[Vnbiz] how to make oversea VNese students to return ?

[Tran Dinh Hoanh]

Dear CACC,

Thanks chi Judy for the good response.  My feeling is that most student
overstay their time overseas as anh Shane said.  Most students in
scholarship programs, as chi Judy's program, return.   More self-financing
students stay permanently.  I think the overall number is probably around 25
percent as anh Dennis said.
My observation is that the students who choose to stay permanently tend to
feel bad about it. Some of them expressed the feeling to me that they wanted
to help the country and felt that if they stay overseas they wouldn't be
able to do that.  I usually responded: 'Taking care of the country  is a
matter of the heart. If you love the country and the people, you will know
who how to help, even if you sit in Paris. This is the time of Internet and
global business.  Don't think that if you stay here you won't be able to
help the country.  It is just that 'Home Sweet Home.'  Staying home
is always warmer."

As CACC said, it is a matter of personal choice.  And as Vietnam develops
with more opportunities and better management, more students will choose to
return home.  The key is "opportunities."   And opportunities will come if
the economy is developed well.

But this issue is related to brains drain.  I think if we, Vietnam, start to
think more "digitally" we may attack this issue more effectively.  What if
we think of Vietnam as a virtual country with all its citizens worldwide
connected in the cyberspace.  Then the issue of staying or returning will be
less significant.  One can work from anywhere for anyone anywhere.  All you
need is a computer with a modem.  I think that our policy should be open to
embrace every citizen, be it inside the country or living overseas, either
as Vietkieu or as an overstaying student.  We need to think about our
country as a virtual country in the cyberspace, in order to formuale the
policy properly.

Finally, I am glad that chi Judy mentions that people are sick of Viet Kieu
demanding royal treatment. (I was thinking that no one will every say it
publicly.  Thanks, Judy).

I would love royal treatment myself.   Who wouldn't?  :-)   But since my
family is very close to the "ban co nong" class, I don't know how to act
royal. So I don't care much about demanding something I don't know how to
handle :-)

Actually my advice to Viet Kieu is always:  It is much easier to work with
everyone if you are one of your people.  If you are different from your
people in anyway, it will hurt.  The more different you are, the more
difficult your job is.  So try to be not different in any way, from the
way you think and talk, to the way you dress and live.

Have a great day!

Hoanh


On Nov 29, 2007 3:28 PM, Judy Ladinsky <jlladins at wisc.edu> wrote:

> [ Vietnam Business Forum ]
>
>
> Dear CACC
>     The US Committee has about 580 students here in the US from Vietnam.
> The reason many do not return is exactly the reason you gave. We provide the
> opportunity for students from Vietnam  to take the TOEFL examination which
> we administer twice/year in Hanoi,Hue and HCMC. They are charged 30,000
> dong-$2.00.Almost all of the students which we facilitate to US Universities
> have returned to Vietnam with a Masters degree or Ph.D. We have only 5-6
> from our program that did not return. The ones  still here have stayed for
> the following reasons:
>   1) the salaries in Vietnam are too low
>    2) Most have children and find it hard for them to return after going
> to elementary and/or secondary school in the US
>    3) The few who are here would return if the International schools in
> Vietnam tuition is somewhat lower
>     4) When they are in touch with their professors in Vietnam,they are
> advised not to return at this time by their Professors in Vietnam although I
> strongly urge them to return. Most of our students work in the US for one
> year after completing their degreeon a OPT- then return
>     5. Most of the people they would work for have less training than them
> so the working conditions and atmosphere are not conducive to their return
> and jeolousy prevails
>      6.Many say they are not given the opportunity to use what they have
> learned because they are told in Vietnam to teach by memorization-not
> problem solving and told what they have to teach by the senior members of
> the school or University
>      7. The situation in libraries is not good- cannot enter or take books
> out. The libraries close at 4pm
>      8. The research opportunities are not good-little opportunity in the
> Universities-they have to go to a research Institute
>      9. The people in Vietnam are told that the overseas Vietnamese wish
> to be treated like Kings and their counterparts in Vietnam have had to
> suffer great difficulty over the past years and resent the way Viet Khieu
> wish to be treated
>         If you feel the need and have time,please respond
>   Best wishes
>  Dr. Judith L. Ladinsky
>   USCFSCWVN
>
>
> --
> Tran Dinh Hoanh, Esq., LLB, JD
> Washington DC
>
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