The Vietnam Education Foundation 2011 Annual Report

Page 136 Annual Report 2011
3. Professional Development Grant to the Fellow
Each Fellow, who is within the VEF original grant period, who is enrolled full-time, who is maintaining status, and
who is not involved in Academic Training (off-campus employment benefit of the J-1 visa status), will receive
$1,000 per year as a Professional Development Grant (PDG). A master's degree student will receive up to two years
of PDG. A doctoral student will receive up to five years of PDG. VEF will provide this annual PDG to the
University, and the University will disburse it to the Fellow.
Use of the PDG funds is limited to professional development purposes in one's field, defined as follows: conference
attendance and/or presentations; training workshops or seminars; books, journals, and publications; computer
hardware or software; professional memberships or subscriptions; travel to Vietnam to work, teach, or do research;
courses to improve English speaking, listening, reading, or writing; equipment needed to do research for one's thesis
or dissertation; hiring a statistician; and hiring an English language expert to edit one's thesis, dissertation, or
publishable article. PDG funds cannot be used for non-professional purposes, such as living expenses, costs for
dependents, travel for pleasure, medical or health expenses, and entertainment. The Fellow must report annually to
VEF on the use of his/her PDG funds.
Sign here to acknowledge your agreement with Section G. 3. ______________________
4. Additional Financial Support for all New Fellows
VEF also pays for:
a. All costs related to the Pre-Departure Orientation in Vietnam.
b. A settling-in allowance of $500 given directly to the Fellow as an expense card during the Predeparture
Orientation in Vietnam, which is to be used for personal incidental expenses in the United
States. Receipts are not required to be submitted to VEF for use of these funds.
c. Initial visa application fees (if any). Note that VEF Fellows and their dependents do not need to pay
for any such fees at this time.
d. Physical exam and inoculations (if any are required by the U.S. University), which must be completed
in Vietnam, prior to departure for the United States. If a series of inoculations cannot be completed in
Vietnam, VEF will reimburse the Fellow for the remaining inoculations to be completed after arrival
at the U.S. University upon receipt of the following: (1) evidence why the series could not be
completed in Vietnam; and (2) receipts from the University giving a description of the specific
inoculation and the amount paid by the Fellow.
e. Costs of an economy-class air-ticket from Vietnam to the airport nearest to your U.S. University.
f. Pre-academic English language training during the summer preceding the fall term, if required by
your University. VEF will pay for all required tuition, fees, books, insurance, lodging, and living
stipend.
g. Temporary medical emergency insurance for the first 30 days of your program, which begins on the
day of your departure from Vietnam.
Sign here to acknowledge your agreement (Section G.4. a - g). ______________________
5. Annual VEF Fellows and Scholars Conference
To facilitate interaction among our Fellows, Visiting Scholars, and U.S. Faculty Scholars, and between our Fellows,
Scholars, and the U.S. scientific community, VEF hosts an annual conference from January 3 through January 5
each year at a prominent U.S. university. During the grant period, VEF will pay for the following costs for you to
attend the conference: round-trip economy airfare from your University or site of academic training to the
conference venue; lodging; a fixed allowance to cover transportation to/from airports and incidentals; and
9 | Page VEF Fellowship Grant Letter – Cohort 2011