Commentary

Catholicism, the Vietnamese Language, & Student Recruitment in Viet Nam

Mark A. Ashwill Commentary, Updates , ,

NOTE:  Don't worry, dear reader, I will have connected the dots, more or less, by the end of this post.  🙂 Among the various legacies of French colonialism, loosely defined, including colonial architecture, baguettes, butter, economic exploitation, war, and various words (bia-bière-beer, bơ-beurre-butter, bồ-beau-lover, cà phê-café--coffee, lavabo=sink, phô mai-fromage-cheese) was the introduction of Catholicism, which dates … Continue reading Catholicism, the Vietnamese Language, & Student Recruitment in Viet Nam

How the Vietnamese Use the Internet, Including Social Media

Mark A. Ashwill Articles, Commentary , , , ,

Since most young Vietnamese, including those planning to study overseas, are online, one question to ask yourself is: how big is your digital footprint in Viet Nam? Here is my latest PIE News blog post.  It's about an important topic that I discussed during my E20 webinar last week and in my recent StudyUSA Higher … Continue reading How the Vietnamese Use the Internet, Including Social Media

Rhetorical Question: “Why don’t Viet Nam’s universities rank higher in Asia?”

Mark A. Ashwill Commentary, Updates , , ,

There is a tendency in Vietnam, with the media as an on- and offline amplifier, to engage in self-flagellation about education and other societal issues rather than looking carefully at the broader context and the, sometimes, hopeful reality. This results in journalists and many Vietnamese playing the ‘blame game’. The obvious targets here are the … Continue reading Rhetorical Question: “Why don’t Viet Nam’s universities rank higher in Asia?”

An Open Letter to the People of Viet Nam

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The open letter below, an initiative of Veterans For Peace (VFP),  is further proof that the US has yet to overcome its participation in the American War in Viet Nam ("Vietnam War") in the spirit of Vergangenheitsbewältigung, a German term that means the "struggle to overcome the [negatives of the] past". VFP is "an international … Continue reading An Open Letter to the People of Viet Nam

Of Intercultural Incompetence & Chutzpah

Mark A. Ashwill Commentary , , ,

My wife and I recently had lunch at a restaurant in downtown Hanoi.  It was after the 12 noon rush and there was only one other guest where we chose to eat, a middle-aged white expat man who was eating, drinking, and reading a book.  So far, so good, right?  After a couple of very … Continue reading Of Intercultural Incompetence & Chutzpah

Vietnamese Student (Mis)Perceptions of the USA

Mark A. Ashwill Commentary, Updates , , , ,

I recently talked with a Vietnamese student who had studied in the US and was back home.  When I asked him about the experience of living there, one reply really stood out:  people are free and equal.  That answer jump-started my interior monologue, which quickly went into overdrive.  The first reply was Which people, in … Continue reading Vietnamese Student (Mis)Perceptions of the USA

Vietnamese Students Contribute Over $1 Billion to the US Economy

Mark A. Ashwill Commentary, Reports, Updates , ,

In 2016/17, Vietnamese students enrolled in US colleges and universities contributed $818 million to the US economy, according to the Open Doors 2017 report.  (Source:  US Department of Commerce)  Keep in mind that those data are from fall 2016 and are limited to higher education. Let's update and extrapolate using SEVIS data from December 2017.  … Continue reading Vietnamese Students Contribute Over $1 Billion to the US Economy

“International Students Contribute to Our Economy & American Innovation”

Mark A. Ashwill Commentary , , ,

This image, created by NAFSA:  Association of International Educators, a "non-profit professional organization for professionals in all areas of international education including education abroad advising and administration," was recently posted on Facebook by a US higher education colleague.  All compelling points with which I agree 100%.  In fact, they could create another graphic that lists … Continue reading “International Students Contribute to Our Economy & American Innovation”