Education in Vietnam

Marissa Machado

Augsburg College

International Admissions

Enrollment History

• Enrollment from Vietnam in the 1970s and 1980s were largely refugees, who ceased to be counted in Open Doors after 1990/1. An increasing number of students from Vietnam began to enroll in U.S. institutions beginning in 1994/5. That trend has continued to date (with exemption with a small dip in 2000/1), culminating in the largest increase of 31% this year that placed Vietnam among the top 20 places of origin.

» Open Doors 2007 – Report on International Educational Exchange, pg7

Host Countries

• Top six:– Australia– U.S.– U.K.– Singapore– Russia

– China

U.S. state hosts

• Top three states are:

–California–Texas–Washington

Total Population of Vietnam

• 10% of students studying abroad in US

• 70% go to community colleges

• 30% go to 4-yr universities

Top 20 Places of OriginBy Institutional Type 2006/07

• Associate’s Institutions– Vietnam ranks 4 at 3.5% enrollment

• Baccalaureate Institutions– Vietnam ranks 15 at 1.3% enrollment

» Vietnam does not rank at Doctoral/Research, Master’s or Specialized Institutions

Top Fields of Study

• Business Management

• Engineering

Int’l Student Totals

• Vietnam– 2005-2006:

• 4,597

– 2006-2007• 6,036

– Percent change:• 31.3%

Visa Issuance

• Nat’l issuance rate is 55-60% based on a statement by Ambassador Michalak in 2008.

• From Oct. 1, 2007 to Sept. 30, 2008, the US Mission issued 9,054 student visas. The Consulate in HCMC issued about 85% of those

* Resource for educators and students: IIE-VN has good relationships with colleagues in the Embassy and Consulate

Trend...

Vietnam will join the ranks of the top ten

“places of origin” in a year or two.

• “The leading 25 institutions hosted 19% of all international students in the U.S.”– Schools in Region 4:

• Univer. of Southern California, CA• Columbia University, NY• New York University, NY• University of Illinois at Urbana-

Champaign, IL• Purdue Univer., Main Campus, IN• Univer. of Michigan – Ann Arbor, MI• University of Texas at Austin, TX• Univer. of California, CA• Harvard University, MA• Boston University, MA• Univer. of Pennsylvania, PA• Ohio State Univer., Main Campus, OH• SUNY – Univer. of Buffalo, NY

• Arizona State University – Tempe, AZ• Indiana University at Bloomington, IN• Michigan State University, MI• University of Florida, FL• Texas A&M University, TX• University of Wisconsin-Madison, WI• Stanford University, CA• Cornell University, NY• University of MN – TC, MN• Penn State University – University

Park, PA• University of Maryland College Park,

MD• Wayne State University, MI

The Good News...• There is more information provided by the

US Commercial Service website showing that Vietnam is the world’s 2nd fastest growing foreign student market. The number of Vietnamese students studying in the U.S. is growing by 31% annually.

» (http://www.buyusa.gov/vietnam/en/vietnam_upcoming_trade_events.html)

What makes recruitment in Vietnam unique?

• Consider how you should approach this population differently and why? – Localize your approach– Find out what parental concerns are – Be prepared to counteract some built-in

disadvantages (e.g., climate, region, name recognition, family location, etc.)

– Consider having recruitment materials designed for a Vietnamese student/parent audience and translated into Vietnamese

Best recruitment techniques for Vietnam?

• Timely response to emails/requests

• Participation in large- and small-scale events.  – Lg scale events: IIE Higher Education Fairs every October

(will offer fairs for the first time in February 2009 in Hanoi, Danang and HCMC)

– Sm scale includes individual visits to Hanoi, HCMC and

other locations.  • IIE-VN has an "Opening Doors" service that is designed

to help institutions make all of the necessary travel

arrangements. 

Best recruitment techniques for Vietnam?

• “Armchair" techniques include working with alums, advertising (IIE-VN can help with this) and participation in "Friends of IIE-Vietnam" affiliate program, contacting your local CC’s and high schools

• Since about 70% of all student visas are for community colleges and most VN students want a Bachelor's degree, four-year schools should consider having articulation agreements with a variety of community colleges.

• Be prepared to make a long-term commitment.  • Word of mouth• Focus groups with feedback from VN students and

perhaps parents 

Financial Needs

• There are many qualified students who are unable to study in the US because of a lack of family funds. 

• Having said that, 95% of all VN students who get a visa from the US Consulate and 2/3 are self-financing.

• Scholarships – What does your institutions offer?

– Check out the IIE bilingual website:  www.iievn.org 

Future IIE Vietnam Plans

• To devise ways in which IIE can communicate periodically with academic institutions, including the use of a blog or forum.  Vietnam is a rapidly changing country with a need for constant updates. Contact info for IIE (http://www.iievn.org/webpage/default/default.aspx)

IIE Contact Information

Mark Ashwill, Director

mashwill@iievn.org

www.iievn.org

Marissa MachadoAugsburg College

International Admissions

http://www.augsburg.edu/admissions/international/

beintl@augsburg.edu