Week 9 - Charles Miin

Self-determination and advancement is the strongest case a country has for getting ahead. Do for yourself what no one else will do for you. And what loyal citizen would pass up the chance to help give back to the country that gave them the life they live? Quite a few young and bright Vietnamese students who seek to move beyond the substandard educational infrastructure that they are provided by their government. Even with policy restrictions set in place against them and economic disadvantage, more and more students are seeking to depart the homeland and find better prospects abroad. Despite a lack of clear cut research, it is anecdotally said that many stay abroad in order to pay off education loans, gain valuable international experience, and just make higher wages in general. Even without data, one can determine with a priori knowledge that there are few reasons for a student to give up what they worked so hard to achieve. The best term for this would be to call it a brain drain, but following similar reasoning, wouldn't it be more accurate to call it more a brain circulation where foreign citizens maintain a fluid connection with the homeland? A connection of remittances, investment, and other general interaction. Vietnam has recognized the issue in multiple ways. Acknowledging that the current economic infrastructure might not be able to adequately support a force of highly educated workers, the government is trying to make it work. Establishing dedicated programs for overseas individuals while also helping to promote the fact that such options are even available. Partnerships are also being established with respected foreign universities who set up satellites in Vietnam to help retain students and grant them the ability to remain in country while also pursuing a lucrative education. With these efforts, Vietnam is beginning to shift its national aesthetic from one of lacking to a rapidly developing focus on advancement which can sometimes be more enticing than a long standing and wealthy country that has begun to stagnate. Is Vietnam going to be able to truly commit to investing in itself and strengthening the economic and educational systems it has?

Gribble, Cate. "National policies on skilled labour and the cross-border student market, with a focus on Vietnam." Higher Education in the Asia-Pacific. Springer Netherlands, 2011. 291-307.