Vietnam Education Foundation Is Granted Official Overseas Development Assistance Status

Hanoi, August 9, 2007

In a ceremony in Hanoi yesterday, the Ministry of Education and Training (MOET) announced the official designation of the status of the Vietnam Education Foundation, or VEF, as an Overseas Development Assistance (ODA) agency.  In particular, Ministry Officials cited VEF’s efforts in developing the areas of science and technology in Vietnam.  This ODA status will facilitate even greater areas of cooperation between the United States and Vietnam.

Since it began operations in Vietnam five years ago, VEF has been instrumental as part of the America’s effort to help train Vietnam’s leaders of tomorrow.  VEF is currently hosting a group of top U.S. scientists who are working to select the next group of Vietnamese grantees, while also participating in seminars and workshops with their academic colleagues here.

Together, VEF and the separate U.S. Fulbright Program contribute approximately $10 Million per year to educate Vietnamese students and scholars, with millions more coming from myriad scholarships and grants awarded from other U.S. academic institutions. 

Deputy Chief of Mission Jonathan Aloisi, who attended the announcement ceremony, welcomed VEF’s new status, and applauded their ongoing cooperative efforts in training Vietnam’s next generation of top scientists.  “The United States is proud to be a partner in Vietnam’s goal of educating more scholars and raising the level of its educational system to meet this country’s growing demand for highly-trained trained teachers, scientists, engineers and leaders,” Mr. Aloisi said.  “The doors to U.S. education are open – and opening wider – and it is our hope that many more Vietnamese will pursue advanced study in the United States via both public and private channels.”