Last Updated: Wednesday, December 7, 2005 10:22:48 Vietnam (GMT+07)
Vietnam overseas studies and graduate destinations Most Vietnamese students graduating abroad usually wanted to stay and work in foreign countries, but more recently some have decided to return home, according to one official.
The official from the Institute for Education Strategy said that since 2000, some Vietnamese students graduating abroad have returned home to work.
Singapore-graduated Huynh Quang Hai, marketing director of Vietnam Singapore Industrial Park J.V.C Ltd chose Vietnam to work though he could have found a high-salary job in Singapore.
Similarly, Ngo Hong Diep, after graduating from the UK University of Birmingham, has been working for the Ministry of Trade in charge of Vietnam’s WTO entry. Diep said that by choosing appropriate subjects to study abroad, it is possible to find suitable jobs and develop a career at home.
Around 300 students from high schools and universities obtain State-sponsored scholarships annually to study in England, German, the Netherlands, India, to name a few.
In addition, the Ministry of Education and Training (MoET) has been implementing dozens of cooperation programs with foreign universities to train nearly 300 talented post-graduates in 2005. That is not to take into account those studying abroad on inter-ministerial scholarships, cultural exchange and self-support programs.
Statistics from MoET says that the Immigration Department under the Ministry of Public Security, Embassies and Consulates in the country show an increasing number of Vietnamese students studying abroad over the past five years. Popular destinations for most students are Singapore, Australia and New Zealand.
Solutions
Although those figures promise a bright future for human resource development, Vietnam’s brain drain continues, prompted by low salary, limited opportunity and inappropriate policies.
One of the ways to stem the brain drain is the provision of consultancy centers for students studying abroad, to coach them on appropriate course selections to for employment upon their return.
A database on overseas students should also be established to keep open the channels of communication to allow them the opportunity to return home and join in Vietnam’s movement toward nation building.
Reported by Bich Thanh – Translated by Hoang Bao.
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