Fulbright is the continuing evolution of the Harvard Fulbright Economic Teaching Program that has had more than two decades of success training over 2,000 of Vietnam’s leaders.
Remarks by Consul General Mary Tarnowka
Xin chào Quý vị
To begin, I’d first like to thank Dr. Vu Thanh Tu Anh for the invitation to address the very first Fulbright University Vietnam’s Master’s in Public Policy class. What an exciting time!
I’d also like to recognize Fulbright’s Madame Dam Bich Thuy, Xuan Than, and Ryan Derby-Talbot, the new Fulbright Chief Academic Officer, for their support and attendance today.
As you know, Fulbright has been many years in the making, and the U.S. government is proud to be supporting this great endeavor and this inaugural class.
Fulbright is the continuing evolution of the Harvard Fulbright Economic Teaching Program that has had more than two decades of success training over 2,000 of Vietnam’s leaders. Today, you will join a proud tradition as future graduates from a university that we expect to take Vietnamese higher education to an even higher level.
You represent the start of something new and vital to Vietnam’s future. Fulbright University Vietnam is the first U.S.-style university in Vietnam based on American higher education traditions of academic independence, open inquiry, research, and critical analysis, but firmly grounded in Vietnam’s rich cultural traditions and heritage.
Today, your MPP class is not only a new start on your road toward becoming leaders and champions in your communities, it is also the next step and evolution in Vietnam and the United States’ already strong education partnership.
As future graduates, you will have the potential to improve the lives, culture, and society of the Vietnamese people. And as the initial alumni of Fulbright, you will have the opportunity to represent and champion the importance of meaningful improvements in the future education of Vietnam’s citizens.
Society needs highly educated, experienced professionals like yourselves to selflessly take up the mantle of leadership both in business and government. And it also needs institutions that are ready to train talented individuals like yourselves.
The United States is proud to have been a part of the Fulbright Economic Teaching Program since 1994, and we are thrilled to begin the next chapter with Fulbright University Vietnam.
President Trump and Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc met in May and charted an agenda for United States and Vietnam relations, building on the positive momentum of the Comprehensive Partnership between our two countries.
The leaders of our two countries set a wide range of comprehensive goals ranging from enhanced political, diplomatic, economic and trade ties to increasing cooperation in the areas of science and technology, national defense and security, education, people-to-people exchange, humanitarian and war legacy issues.
When the President comes to Vietnam in a few short weeks, he will note with pride what we have achieved here today. Each of you here today will have a role in achieving these goals and to help shape a prosperous future.
So yours is a class 23 years in the making, so we hope that as you Ăn quả – (eat the fruit) of this effort so you will “Nhớ kẻ trồng cây” (Remember the tree from which it came).
We are so proud to be here with you today on this journey with Fulbright University Vietnam.
Thank you and good luck!
