Why Vietnamese Talent & Brains Are Choosing to Emigrate

Mark A. Ashwill Articles, Commentary , , ,

Below are point-by-point responses to a 1 November 2016 article that appeared in Entity, a self-described Los Angeles, CA-based non-profit magazine "that allows people to speak their minds & have their hearts heard..."  My counterpoints begin with MAA (my initials) and are in blue.    "Brain drain" is a complex phenomenon not a black/white picture.  … Continue reading Why Vietnamese Talent & Brains Are Choosing to Emigrate

Happy 7th Anniversary, “International Educator in Viet Nam”!

Mark A. Ashwill Announcement, Commentary , , , ,

WordPress dutifully reminded me yesterday that it was the 7th anniversary of registering this blog.  That was at a time when I suddenly had more freedom of speech, relatively speaking, because of a job change.  No more pre-approvals, no more top-down censorship, no more "change this" or "delete that" because it might offend certain powerful … Continue reading Happy 7th Anniversary, “International Educator in Viet Nam”!

Open Doors 2016: Viet Nam Ranks 6th

Mark A. Ashwill Commentary, Survey, Updates , , ,

According to the latest Open Doors (OD) report on international educational exchange, released today by the Institute of International Education (IIE) to kick off International Education Week (IEW), there were over 1 million international students studying in the US in 2015/16.  NOTE:  In contrast to the SEVIS by the Numbers quarterly updates, the OD data … Continue reading Open Doors 2016: Viet Nam Ranks 6th

“International educators react to shock Trump victory”

Mark A. Ashwill Articles, Commentary , , ,

After a shock win for Donald Trump in the US presidential election, educators in the US and overseas have reacted with concern that the victory will damage the US’s reputation as a welcoming destination as well as curtail work opportunities for international students in the country. A few international educational colleagues, mostly from the US, and … Continue reading “International educators react to shock Trump victory”

“The Trump Impact Abroad” (Focus on Viet Nam)

Mark A. Ashwill Commentary , , ,

Here's an excerpt from my most recent University World News article: I spent part of a recent Sunday morning speaking to group of Vietnamese students in Hanoi who had participated in a US culture and society contest. Several were from talented and gifted high schools, including some of the finest in Viet Nam. Most had … Continue reading “The Trump Impact Abroad” (Focus on Viet Nam)

How a Chinese company bought access to admissions officers at top U.S. colleges

Mark A. Ashwill Articles, Commentary , , , ,

Kudos to the four (4) Reuters reporters for their outstanding work on this investigative report.  Only when this type of unethical behavior sees the publication light of day and the proverbial shit hits the fan is there any action, in most cases.  While there are some Vietnamese companies that would love to have this kind … Continue reading How a Chinese company bought access to admissions officers at top U.S. colleges

“Homeland Security Wants To Shut Down South Bay University”

Mark A. Ashwill Commentary , , ,

Kudos to the DHS!  This is what the US government should be doing, instead of creating faux universities (exhibit A:  University of Northern New Jersey) and entrapping people.  They have plenty of work on their hands with existing institutions, including those that are "officially accredited" (read nationally accredited) and unaccredited but authorized to issue I-20s. … Continue reading “Homeland Security Wants To Shut Down South Bay University”

“Outdated Immigration Laws: Bad for Students, Worse for Local Economies”

Mark A. Ashwill Articles, Commentary , ,

It starts with the student visa process, which is one component of a broken immigration system.  At the end of the day, the only issues that really matter are: 1) ability to pay; and 2) whether or not the applicant is a terrorist. The first question in the holy trinity of the vetting process - … Continue reading “Outdated Immigration Laws: Bad for Students, Worse for Local Economies”

NACAC Takes Step in the Right Direction

Mark A. Ashwill Commentary, Updates , , ,

Admissions group calls on colleges to require recruiting agents to disclose their financial ties to those they are seeking to recruit. I'm happy to see NACAC (National Association for College Admission Counseling) moving in this direction.  Ultimately, of course, it's up to institutions to hold their education agents to high standards using a multifaceted carrot/stick … Continue reading NACAC Takes Step in the Right Direction