Opportunities for Scholarships in the U.S. at Risk of “Closing”
(GDVN) – According to the latest report, there are currently 528 Vietnamese students who have received or are receiving VEF scholarships to study and conduct research at over 100 top universities in the United States.
Editor’s Note: The Vietnam Education Foundation was established by the VEF Act of 2000 by the U.S. Congress, aimed at improving relations between the U.S. and Vietnam through educational exchange activities focusing on science, engineering, mathematics, health, and technology fields.
The VEF scholarship program is the foundation’s key activity. VEF requires scholars to return to Vietnam after completing their academic programs in the United States.
This scholarship fund has enabled hundreds of Vietnamese scholars to study and work in the U.S. before returning home, despite the risk of the fund ceasing operations in 2018 due to the VEF Act of 2000, unless the U.S. Congress takes action.
The cessation of the fund would be a significant loss for Vietnamese students and scholars seeking opportunities to study and conduct research in a country with advanced science. Recently, the VEF delegation visited Vietnam to discuss maintaining the Vietnam Education Foundation with various Vietnamese agencies, departments, and the National Assembly.
To understand more about the establishment and importance of the Vietnam Education Foundation, the Vietnam Education Online Newspaper had an interview with Mr. Tran Duc Canh, an advisor to the Vietnam Education Foundation, during his business trip to Hanoi.
Interviewer: The Vietnam Education Foundation (VEF) of the United States officially started its operations in 2003. Could you provide more details on the foundation’s goals, organization, and activities?
Mr. Tran Duc Canh: The goal of the Vietnam Education Foundation (VEF) is to help train a highly skilled workforce in science and technology for Vietnam, supplementing the Fulbright Vietnam Program, which at that time focused primarily on public administration and business education.
I recall the idea of establishing VEF began in 1998 in a small conference room on the Harvard University campus, and it later became the Vietnam Education Act 2000 during the final year of President Bill Clinton’s administration. At that time, I was asked to find and recommend civil members for the VEF Board of Directors.
Vietnam veterans in the U.S. Congress at that time, such as Senators John Kerry, John McCain, played a major role in passing this Act. The organization and implementation of the VEF program took place during President George W. Bush’s first term.
According to the VEF Act of 2000, the Vietnam Education Foundation is a U.S. government organization, operating independently and reporting to the President.
The Board of Directors consists of 13 members, including 2 Senators, 2 Members of Congress, 3 Secretaries (State, Treasury, and Education), and 6 civil members appointed by the President (with a 3-year term). I have never seen a federal government organization with such a small budget (about 5 million USD per year) yet with such a strong Board of Directors.
According to the latest report, there are currently 528 Vietnamese students who have received or are receiving VEF scholarships to study and conduct research at over 100 top universities in the United States.
Of these, 85 have graduated with a Master’s degree and 232 with a Ph.D., while the rest are still studying. In addition, VEF also has a program for the exchange of teaching and research between professors and lecturers from universities in both countries.
There are many cases where students who received VEF scholarships later received other scholarships from different universities with better conditions and funding, so they gave up the VEF scholarship to others. As a result, the VEF funds are used more efficiently than initially estimated.
The condition attached to receiving a VEF scholarship is that they must return to Vietnam after completing their studies in the United States.
Both the U.S. and Vietnam highly value VEF’s activities in helping Vietnam develop its science and technology sectors over the past decade. What is your assessment?
Mr. Tran Duc Canh: Vietnamese students are very intelligent and hardworking; with a good academic environment, they will thrive, and VEF has done well in providing that, at least up to this point.
Thanks to the rigorous selection process and the students’ strong academic performance at many U.S. universities, VEF has built a reputation, gradually opening up opportunities for some students to apply directly for scholarships from schools without necessarily going through VEF. I believe this is a very important spread effect.
I have only mentioned academics; the ability and environment to apply their skills upon returning to Vietnam is currently a major issue. Some have successfully reintegrated, while others have not yet found suitable jobs or environments to excel.
This partly reflects that the domestic technology sector has not really developed, and finding a suitable position upon returning home is not entirely based on talent. I have also advised returning students to be more proactive and innovative, such as starting a company if they see an opportunity.
I understand that the alumni have formed a VEF alumni network and are very active in supporting each other. However, I still believe that Vietnam needs to be more proactive and concerned about utilizing the talent trained in one of the world’s most advanced science and technology countries, the United States.
You and the VEF delegation visited Vietnam to work with Ministries, Departments, Universities, the National Assembly, and Associations. What are your thoughts on these meetings?
Mr. Tran Duc Canh: Recently, I joined the VEF delegation in meetings with the leadership of Ministries, Departments, the National Assembly, Associations, and Universities. They all highly appreciate VEF’s activities over the years, especially in training highly skilled human resources and research capabilities at the world’s top universities.
They do not praise VEF in generic diplomatic language but through scientific language and very specific proposals. These include scientific cooperation programs, as well as organizing conferences on scientific topics and educational cooperation.
I believe the VEF delegation was very pleased with this business trip, but they are also very concerned about the tasks awaiting them in the near future. Overall, I highly evaluate this trip of the delegation.
According to the VEF Act of 2000, if the U.S. Congress does nothing, VEF will cease operations in 2018. In your opinion, what should VEF and its partners and participating organizations do to continue VEF’s operations?
Mr. Tran Duc Canh: VEF’s operating budget comes from the debt repayment that Vietnam must pay to the United States after the two countries officially established diplomatic relations.
Instead of going into the general government budget, some of us lobbied to channel most of these funds into the VEF program, not just as money but as a way to help Vietnam develop better education through VEF’s activities.
Fortunately, we had friends in Congress who agreed and helped turn the VEF idea into reality. Americans believe that if you have an idea and try to implement it, anything is possible. The VEF idea also comes from the saying ‘anything is possible.’
From surveys on both sides, most people who know about and participate in the VEF program want the fund to continue after 2018. However, to ensure objectivity, I have discussed with VEF leadership the need for a comprehensive independent evaluation of VEF’s activities to date before making specific proposals for VEF’s future development.
According to the opinions of some Ministry and Department leaders in recent meetings, VEF should expand its scholarship program to include not only science and engineering fields but also social sciences and humanities, educational management, and VEF should continue to play a role in connecting Vietnamese universities with U.S. universities.
This last point will help Vietnamese universities access the management and organizational models of U.S. universities, alongside academics and research, which I believe is one of VEF’s strengths that can be leveraged.
As someone who has worked in human resource development in the U.S. and contributed to educational development between the U.S. and Vietnam for over two decades, do you have any suggestions for strengthening Vietnam’s education?
Mr. Tran Duc Canh: I am not an educator in the purest sense but rather a policy maker, organizer, and manager of training and human resource development programs, while also connecting and gathering resources to implement programs.
I have been fortunate to work with agencies in Massachusetts, with its capital in Boston. Massachusetts is considered a leader in many fields, including politics, society, education, health, science, and technology. The Boston area has also been an early point of cultural and educational exchange with Vietnam.
Regarding education, I believe Vietnam needs to address some very fundamental issues to elevate its education to a new level, such as university autonomy, financial autonomy leading to academic freedom, which intellectuals in society are concerned about.
The whole society’s concern about education is very high, from leaders to ordinary people, so education reform following advanced models to successfully integrate with the world is unquestionable.
Americans have a saying, ‘think globally, act locally,’ so I would like to return to the story of VEF and how to create VEF 2, an educational organization that has been very close to my heart for many years.
Thank you.
Source: http://giaoduc.net.vn/Du-hoc/Co-hoi-nhan-hoc-bong-tai-Hoa-Ky-co-nguy-co-bi-dong-cua-post159197.gd
Editor’s Note: The Vietnam Education Foundation was established by the VEF Act of 2000 by the U.S. Congress, aimed at improving relations between the U.S. and Vietnam through educational exchange activities focusing on science, engineering, mathematics, health, and technology fields.
The VEF scholarship program is the foundation’s key activity. VEF requires scholars to return to Vietnam after completing their academic programs in the United States.
This scholarship fund has enabled hundreds of Vietnamese scholars to study and work in the U.S. before returning home, despite the risk of the fund ceasing operations in 2018 due to the VEF Act of 2000, unless the U.S. Congress takes action.
The cessation of the fund would be a significant loss for Vietnamese students and scholars seeking opportunities to study and conduct research in a country with advanced science. Recently, the VEF delegation visited Vietnam to discuss maintaining the Vietnam Education Foundation with various Vietnamese agencies, departments, and the National Assembly.
To understand more about the establishment and importance of the Vietnam Education Foundation, the Vietnam Education Online Newspaper had an interview with Mr. Tran Duc Canh, an advisor to the Vietnam Education Foundation, during his business trip to Hanoi.
Interviewer: The Vietnam Education Foundation (VEF) of the United States officially started its operations in 2003. Could you provide more details on the foundation’s goals, organization, and activities?
Mr. Tran Duc Canh: The goal of the Vietnam Education Foundation (VEF) is to help train a highly skilled workforce in science and technology for Vietnam, supplementing the Fulbright Vietnam Program, which at that time focused primarily on public administration and business education.
I recall the idea of establishing VEF began in 1998 in a small conference room on the Harvard University campus, and it later became the Vietnam Education Act 2000 during the final year of President Bill Clinton’s administration. At that time, I was asked to find and recommend civil members for the VEF Board of Directors.
Vietnam veterans in the U.S. Congress at that time, such as Senators John Kerry, John McCain, played a major role in passing this Act. The organization and implementation of the VEF program took place during President George W. Bush’s first term.
According to the VEF Act of 2000, the Vietnam Education Foundation is a U.S. government organization, operating independently and reporting to the President.
The Board of Directors consists of 13 members, including 2 Senators, 2 Members of Congress, 3 Secretaries (State, Treasury, and Education), and 6 civil members appointed by the President (with a 3-year term). I have never seen a federal government organization with such a small budget (about 5 million USD per year) yet with such a strong Board of Directors.
According to the latest report, there are currently 528 Vietnamese students who have received or are receiving VEF scholarships to study and conduct research at over 100 top universities in the United States.
Of these, 85 have graduated with a Master’s degree and 232 with a Ph.D., while the rest are still studying. In addition, VEF also has a program for the exchange of teaching and research between professors and lecturers from universities in both countries.
There are many cases where students who received VEF scholarships later received other scholarships from different universities with better conditions and funding, so they gave up the VEF scholarship to others. As a result, the VEF funds are used more efficiently than initially estimated.
The condition attached to receiving a VEF scholarship is that they must return to Vietnam after completing their studies in the United States.
Both the U.S. and Vietnam highly value VEF’s activities in helping Vietnam develop its science and technology sectors over the past decade. What is your assessment?
Mr. Tran Duc Canh: Vietnamese students are very intelligent and hardworking; with a good academic environment, they will thrive, and VEF has done well in providing that, at least up to this point.
Thanks to the rigorous selection process and the students’ strong academic performance at many U.S. universities, VEF has built a reputation, gradually opening up opportunities for some students to apply directly for scholarships from schools without necessarily going through VEF. I believe this is a very important spread effect.
I have only mentioned academics; the ability and environment to apply their skills upon returning to Vietnam is currently a major issue. Some have successfully reintegrated, while others have not yet found suitable jobs or environments to excel.
This partly reflects that the domestic technology sector has not really developed, and finding a suitable position upon returning home is not entirely based on talent. I have also advised returning students to be more proactive and innovative, such as starting a company if they see an opportunity.
I understand that the alumni have formed a VEF alumni network and are very active in supporting each other. However, I still believe that Vietnam needs to be more proactive and concerned about utilizing the talent trained in one of the world’s most advanced science and technology countries, the United States.
You and the VEF delegation visited Vietnam to work with Ministries, Departments, Universities, the National Assembly, and Associations. What are your thoughts on these meetings?
Mr. Tran Duc Canh: Recently, I joined the VEF delegation in meetings with the leadership of Ministries, Departments, the National Assembly, Associations, and Universities. They all highly appreciate VEF’s activities over the years, especially in training highly skilled human resources and research capabilities at the world’s top universities.
They do not praise VEF in generic diplomatic language but through scientific language and very specific proposals. These include scientific cooperation programs, as well as organizing conferences on scientific topics and educational cooperation.
I believe the VEF delegation was very pleased with this business trip, but they are also very concerned about the tasks awaiting them in the near future. Overall, I highly evaluate this trip of the delegation.
According to the VEF Act of 2000, if the U.S. Congress does nothing, VEF will cease operations in 2018. In your opinion, what should VEF and its partners and participating organizations do to continue VEF’s operations?
Mr. Tran Duc Canh: VEF’s operating budget comes from the debt repayment that Vietnam must pay to the United States after the two countries officially established diplomatic relations.
Instead of going into the general government budget, some of us lobbied to channel most of these funds into the VEF program, not just as money but as a way to help Vietnam develop better education through VEF’s activities.
Fortunately, we had friends in Congress who agreed and helped turn the VEF idea into reality. Americans believe that if you have an idea and try to implement it, anything is possible. The VEF idea also comes from the saying ‘anything is possible.’
From surveys on both sides, most people who know about and participate in the VEF program want the fund to continue after 2018. However, to ensure objectivity, I have discussed with VEF leadership the need for a comprehensive independent evaluation of VEF’s activities to date before making specific proposals for VEF’s future development.
According to the opinions of some Ministry and Department leaders in recent meetings, VEF should expand its scholarship program to include not only science and engineering fields but also social sciences and humanities, educational management, and VEF should continue to play a role in connecting Vietnamese universities with U.S. universities.
This last point will help Vietnamese universities access the management and organizational models of U.S. universities, alongside academics and research, which I believe is one of VEF’s strengths that can be leveraged.
As someone who has worked in human resource development in the U.S. and contributed to educational development between the U.S. and Vietnam for over two decades, do you have any suggestions for strengthening Vietnam’s education?
Mr. Tran Duc Canh: I am not an educator in the purest sense but rather a policy maker, organizer, and manager of training and human resource development programs, while also connecting and gathering resources to implement programs.
I have been fortunate to work with agencies in Massachusetts, with its capital in Boston. Massachusetts is considered a leader in many fields, including politics, society, education, health, science, and technology. The Boston area has also been an early point of cultural and educational exchange with Vietnam.
Regarding education, I believe Vietnam needs to address some very fundamental issues to elevate its education to a new level, such as university autonomy, financial autonomy leading to academic freedom, which intellectuals in society are concerned about.
The whole society’s concern about education is very high, from leaders to ordinary people, so education reform following advanced models to successfully integrate with the world is unquestionable.
Americans have a saying, ‘think globally, act locally,’ so I would like to return to the story of VEF and how to create VEF 2, an educational organization that has been very close to my heart for many years.
Thank you.
Source: http://giaoduc.net.vn/Du-hoc/Co-hoi-nhan-hoc-bong-tai-Hoa-Ky-co-nguy-co-bi-dong-cua-post159197.gd
