vietnam

Direct Applications on the Rise

Mark A. Ashwill Commentary , , , , , , ,

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

New Website: Recruit in Viet Nam

Mark A. Ashwill Announcement , , , , ,

Below is an announcement about a new website created by Capstone Vietnam, a full-service educational consulting company of which I'm managing director. Peace, MAA This website is intended to serve as a one-stop resource for student recruitment in Viet Nam for colleagues from all over the world.  It was inspired by a session that Dr. … Continue reading New Website: Recruit in Viet Nam

How the Vietnamese Use the Internet, Including Social Media

Mark A. Ashwill Articles, Commentary , , , ,

Since most young Vietnamese, including those planning to study overseas, are online, one question to ask yourself is: how big is your digital footprint in Viet Nam? Here is my latest PIE News blog post.  It's about an important topic that I discussed during my E20 webinar last week and in my recent StudyUSA Higher … Continue reading How the Vietnamese Use the Internet, Including Social Media

Rhetorical Question: “Why don’t Viet Nam’s universities rank higher in Asia?”

Mark A. Ashwill Commentary, Updates , , ,

There is a tendency in Vietnam, with the media as an on- and offline amplifier, to engage in self-flagellation about education and other societal issues rather than looking carefully at the broader context and the, sometimes, hopeful reality. This results in journalists and many Vietnamese playing the ‘blame game’. The obvious targets here are the … Continue reading Rhetorical Question: “Why don’t Viet Nam’s universities rank higher in Asia?”

Of Intercultural Incompetence & Chutzpah

Mark A. Ashwill Commentary , , ,

My wife and I recently had lunch at a restaurant in downtown Hanoi.  It was after the 12 noon rush and there was only one other guest where we chose to eat, a middle-aged white expat man who was eating, drinking, and reading a book.  So far, so good, right?  After a couple of very … Continue reading Of Intercultural Incompetence & Chutzpah

Season’s Greetings from Viet Nam!

Mark A. Ashwill Announcement , , , , ,

After yet another year of Information, Insights & (Occasionally) Intrigue, I would like to take a moment to wish you, dear reader, and your family a peaceful holiday season full of joy and cheer, and a Happy, Healthy, & Fulfilling Solar New Year!  While we may have different backgrounds and work in different fields and … Continue reading Season’s Greetings from Viet Nam!

Meet the new boss, similar to the old boss: new agent regulations unveiled in Vietnam

Mark A. Ashwill Commentary, Updates , , ,

Vietnam is a country in flux and the international education sector is no exception. In fact, it is a case study of changes and reforms. Mark Ashwill, the MD of Capstone Vietnam, looks at the current regulatory system for education agencies and what consultants must do to succeed in this exciting market. This is the … Continue reading Meet the new boss, similar to the old boss: new agent regulations unveiled in Vietnam

HATCH! Fair the Fifth: Hanoi – Danang – HCMC

Mark A. Ashwill Commentary, Events , , , , ,

I had a great time at the the fifth HATCH! Fair in Hanoi.  I was there for part of the pitching competition in which young entrepreneurs have three (3) minutes to pitch their businesses to a jury board.  (Yes, it's exactly three minutes.  They run a tight ship!)  There are three (3) more minutes for … Continue reading HATCH! Fair the Fifth: Hanoi – Danang – HCMC

Capstone Vietnam: Why This Education Entrepreneur Is Excited About Vietnam’s Future

Mark A. Ashwill Commentary, Interview , , , ,

Here's an abridged version of a recent interview I did with Vietcetera, a "consortium of artists, writers, designers, photographers, musicians, technologists, and business people dedicated to a fresh look at an evolving Vietnam. Vietcetera seeks to find the untold human stories of the people that are contributing to a new, modern Vietnam. From design to … Continue reading Capstone Vietnam: Why This Education Entrepreneur Is Excited About Vietnam’s Future

Vietnam: Southeast Asia’s Most Dynamic Outbound Market

Mark A. Ashwill Articles, Commentary , , , , ,

World Education Services has long advocated Vietnam as a viable recruitment market for institutions in North America. Understanding these students’ culture and family backgrounds, as well as the contextual factors that can ‘push’ them from Vietnam and ‘pull’ them toward institutions in other countries, can go a long way toward helping institutions develop an actionable … Continue reading Vietnam: Southeast Asia’s Most Dynamic Outbound Market