Playing Geopolitical Whack-a-Mole: The Viet Nam Flag Issue Revisited

24/01/2020 Mark A. Ashwill Articles, Commentary flag issue, RVN, socialist republic of vietnam, south vietnam, study in the USA, viet nam, vietnam

“The past is never dead. It's not even past." (from Requiem for a Nun by William Faulkner) Sadly, the "flag issue" is very much alive at many educational institutions, especially those with nearby Vietnamese immigrant communities. If you're intrigued by the title and/or introduction below, follow this link to read the article. I include advice … Continue reading Playing Geopolitical Whack-a-Mole: The Viet Nam Flag Issue Revisited

The Five Remembrances by the Buddha

21/01/202004/08/2026 Mark A. Ashwill Commentary Buddha, buddhism, five remembrances, Thích Nhất Hạnh

Translated by Thích Nhất Hạnh Thích Nhất Hạnh Worth (re)reading from time to time, including at the end of another Lunar Year. (Follow this link for a PDF version of The Five Remembrances. or click on Thích Nhất Hạnh's photo to the left. As he notes, When you deny the reality of life, you appreciate … Continue reading The Five Remembrances by the Buddha

“Why constructive criticism of the US is not anti-American”

20/01/202009/03/2020 Mark A. Ashwill Articles, Commentary international student recruitment, international students, nationalism, overseas study, patriotism, study in the USA, viet nam, vietnam, vietnamese parents, Vietnamese students

Here's my latest University World News essay from 18 January 2020. (NOTE: Editor's title.) The original working title was Nationalism Rears Its Ugly Head in the Tumultuous World of US International Education, which is descriptive but too long. 🙂 If the title or introduction below whets your appetite for more, follow this link Closeup of … Continue reading “Why constructive criticism of the US is not anti-American”

Of SPAM, Viet Nam, & the World

18/01/2020 Mark A. Ashwill Commentary SPAM, viet nam, vietnam

I've always found it ironic that a certain percentage of emails sent from Viet Nam to other countries end up in colleagues' SPAM folders because of the security settings of their institutions' servers. The irony lies in the fact that Viet Nam does not rank among the top 10 "worst enabling Spam countries" in the … Continue reading Of SPAM, Viet Nam, & the World

Chinese vs. Lunar New Year: A Mini-Lesson in Cultural Sensitivity

16/01/202025/01/2020 Mark A. Ashwill Commentary 2020, chinese new year, lunar new year, spring festival, Tết Nguyên Đán, tet, year of the rat

Image courtesy of Báo giao thông Since it's that time of year again and the Lunar Year of the Rat is right around the corner, I feel compelled to state the obvious. With all due respect to China, it does not have a monopoly on this or any other Lunar New Year. Tết Nguyên Đán … Continue reading Chinese vs. Lunar New Year: A Mini-Lesson in Cultural Sensitivity

HPDF List of Think Tanks and Thinkers

16/01/2020 Mark A. Ashwill Announcement, Organization hcmc, HPDF, HUFO, Madame Tôn Nữ Thị Ninh, mark ashwill

I am honored to be mentioned as a contributor under Sources for Insights: List of Think Tanks and Thinkers for the Ho Chi Minh City Peace & Development Foundation (HPDF), an organization within the Ho Chi Minh City Union of Friendship Organizations (HUFO). HPDF was founded by Madame Tôn Nữ Thị Ninh, President, HCMC Peace and Development Foundation, … Continue reading HPDF List of Think Tanks and Thinkers

Decree 99 Provides Guidance on Higher Education in Vietnam

15/01/2020 Mark A. Ashwill Updates decree 99, foreign higher education institutions, Ministry of Education and Training, viet nam, vietnam

The Vietnamese government, i.e., the Ministry of Education and Training (MoET), has become increasingly sophisticated regarding the establishment of foreign campuses in Viet Nam. Reprinted below is an English translation of the text of Decree 99, courtesy of Tilleke & Gibbins, which will take effect next month. Shalom (שלום), MAA On December 30, 2019, the government … Continue reading Decree 99 Provides Guidance on Higher Education in Vietnam

Dân tộc chủ nghĩa phiên bản Mỹ – Vấn đề quá lớn để nhắm mắt cho qua

15/01/2020 Mark A. Ashwill Articles Dân tộc chủ nghĩa, Mark A. Ashwill, Mỹ, Yêu nước

"Yêu nước là tự hào về những giá trị tốt đẹp và khao khát sửa chữa những yếu kém của nước mình; yêu nước không ngăn cản việc con người ta thừa nhận lòng yêu nước của người dân nước khác, với những giá trị tốt đẹp của riêng họ. Tuy nhiên, dân tộc chủ … Continue reading Dân tộc chủ nghĩa phiên bản Mỹ – Vấn đề quá lớn để nhắm mắt cho qua

Time & Money for Fake Universities But Not Routine Data Updates

13/01/202010/02/2020 Mark A. Ashwill Commentary DHS, ICE, international students, SEVIS, sevis by the numbers, sevp, study in the USA

NOTE: Here's the correct link to my latest University World News essay, Vietnamese student enrolment in the US holds steady. Mea culpa! The clock is stuck at March 2019. While information may not always be power, it certainly is helpful in professional decision-making. The last SEVIS by the Numbers update was 10 months ago. I … Continue reading Time & Money for Fake Universities But Not Routine Data Updates

The New & Improved IEVN Blog

10/01/202010/01/2020 Mark A. Ashwill Announcement an international educator in viet nam, mark ashwill, viet nam, vietnam

In the spirit of digital minimalism, my presence on social media is limited. In addition to LinkedIn, which I visit occasionally to mine the occasional nugget of gold in the midst of a vast expanse of ore, I have a Facebook account for my work (sorry, no pics of my latest restaurant meal!) and this … Continue reading The New & Improved IEVN Blog

An International Educator in Vietnam

Information, Insights & (Frequently) Intrigue