“Losing Hearts & Minds” Say What?

22/04/2018 Mark A. Ashwill Books, Commentary fulbright, international education exchange, iran, us foreign policy, us soft power

(US) American-Iranian Relations & International Education during the Cold War The question remains about how institutions of higher education can thrive economically and promote responsible internationalization. On the one hand, educational exchange can help generate change around the world and enhance American influence and prestige. On the other hand, schools, like nations, should not compromise … Continue reading “Losing Hearts & Minds” Say What?

The Art & Science of Creating Good Videos

19/04/201819/04/2018 Mark A. Ashwill Commentary digital marketing, international student recruitment, online videos, overseas study, vietnamese student recruitment

Vietnamese get most of their information from online sources, including social media, primarily Facebook. They also watch a lot of video, 2 hours, 43 minutes a day, to be precise, according to the results of the annual We Are Social and Hootsuite update. As a result, YouTube ranks 4th among all websites in Viet Nam, … Continue reading The Art & Science of Creating Good Videos

Q: How to Choose an Education Agent? A: Use Your Best Judgement

16/04/2018 Mark A. Ashwill Commentary business ethics, commission-based recruitment, education agents, institutional services, overseas study

And Don't Forget the Tried-and-True Carrot & Stick Approach Colleagues sometimes ask me to recommend education agents in Viet Nam. While I'd like to be able to help them in this regard, I can't. The simple reason is that this is such a problematic (read shady) and unregulated sector. There is no one (or one … Continue reading Q: How to Choose an Education Agent? A: Use Your Best Judgement

I Am Something…

11/04/201812/04/2020 Mark A. Ashwill Commentary criticism, edward bulwer-lytton, elbert hubbard, martin luther king jr.

How do I know I am something, in this regard? Because I discovered the power of the written word, a la Edward Bulwer-Lytton's famous 1839 metonymic adage, The pen is mightier than the sword, in a previous incarnation, another lifetime, while still a high school student. I found it not only in what I read … Continue reading I Am Something…

Teacher’s Damning Critique of US Educational System (& Society) Goes Viral

09/04/2018 Mark A. Ashwill Commentary crisis in education, us k-12 education, us teachers

This is a Facebook post by Julie Marburger, a sixth-grade teacher at Cedar Creek Intermediate School near Austin, Texas, that went viral. It reflects the views of many US American teachers and those who are aware of the extremely difficult conditions under which most work. Her post was picked up by the Star-Telegram in Fort … Continue reading Teacher’s Damning Critique of US Educational System (& Society) Goes Viral

Direct Applications on the Rise

04/04/2018 Mark A. Ashwill Commentary agency-based recruitment, commission-based recruitment, direct applications, education agents, overseas study, study in the USA, viet nam, vietnam

While Viet Nam is still primarily an agent-driven market, growing numbers of students are beginning to bypass education agents and apply directly to educational institutions, especially for certain types of institutions and programs with simpler application procedures. In some cases, more than 50% of all apps are directly from students. The reasons for this recent … Continue reading Direct Applications on the Rise

An Ode to International Student Recruiters

24/03/2018 Mark A. Ashwill Commentary international student recruitment, overseas study, viet nam, Vietnamese students

One of the privileges and pleasures of my work is watching colleagues connect with young Vietnamese who are interested in overseas study, be it at a fair, coffee talk, info session, or individual meeting at a hotel. Traveling to Viet Nam and other sending countries is still one of the most effective ways to recruit … Continue reading An Ode to International Student Recruiters

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

21/03/201809/01/2019 Mark A. Ashwill Commentary, Updates catholicism in viet nam, colonial legacy, french colonialism

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

Worldwide Caution (?)

08/03/2018 Mark A. Ashwill Commentary personal safety, us foreign policy, USA, viet nam

I was looking for some information on the US State Department website a while ago and came across this notice. Wow, the world is such a scary place, especially outside the borders of the US, a country that has come to be known within its borders since 9/11 as the Homeland, much to my … Continue reading Worldwide Caution (?)

An International Educator in Vietnam

Information, Insights & (Frequently) Intrigue

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