The Vietnam Education Foundation 2011 Annual Report

Page 18 Annual Report 2011
• Phone interview by select staff of VEF.
For the 2012 cohort, successful finalists from Process B filled the slots of any of the 45 Process A nominees, who
dropped out or who did not succeed in getting a U.S. university admission. In essence, Process B finalists serve as
alternates. They are listed in rank order, and the slots from Process A that become available are filled in from the
Process B list by the highest ranking individual.
The final list of recommended Fellowship recipients includes both nominees from Process A, who received
university admissions, and the successful finalists from Process B. This list is presented to the VEF Board of
Directors for their final approval of Fellowship recipients during the April Board meeting before the fall term in
which the new Fellows are expected to enroll.
FINANCIAL SUPPORT FOR VEF FELLOWS
As a cost-sharing arrangement between VEF and the U.S. host university, VEF pays an annual grant of
$27,000 to the university for each Fellow for each of the first two years. In exchange, the university provides all
required tuition, fees, health insurance, and a monthly stipend for twelve months each year. The stipend must be
equal to what a typical graduate student in the specific department would receive. If the monthly stipend is not
sufficient to cover required books and equipment, the university provides an appropriate supplementary allowance
to the Fellow. By the third year of a graduate program, the Fellow is expected to be fully supported by the
university through assistantships and/or other university funding.
In addition, VEF provides an annual Professional Development Grant (PDG) to Fellows in the amount of $1,000
per year to all Fellows who are sponsored by VEF and who are enrolled full-time and not engaged in Academic
Training. For this reporting period, the PDG is available to Fellows for years 1 and 2 of a master's degree program
and for years 1 through 5 of a doctoral degree program.
Furthermore, VEF provides additional financial support for each Fellow as follows:
1. All costs related to the Pre-Departure Orientation conducted in Vietnam by VEF, costs for the visa
application (if any), and costs for a physical exam and inoculations that are required by the U.S.
university, most of which are completed in Vietnam prior to departure to the United States.
2. All costs related to pre-academic English language training, if required by the university. Such English as
a Second Language (ESL) courses must be conducted on the admitting university's campus during the
summer prior to the first fall semester start date. However, a specific performance level in the ESL
training cannot be a condition of admission. VEF does not fund ESL at any other time.
3. Economy-class airfare from Vietnam to the primary airport nearest the Fellow's university and return
economy-class airfare to Vietnam at the end of the Fellow’s academic program.
4. Settling-in allowance of $500 given directly to the Fellow during the VEF Pre-Departure Orientation in
Vietnam to help cover personal incidental expenses in the United States.
5. Temporary medical emergency insurance for 30 days, which begins on the day of the Fellow's departure
from Vietnam and serves as an interim insurance to assure time for the Fellow to secure more permanent
health/medical insurance required of all international students in the United States.
6. All costs related to the VEF Annual Fellows and Scholars Conference in the United States while the
Fellow is enrolled or on Academic Training.