Representatives from 60 U.S. universities, four-year colleges, community colleges and English-language programs have started a trip to two of the fastest growing markets in Asia - Vietnam and Indonesia - from April 2-9. The trip, led by U.S. Department of Commerce's Under Secretary for International Trade Francisco Sanchez, aims to attract more Vietnamese and Indonesian students to the U.S., as well as open the door for sharing faculty and research. The mission is part of an Obama administration goal to double U.S. exports in five years. “Higher education ranks among the top 10 U.S. exports,” Sanchez said. “I see no more valuable export than education.”, the undersecretary added.
“Vietnam and Indonesia were chosen because these countries show the best growth for sending students to the U.S. to study,” Sanchez added.
During their stay in Vietnam, the mission is expected to hold market briefings, education partnering workshops, and educational fairs where expected attendance should be between 1,200-2,000 people, among other activities in Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi. With a population of 86 million, a steadily increasing per capita income, and the high value the Vietnamese place on education, Vietnam offers significant opportunities to U.S. providers of education services. Vietnam now ranks ninth among countries sending students to the U.S. with nearly 13,000 students. (en.vietnamplus.vn Apr 2)
