sources of international students for U.S. institutions of higher education, according to data from the Institute for International Education. In academic year 2011/12, Vietnam was the eighth largest sender of tertiary students to the United States, behind Japan … Continue reading Vietnam: Trends in International and Domestic Education (repost)
Corruption Sans Borders: U.S. Visas for Sale in Ho Chi Minh City
Say it ain't so, Mike! Michael Sestak, the former NIV (Non-Immigrant Visa) chief in the US Consulate General in HCMC, got caught with his hand in the cookie jar. To paraphrase a verse from the The Good Book: greed and arrogance goeth before a fall. Apparently, his generous foreign service officer salary and the various goodies that … Continue reading Corruption Sans Borders: U.S. Visas for Sale in Ho Chi Minh City
“From the Lion’s Den: An Open Letter (and Invitation) to Vietnam Veterans”
What America owes Vietnam it can never repay, though there are many Americans in the U.S. and Vietnam today, including veterans, who are striving mightily and in myriad ways to contribute to the physical and spiritual healing process. The "Nam," as some of you still think of it, this country of your dreams and your … Continue reading “From the Lion’s Den: An Open Letter (and Invitation) to Vietnam Veterans”
“Washington Eyes Raising State Tuition of Foreigners”
This headline in a recent New York Times article caught my attention. Washington state ranks 11th in international enrollment, according the 2012 Open Doors report, with 20,198 foreign students, an increase of 13.4% over the previous year. Vietnam ranks 3rd with 8.2% of total enrollment at WA colleges and universities. (In case you're counting, that's over … Continue reading “Washington Eyes Raising State Tuition of Foreigners”
The Rushford Report on the “Consul General’s Candidacy as the Next Ambassador to Vietnam”
This blog post from Diplopundit and the 15 April 2013 article on which it's based, entitled "How (Not) to Become a U.S. Ambassador" by Greg Rushford of The Rushford Report fame, definitely fall into the category of Intrigue.
Slow Down To Catch Up
Vietnam's Ministry of Education and Training (MoET) recently announced plans to reduce enrollment at 23 universities and colleges. According to Bui Van Ga, a vice minister, the intent of the policy is to "focus on quality instead of quantity.” Enrollment quotas will be reduced between 10% and 100% at the 23 institutions “because of failures to … Continue reading Slow Down To Catch Up
An International Educator in Vietnam 
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