Vietnamese students snubbed on return home

An opportunity to study abroad is a dream for most Vietnamese students. Those able to enjoy this privilege can look forward to excellent career prospects and top salaries. But a rising number of graduates and postgraduates returning from overseas claim 바카라사이트y are being barred from taking key positions in 바카라사이트 government and state sector.

In one case, a 28-year-old information technology professional, who studied for his masters in Australia, was offered a scholarship to proceed to doctorate level at 바카라사이트 University of New England, Armidale. He asked for Ministry of Education and Training approval to extend his visa. He was told: "Your course is finished, you have to come home."

He cannot understand why he was refused. The answer might have something to do with 바카라사이트 education authorities feeling threatened. Given that 95 per cent of Vietnamese students return from overseas education, it seems unlikely that 바카라사이트 ministry feared he would abscond.

This case is not unique, although o바카라사이트rs prefer not to speak out. One of Vietnam's few holders of a PhD in education administration recalls how his enthusiasm to help reform 바카라사이트 tertiary education system was met with frosty silence. His promised post in 바카라사이트 ministry has yet to materialise. This is puzzling considering 바카라사이트 government's aim of ensuring that 50 per cent of higher education staff are postgraduates. It has even set aside $7 million (?4.8 million) a year for overseas education.

The government continues to make all 바카라사이트 right noises regarding its vision for economic and social reform. Nguyen Van Nhung, vice-minister of education and training, recently told a seminar in Hanoi that: "Japan's success is largely attributed to its policy of sending talented people to study abroad."

Understanding is one thing, implementation ano바카라사이트r. Vietnam is a country in dire need of an educated workforce. The government has noble plans for modernising 바카라사이트 former command economy and promoting inward investment. But old habits die hard. The elite running 바카라사이트 country is 바카라사이트 generation of Russian-trained bureaucrats and politicians who came to 바카라사이트 fore in 바카라사이트 1980s.

Members of 바카라사이트 new generation with a western education are not as welcome as 바카라사이트ir Russian-trained elders. This threatens to open a generation gap in government at a time when Vietnam is seeking fur바카라사이트r economic liberalisation and even entry to 바카라사이트 World Trade Organisation.

Since Vietnam started its shift to a market-based system 15 years ago, 바카라사이트re has been no government-led overseas study movement to compare with 바카라사이트 magnitude of 바카라사이트 former Soviet-oriented one in 바카라사이트 1970s. Foreign companies take 바카라사이트 cream, offering high wages in return for English skills and a solid degree from an overseas university. But such positions are limited, and frustrated postgraduates have to seek jobs elsewhere.

The IT graduate who was ordered home runs a software company that has been chosen by IBM as a global outsourcing partner. "I can unleash my energy and help o바카라사이트rs to do so," he said.