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[news] How did VNese students get to study abroad
VIETNAM: The Tree Of Knowledge Bears Local Fruit
Vietnam Economic News
By Hau Hien
From July 1992 up to now more than 3000
Vietnamese people went abroad for study
under various forms: self-financed study,
study in accordance with overseas
Government agreements and in-country
study. For Vietnam's youngsters, study
abroad has become an important demand.
Fortunately, the demand has been given the
green light by Vietnamese Government.
Instruction 270 KT from the former Council
of Ministers and a series of decisions and
regulations which followed have opened the
door of knowledge of a greater section of
local people, especially youngsters.
Study abroad under Government's
agreements: From 1951 to 1990, Vietnam
sent around 60,000 students and
post-graduates abroad for study through
agreements with the Governments of the
former socialist countries. From 1990 up to
now this gradually ceased due to the world
social and political instability. However,
"restarting" actually began when Vietnam
initiated Fulbright scholarship programs
funded by the American Congress.
Accordingly, excellent students of various
universities in 120 countries worldwide will
be granted scholarships to continue
post-graduate education in America after
graduation. Each year, Vietnam has about 30
such scholarships for students attending
economic management, urban planning and
humanity faculties. Subsequently,
scholarships granted under an educational
exchange program funded by American
Committee for Scientific Cooperation with
Vietnam. Its target is to organize TOFEL
examinations and grant scholarship to
students attaining more than 500 points to
continue master and doctor thesis at
American universities. Also from 1993, the
Australian Government has offered about
200 scholarships for Vietnamese students to
enjoy tertiary education and do
post-graduate in Australia each year. More
significantly, this year, the Australian
Government pledges to grant Vietnam as
many as 250 scholarships for gifted students
and State officials. Many other countries like
France, Japan, New Zealand, Holland and
Switzerland welcome about 20 Vietnamese
students each year.
Briefly speaking, in 1994-1995 the Ministry
of Education and Training sent 503 students
for study abroad at tertiary, master and doctor
levels in 21 countries with scholarships
granted by the Governments of the
above-mentioned countries. So far, Vietnam
has established education cooperative
relations with over 60 countries and
international organizations. In encouraging
that, according to Chief of Political Affair
Department, Do Van Chung, the State
scholarship project is being implemented
actively by the Government to send locals for
study abroad using State budget funds at an
estimated US$7 million annually. About 1000
Vietnamese people are expected to be sent
abroad for study with scholarships funded by
the State. This also meant Vietnam's
youngsters now have greater access to
improve their knowledge at universities
throughout the world.
Self-funded study: Following on Instruction
270/CT of the former Council of Ministers
(now the Prime Minister), self-funded study
abroad (using own capital) has become a
favorite method of Vietnam's youngsters.
The most attractive destination for the
youngsters now might be Australia.
According to initial statistics, there are over
800 Vietnamese students attending courses
at different Australian universities. For over a
year, other considerable number of local
students went study in America. The number
of student attending courses in America is
reportedly on the rise, especially after
America allowed several Vietnam's student
organizations to attend courses at American
universities. From September 1995 up to now
International Institute of Linguistics (EF) has
been co-operating with Center for Foreign
Study, University of Technology (National
University HCM City) to sent 100
Vietnamese students for study in America.
EF's Representative in Vietnam, Nguyen
Thuy Son said: "Presently, those students
went to America for study in the first phase
have entered universities in Boston, Seattle,
San Francisco, San Diego etc. Most are very
studious, partly because of the sum of money
for their study abroad is not small and is
totally paid by their families". Total cost for
self-funded students going abroad for study
also varies. For instance, expense for student
attending English lessons at EF is around
US$14,000 per 9 months. At the Community
University (America), the cost soars up to
US$2000/18 weeks, and US$4700 for
4-week long program. In the meantime,
American Linguistics Academy (ALA)
coordinated with Center for Foreign Study,
University of Natural Sciences (National
University HCM City) sent over 100
Vietnamese students into America from the
beginning of 1995.
Like other competitions, local organizations
organizing courses for Vietnamese students
at different overseas universities (companies,
centers for foreign study at universities) as
well as representatives of overseas
universities in America, Australia, Britain
and Singapore etc. have been to Vietnam to
learn about the aspirations and prospects of
Vietnamese students studying abroad.
Specialized centers for foreign study do its
utmost to lower the cost, with favorable living
conditions for Vietnamese students. Several
centers have sent people to these countries to
get know of the life and study of Vietnamese
students, or even record their confidences.
Moreover, New Zealand sent representatives
of seven reputed universities to Vietnam for
self-introduction and settlement of inquiries
of those students and families in demand.
3. Local study or in-country study: This is a
new type of study known to public for several
years now. This type of study combines both
domestic and overseas training. In November
1996, the first 16 students of joint training
program between University of Technology
HCM City and Tasmania University
(Australia) fulfilled its first phase of domestic
study to continue the course at Tasmania
University. The second course of the
program has attracted 26 students and the
number will hopefully reach 50 in the third
course. They have been instructed
completely in English in modern
class-rooms and labs upgraded by Tasmania.
In-country study has been known to
Vietnam for nearly two years but for a
number of people this is quite new. Generally
speaking, this kind of study is under overseas
regular training process, but the study takes
place in Vietnam. Despite being quite a new
idea, in-country study has gradually become
an option for Vietnam's studious youngsters.
In-country study takes advantage in that,
after finishing the courses, trainees will be
granted with certificates equaling to those
you receive when you went study abroad.
Further, this type of training will minimize
student's cost. For example to take
six-month course in America students
would pay as much as US$5200 for food,
traveling, study and accommodation, while if
you take this course in Vietnam, it costs
around US$400.
At present, in-country study is being highly
tooted by the Ministry of Education and
Training and several local universities have
been allowed to cooperate with overseas
universities to open in-country study
program in Vietnam. These include Trade
Union University coordinated with APOLLO
(Britain) or People-founded Information
Technology & Foreign Language University
HCM City with ALLPELE-UREF (France).
From the part of trainers, Nguyen Thi Hoa,
trainee of a course co-organized by Trade
Union University and Cambridge University
said: "The teaching quality here is excellent.
Teaching faculties, textbooks, and especially
the faculty, are equal to that in foreign
countries in terms of quality, or overseas
teachers instruct directly. Therefore, we can
catch their ideas very quickly and have sound
knowledge". What about tuition fees? Over
60 percent of trainees said that the current
tuition fee level is quite high in comparison to
their incomes (US$59 each month).
Regarding this topic Hoang Minh Luat,
Deputy Chief of Regular Training
Department (Ministry of Education and
Training) remarked, many universities have
considered lowering the cost for prioritized
students, cut down the prices of documents
or open training courses using late repayment
method, which meant, a part of tuition fees
can be paid when students go to work after
the course.
In short, the door to Knowledge is wide open
for Vietnamese youngsters nowadays. The
matter is how to go in this road to inherit the
world quintessence, contributing to the
national construction. This greatly depends
on the trainees themselves.
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