USAID visits ASU academic partners in Vietnam

On March 7–8 2017, Mitch Kirby, Senior Academic Advisor from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and his colleagues in Vietnam visited two of ASU’s academic partners with HEEAP, VULII and BUILD-IT: Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology and Education (HCMUTE) and Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology (HCMUT). The ASU Vietnam team also attended the meetings.

In the meetings, Kirby asked the leaders of the two schools how the programs run by ASU affected their universities. Rector Do Van Dung from HCMUTE and his staff explained how they have applied new teaching approaches that they learned from the training programs, including blended teaching methods, using Pearson online and the addition of capstone projects. In addition to the transforming of teaching methodology in the school, Rector Dung also shared that the school has since created their own television channel that they use to connect students with industry. When students defend their thesis, companies are invited to watch and, as a result, many students have received job offers right after graduation. In the meeting with HCMUT, Rector Vu Dinh Thanh talked about the school’s vision and achievements through their seven year partnership with HEEAP, VULII and BUILD-IT.

USAID concluded their tour by visiting the Distant Learning Studios, sponsored by Intel through the HEEAP project, as well as other labs sponsored by General Electric and Rockwell Automation to see how proactive the schools have been in transforming their teaching methods.

The visit was a wonderful chance for ASU to reflect on its efforts in developing higher STEM education in Vietnam. From the feedback provided by long term partners like HCMUTE and HCMUT, ASU has identified best practices, and ideas for improvement and future collaboration. 

BY NGO THANH TAM