Haunting. This is the title of a "review" I recently posted on Amazon about Kill Anything That Moves: The Real American War in Vietnam by Nick Turse, which is available in paperback today. Actually, it's not so much a review as it is a rebuttal to every criticism - or at least all of the ones … Continue reading “Review” of Kill Anything That Moves: The Real American War in Vietnam
Commentary
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!
Education Companies in Vietnam: Take a Walk on the Wild Side (Part II)
Note: Follow this link to read the first post in this two-part series. Due Diligence Some advice to my foreign higher education colleagues: don't trust any of the come-ons or be seduced by the slick lines in (sometimes) passable English that arrive in your inboxes on a regular basis. Do your homework, check references, and find out who's really behind … Continue reading Education Companies in Vietnam: Take a Walk on the Wild Side (Part II)
Education Companies in Vietnam: Take a Walk on the Wild Side (Part I)
In Vietnam, where cheating is a national pastime and ethical business practices are in dangerously short supply, the world of educational consulting is no exception. EducationUSA fantasies notwithstanding, the reality is that most parents and students work with an education agent instead of applying directly to U.S. (and other foreign) colleges and universities, as in other … Continue reading Education Companies in Vietnam: Take a Walk on the Wild Side (Part I)
“Revitalizing Vietnam’s Economic Miracle”
Last month, I was invited to speak to a group of U.S. students who are participating in a fall study abroad program that begins in HCMC and spends the remainder of the semester in Hanoi. My assigned topic was Revitalizing Vietnam’s Economic Miracle. After a brief refresher on Vietnam in the recent past, I took them on a … Continue reading “Revitalizing Vietnam’s Economic Miracle”
Gaming the System, International Student-Style
Gaming the system (also referred to as gaming the rules, bending the rules, abusing the system, milking the system, playing the system, or working the system) can be defined as using the rules and procedures meant to protect a system in order, instead, to manipulate the system for a desired outcome. Here’s a relevant hypothetical … Continue reading Gaming the System, International Student-Style
U.S. Higher Education Admissions: Something for Everyone (?)
I was recently invited to speak to a group of admissions colleagues from Vietnam National University (VNU)-Hanoi in a workshop entitled “Dossier Evaluation and Interviews in Competence-Based University Admissions," organized by that institution's Institute for Education Quality Assurance in Kim Boi, Hoa Binh. During two morning sessions, I discussed some distinguishing features of U.S. higher education, including size and … Continue reading U.S. Higher Education Admissions: Something for Everyone (?)
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
Guest Post: A U.S. Colleague’s Perspective on Vietnamese Students
I’ve been involved in international education for a long time, having lived and worked in both the U.S. and overseas. I love what I do. I get to travel the world, meet wonderful students, supportive parents, and dedicated colleagues who are also interested in international education. In all of my years of travel, however, I had never … Continue reading Guest Post: A U.S. Colleague’s Perspective on Vietnamese Students
An International Educator in Vietnam 
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