No, this is not a Vietnam-related post, at least not directly. Indirectly, however, there is a Vietnam connection. I was invited to speak to a group of US higher education colleagues about Vietnam in early February 2010 at a seminar in Washington, D.C. During my presentation, the snow began falling right on schedule, and kept falling throughout that day and … Continue reading Americans and the Other
Commentary
“Education is not the means to an end”
Fields Medal winner says the Vietnamese youth has to change its attitude towards education and develop a thirst for knowledge Ngo Bao Chau, dual French and Vietnamese citizen, recipient of the 2010 Fields Medal, the "Nobel Prize" of mathematics, is everywhere these days. After receiving his award at the International Congress of Mathematicians in India, Professor Chau … Continue reading “Education is not the means to an end”
“Business for a Cause”
Vietnamese-American David Duong has spun gold from American trash I especially like the first line of this 27.8.10 Thanh Nien News article. David Duong is the classic rags-to-riches story. He saw an opportunity and took advantage of it. His companies, California Waste Solutions and Vietnam Waste Solutions are excellent examples of "doing well and doing good." His ambitious … Continue reading “Business for a Cause”
What A Difference a Month Can Make: Rogue Providers & the Power of the Press
Some of you may recall that I posted a list of unaccredited US-based/affiliated higher education providers in early July. The purpose of the list is simple: to educate "consumers" of US and other foreign higher education so that they can make an informed decision about the value of the education and training being offered. (I did … Continue reading What A Difference a Month Can Make: Rogue Providers & the Power of the Press
“US education co-operation brings positive changes”
A good interview with Steve Maxner, chairman of the board of directors of the Vietnam Education Foundation (VEF), which appeared in the 19 July 2010 issue of the English language daily, Viet Nam News. (Dr. Maxner is also director of the Vietnam Center at Texas Tech University.) A little-known fact about the origins of the … Continue reading “US education co-operation brings positive changes”
In Retrospect: The 1st Alumni Conference for US-Educated Vietnamese
It was just over a year ago (i.e., 25 July 2009) that the first ever alumni conference for US-educated Vietnamese was held in Ho Chi Minh City. The conference announcement stated that "This historic conference will bring together Vietnamese alumni of regionally accredited US colleges and universities in order to learn about and celebrate their many achievements, … Continue reading In Retrospect: The 1st Alumni Conference for US-Educated Vietnamese
Empower Vietnamese Youth
Empower : to promote the self-actualization or influence of. This is a fitting slogan for VietAbroader (VA), a non-profit, student-run organization "dedicated to helping Vietnamese youth pursue higher education abroad and attracting talent (back) to Viet Nam." (Follow this link to learn about VA's values.) During my first trip to Vietnam in January 1996, a US diplomat … Continue reading Empower Vietnamese Youth
“Get a Ph.D. in America Without Knowing English!”
This is the title of a June 16th article about U.S.-based rogue providers (unaccredited schools) operating in Vietnam (Làm tiến sĩ ở Mỹ nhưng không biết tiếng Anh!). The English translation of the article, entitled Director Questioned About Dubious US Doctoral Degree, was published on 6/23 by VietnamNet. The "university" in question is Southern Pacific University, which … Continue reading “Get a Ph.D. in America Without Knowing English!”
“Agent Provocateur” – The Growing Pains of Agency-Based International Student Recruitment in the U.S.
At a Hunan restaurant in Flushing, Queens, members of the newly formed Chinese Returnees International (CRI) suck on spicy spare ribs and quaff green tea. They've come for camaraderie and conversation--but they also have loftier goals. "Our primary concern is to make an easier road for overseas Chinese students who want to go back to … Continue reading “Agent Provocateur” – The Growing Pains of Agency-Based International Student Recruitment in the U.S.
“Employers give university graduates an ‘F’ in life”
According to a survey conducted by the Vietnam Institute for Educational Research, up to 83 percent of university graduates are considered by employers to be lacking “life skills”. Hard to define ‘soft skills’ – decision-making, working in teams, and time management – are major determining factors in the success of people. And university graduates seem … Continue reading “Employers give university graduates an ‘F’ in life”
An International Educator in Vietnam 
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