Ambassador Nguyen Quoc Dung spent a lot of time talking about the progress of Vietnam-US relations after 28 years of normalisation. Photo: TG&VN

Vietnamese Ambassador to the US Nguyen Quoc Dung recently had a meeting with nearly 200 lecturers and students of the University of Virginia (UVA) in Virginia state of the US as part of the Ambassador Series of the university’s Department of Politics, VNA reported.

The talk is part of the "Dialogue with Ambassadors" series of activities of the Center for Political Science, UVA, which has attracted the participation of nearly 200 professors, lecturers and students both face-to-face and online.

The ambassador highlighted Vietnam's socio-economic achievements, potential, open external policies and rising position in the region and the world, spotlighting the progress in the Vietnam-US relationship 28 years after the normalization of their relations and 10 years of the bilateral comprehensive partnership.

Ambassador Nguyen Quoc Dung talks with professors and students of the University of Virginia, Virginia, USA. Photo: TG&VN

Before that, he had a discussion with UVA professors on opportunities to further foster tertiary training cooperation between it and education facilities of Vietnam, especially in the exchange of students.

On the occasion, the diplomat presented the university’s library with books on the nation, people, history and culture of Vietnam.

The UVA is a public university established in 1819 by President Thomas Jefferson, the third president of the US and the author of the US’s Declaration of Independence. It is currently the only in the US recognized by the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) as a World Heritage Site. Many Vietnamese professors and approximately 170 students are currently studying and working at the university.

Ambassador Nguyen Quoc Dung worked with professors of the University of Virginia. Photo: TG&VN

The World Bank forecasts that about 3.5 million Vietnamese students will have demand for higher education by 2035, doubling the figure in 2019.

According to the Institute of International Education’s (IIE) annual “Open Doors” report in 2022, Vietnamese students now constitute the fifth largest group of foreign students in the United States, up from sixth last year.

Moreover, Vietnam held its position as the second leading country of origin for international students studying at US community colleges.

The number of Vietnamese students studying in the United States increased across almost all levels of study, including graduate programmes up 6.5%, non-degree programmes up 23.3%, and Optional Practical Training (OPT) programmes up 4.4%.

When assessed on the basis of overall economy size and measured through GDP output, the data indicates that Vietnam now sends more students to the US than any other country.

Vietnamese students also continue to demonstrate a strong presence in strategically important subjects across US institutions, such as science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) and business/management studies.

The percentage of Vietnamese students pursuing STEM and business/management majors are 47.1% and 25.6%, respectively.

“As the United States approaches the 10th anniversary of the US-Vietnam Comprehensive Partnership, the Open Doors data is demonstrable proof that education remains a cornerstone of the bilateral relationship, while the nature of our current educational cooperation is already strategic,” said Genevieve Judson-Jourdain, US Assistant Cultural Affairs Officer.

In the US academic year 2021/2022, new international student enrollment rebounded and increased 80%.

The increase was felt across the United States with all US states experiencing growth in new enrollment, and 44 of the 50 states experiencing an increase in new enrollment of over 50%.

The US remains the top destination for international students with over 948,000 international students overall.

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