The Vietnam Education Foundation 2011 Annual Report

Annual Report 2011 Page 27
Visiting Scholar Grant. Though the number of submitted stories was limited (seven stories), they enhanced better
understanding among VEF Fellows and Scholars. Their stories may motivate other Vietnamese nationals, who
would like to pursue graduate studies and postdoctoral programs in the United States, to meet the challenges to
achieve their dreams.
ANNUAL VEF FELLOWS AND SCHOLARS CONFERENCE
VEF continues to build a spirit of community and solidarity among VEF Fellows and Scholars to help them
sustain professional and personal ties while in the United States and when they return to Vietnam. As one means
to this end, VEF organizes an annual conference in the United States so that VEF and its Fellows, Visiting
Scholars, and U.S. Faculty Scholars can interact with each other and with the U.S. scientific community.
Complementary to, and separate from, VEF efforts, the VEF Fellows and Scholars Association (VEFFA), which
is created and maintained by VEF Fellows as a 501c3, helps to build the Fellows and Scholars community as an
ongoing not-for-profit organization. Therefore, VEF, who originally encouraged the formation of the
organization, provides VEFFA with space in the conference agenda for their organizational endeavors.
The eighth VEF Annual Fellows and Scholars Conference took place in Fayetteville, Arkansas, January 3-5,
2011 (Appendix 29: 8 th Annual VEF Fellows and Scholars Conference Agenda). This was the second time that
the VEF Annual Conference was organized without the assistance of the National Academies. The University of
Arkansas at Fayetteville, one of the VEF Alliance institutions, hosted the event. The conference offered
opportunities for professional career development, leadership training, networking, and scientific discussion. The
gathering also provided casual interaction through optional recreational activities and through a Gala Dinner that
included cultural entertainment and awards organized by the Fellows. The comprehensive conference agenda
included the following:
• Remarks by the Vice Minister of the Vietnam Ministry of Science and Technology
• Remarks by the Ambassador of Vietnam to the United States
• Motivational talks by U.S. and Vietnamese leaders in the corporate, entrepreneurial, and academic
sectors
• Sessions on returning to Vietnam, entitled All the Ways Home
• Lunch discussions for VEF U.S. Faculty Scholars to meet with VEF Fellows and Visiting Scholars
• Scientific Poster Session
• Scientific Sessions, bringing Fellows and Visiting Scholars together in the same fields to present and
discuss their research activities
• Leadership workshops facilitated by University of Arkansas Faculty Support Center, Walmart
Corporate Leadership, and Values Coach Inc.
• Forum with members of the VEF Board of Directors
• Job Fair
• VEF Fellows and Scholars Association (VEFFA) Roundtables and VEFFA Annual Meeting
As a service to VEF Fellows and Visiting Scholars, VEF organized a Job Fair for the fourth year. VEF invited
corporate entities doing business in Vietnam and Vietnamese academic institutions to attend the Annual
Conference and to host a separate table to display materials and hold discussions with conference participants.
Organizations had the opportunity to discuss their company or institution, including working conditions and
future job opportunities for returning Fellows. The following three (3) organizations attended, represented by
eight (8) individuals in their delegations (the number of delegates is given below in parentheses):