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Dear precious friends of Fulbright University Vietnam,
The month of May marks our traditional Giving Week – an effort to bring our community closer, to appreciate each other’s passion and dedication for education, as well as to nurture unity. After a year without any outdoor activities, the Giving Week kicked off with Fulbright Fun Run – a special occasion for the Fulbright community to get together, join a refreshing morning run around our Crescent Campus and enjoy fun activities such as an art exhibition, a Giving Fair from our very own student clubs, and a Human Library where people exchange their lifechanging stories.
Throughout the week, Fulbright members joined hands to contribute in various ways, from non-material forms, such as volunteering, writing a note of gratitude to one another, exchanging encouragement and support via all forms – hugs, handshakes, fist bumps – and spreading positivity all around campus, to donating to Students’ Development Fund or Campus Construction. Beyond our expectations, we have received generous support from not only within the Fulbright community, but also from broader society. It gave us such courage and confidence to further advance on our journey of pursuing our mission. We hope to continue this annual tradition for Fulbright to join hands with other communities to build an educational environment that nurtures a generation of change-makers, and contributes toward the development of Vietnam, the people of Vietnam, and the world beyond our nation.
My dear friends,
When Fulbright University Vietnam was just an idea, the founding members believed in this project for it is not only a milestone in the Vietnam-US partnership, but also to close the gap between the demand for skilled employees in Vietnam’s workforce and educational opportunities in the country. That belief created a ripple effect, which inspires our friends, supporters, and donors to continue making a positive impact in Vietnamese society.
On May 12, 2022, U.S. International Development Finance Corporation (DFC) and Fulbright signed a financing agreement for $37 million, in which DFC financing for Fulbright’s new campus in Saigon High Tech Park, Ho Chi Minh City. The signing ceremony was witnessed by Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh during his official visit to the U.S. for the US-ASEAN Special Summit. The commitment is a testament to the ongoing partnership between the United States Government, the Government of Vietnam, and the private sector to advance economic growth and opportunity in Vietnam. As the DFC’s representative shared, this investment will help facilitate opportunities for the next generation of students and workers in Vietnam and across the region, bringing quality education more accessible to everyone and addressing complex and cross-cutting challenges of the century.
A firm believer in Fulbright’s capacity to foster the next generation of change-makers, the US Department of State has recently announced a full-ride scholarship program for government officials from Laos under the Mekong – US Partnership Master in Public Policy (MUSP-MPP) Program at the Fulbright School of Public Policy and Management (FSPPM). The five-year grant of US$800,000 will allow MUSP MPP-PA to bring 20 rising young public officials from Mekong countries, starting with Laos, to attend FSPPM for a Master’s degree in Public Policy – Policy Analysis.
This program is a part of Fulbright’s long-term commitment and efforts to foster regional leaders and address key challenges of the Lower Mekong region. It is also a testament to the excellence that FSPPM has strived for and has been accredited by the Network of Schools of Public Policy, Affairs, and Administration (NASPAA) – the “gold standard” in public services education.
With the sincerest gratitude,
Dam Bich Thuy
President, Fulbright University Vietnam
