Myanmar: a new frontier for international student recruitment

Since political and economic liberalization, the advent of a multiparty democratic system, and the lifting of economic sanctions, the country has been opening up to the world in grand fashion. The above quote is from a 7.7.17 PIE News blog post that I co-authored with Deepak Neopane, the founder of City College Yangon and managing … Continue reading Myanmar: a new frontier for international student recruitment

Foreigner attacked after traffic incident

The video of this incident, which occurred on 23 June in Hanoi, went viral with 2 million views.  Below is a summary from DanTri International.  (Here's a better version of the video that is linked in the article.) Some witnesses said that the fight on Tran Khat Chan Street started when the man drove his … Continue reading Foreigner attacked after traffic incident

NAFSA 2017: Riding the Wave

It was another rewarding and enjoyable NAFSA annual conference with nearly 10,000 attendees.  My week was filled with meetings with colleagues from the US and many other countries that have targeted Viet Nam as a priority country.  While most are interested in recruiting (more) Vietnamese students, some have other project ideas.   Riding the Wave … Continue reading NAFSA 2017: Riding the Wave

In Viet Nam, Good Parenting Equals A Straight-A Kid, Plus an American Degree

Call it love, ambition or obsession, but the only thing most Vietnamese care about is a well-educated child. It's probably a bit of each.  Parents generally want the best for their children and overseas study, especially in the US, which is the world's second leading host of Vietnamese students, is seen as one means to … Continue reading In Viet Nam, Good Parenting Equals A Straight-A Kid, Plus an American Degree

Nativism Not Nationalism (!)

In her 16 June 2017 University World News article US student mobility trends in a global context Rajika Bhandari refers to "the rise of nationalism around the world and what is perceived as a turning inward of many traditional host destinations that have typically attracted large numbers of students and scholars from around the world."  … Continue reading Nativism Not Nationalism (!)

Gaming the US Student Visa System: Easy as 1-2-3

Do you want to emigrate to the US without the muss and fuss of a multi-year immigrant petition that may or may not be approved?  Psst!  Here's a low-cost solution.  Apply to an undergraduate or graduate program, depending upon your educational background, at a reputable college or university where there are not many Vietnamese students, … Continue reading Gaming the US Student Visa System: Easy as 1-2-3

Decoding International Students’ Experiences With Education Agents: Insights for U.S. Institutions

This is an excellent survey conducted by World Education Services (WES) about the use of education agents by students around the world - with the exception of Southeast Asia, the Middle East, and North Africa. Here's a brief note about their analysis, including some caveats. Survey results are broken down by region of origin. We … Continue reading Decoding International Students’ Experiences With Education Agents: Insights for U.S. Institutions

The Education Agent Issue in the US: Like a Bad Penny

It’s reminiscent of those trick candles that delight children and adults alike.  (OK, some adults.)  You blow them out and they continue to relight themselves – like magic!  While the US was late to the agent debate, actions that have been taken to date, while most would agree represent progress, have clearly not assuaged everyone’s … Continue reading The Education Agent Issue in the US: Like a Bad Penny

The Fat Lady Finally Sings: Bob Kerrey Quietly Resigns from Fulbright University Vietnam Leadership Position

Below is an excerpt from my latest CounterPunch article about Bob Kerrey and Fulbright University Vietnam.  Think of it as the 2017 bookend to my 2016 CP article, Bob Kerrey and Fulbright University – What were they thinking?, published a month after the controversy erupted.  Follow this link to read it in its entirety.  MAA … Continue reading The Fat Lady Finally Sings: Bob Kerrey Quietly Resigns from Fulbright University Vietnam Leadership Position

What is Your Ikigai?

Everyone I know who is happy is working well at something they consider important.  Abraham Maslow I had the opportunity to speak to about 150 10th graders at one of the more selective high schools in Hanoi earlier this week.  I chose to speak to them not about overseas study in general or study in … Continue reading What is Your Ikigai?