Submitted by Richard Nyberg – USAID/Vietnam
The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) has joined forces with American universities and the private sector in efforts to enhance the quality of engineering education at Vietnam’s top technical universities. In collaboration with the Government of Vietnam, USAID is working with Arizona State University, Portland State University, and Intel Corporation as part of the new Higher Engineering Education Alliance Program valued at $2.5 million. Intel’s anticipated contribution to the program totals $1.5 million. “This program will result in a more highly educated and motivated faculty using cutting edge curricula,” said U.S. Ambassador Michael W. Michalak. “They will train bright and successful engineers who will help Vietnam reach its rightful place in the global economy.” The three-year public-private partnership will work closely with the Ministry of Education and Training (MOET) and technical universities in Vietnam to advance their electrical and mechanical engineering curricula and instruction leading to a highly-skilled technical workforce to strengthen the emerging high-tech manufacturing sector in Vietnam.

I noticed that in other coordinations with countries overseas, companies like CISCO are getting involved as well which is awesome. It’s nice to know that even in some of the countries that are struggling with technology, they’ll have the chance to be educated towards learning the standards of high certifications like CISCO, A+ certification, and I think I’ve read about Microsoft helping out as well. We might have highly certified engineers from all corners of the world now!
this is a laudable effort and will in no small measure add value to many lives directly or indirectly