“Do not regret growing older. It is a privilege denied to many.”

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This quote, attributed to Mark Twain or "unknown," is one of my favorites. I think of it often, including whenever people complain about growing older in youth-obsessed cultures and even those that have traditionally revered and respected the elderly. To find examples of people who were denied that privilege because of illness or accident, look … Continue reading “Do not regret growing older. It is a privilege denied to many.”

Top 10 Overseas Study Destinations for Young Vietnamese

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These countries host 90% of all Vietnamese studying abroad, over two-thirds (67%) of whom are in Asian countries. The USA is still the leading English-speaking destination. Vietnam ranks 6th among places of origin. Source: Chào Hanoi S. Korea: 70,212 (2023)  Japan: 37,405 (2022)  USA: 25,198 (2-23) Australia: 21,316 (1-23) Taiwan: 20,000 (2022) Canada: 16,140 (as … Continue reading Top 10 Overseas Study Destinations for Young Vietnamese

Overseas Study as a Stepping Stone to Emigration

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Verywell/Alex Dos DIaz At a recent Capstone StudyGlobal Education Fair, I spoke with two girls who asked for recommendations about where to study. Both were high school students, one in the 10th grade and the other in the 11th. Their initial focus was on the US but, after further discussion, they said they were willing … Continue reading Overseas Study as a Stepping Stone to Emigration

“This is a crime against our planet.”

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Indeed. Three words that immediately popped into my head after glancing at this disturbing photo were fetid, macabre, and surreal. It is both sad and infuriating, yet another depressing example of ecocide. The oversized teddy bear is Brown of LINE (chat app) fame. Maybe a child or someone's girlfriend got tired of him. What better … Continue reading “This is a crime against our planet.”

Highly Recommended:  “I Have Arrived, I Am Home – Documentary About Thích Nhất Hạnh”

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From Plum Village: Made specially for the first anniversary of the passing of Zen Master Thích Nhất Hạnh, "I Have Arrived, I Am Home" is a new documentary from filmmaker Max Pugh (A Cloud Never Dies, Walk With Me). The film includes footage and commentary on Thich Nhat Hanh's return to his native Vietnam, where … Continue reading Highly Recommended:  “I Have Arrived, I Am Home – Documentary About Thích Nhất Hạnh”

The 21 Circles of Privilege

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I recently came across this comprehensive image of various sources of privilege on LinkedIn. It was created by Dr. Poornima Luthra, Teaching Associate Professor at the Copenhagen Business School, and author of Diversifying Diversity: Your guide to being an active ally of inclusion in the workplace and The Art of Active Allyship. To get an … Continue reading The 21 Circles of Privilege

A Fulbright University Vietnam (FUV) Student Speaks Out

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I recently received an intriguing message via LinkedIn from a Vietnamese undergraduate enrolled at FUV (Tagline: Creating the next generation of change-makers in Vietnam for a rapidly evolving world) in HCMC. Here's the unedited back-and-forth between the student and me, which he gave me permission to share on an unattributed basis. I appreciated his candor … Continue reading A Fulbright University Vietnam (FUV) Student Speaks Out

Number of US-Bound Vietnamese Students Continues to Climb

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Here are the latest Vietnam-related stats from the February 2023 SEVIS update. (You can also access these data for other countries using the interactive map.) This is a follow-up to my 10 January 2023 post with information about the November 2022 update. These are mid-year stats, which are usually not as dramatic and consequential as those for the new … Continue reading Number of US-Bound Vietnamese Students Continues to Climb

Isn’t it time to shut down the fake credentials industry?

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Source: Same Day Diplomas Below are a famous Alexis de Tocqueville quote to kick off my latest University World News essay and the first three paragraphs. (My original title was Fake Education Credentials: Wink, Nod, Buy & Sell, which was probably changed for legal reasons.) If you're intrigued, read the article in its entirety. In … Continue reading Isn’t it time to shut down the fake credentials industry?