The Vietnam Education Foundation 2011 Annual Report

Annual Report 2011 Page 33
or in focus groups. This year the staff retreat was held from August 15-17, 2011, in Phu Quoc, Vietnam, and
included the following:
Evaluation of the overall management and execution of the 2011 Interview Mission as well as the 3 rd VEF
Alumni Conference
Planning for upcoming program activities
Team building activities
Staff survey on VEF policies regarding flexible time, compensation time, and teleworking policies
As another means of professional development, staff from both offices travel to the other country each year, not
only to assist with major VEF activities during that time, but also to provide or participate in training activities.
Typically, four or five VEF Hanoi staff members travel to the United States for multiple purposes in January
each year: (1) to assist with the Annual VEF Fellows and Scholars Conference; (2) to visit select U.S.
universities; (3) to visit and get training from GSA staff in Kansas City, Missouri; and (4) to meet with U.S. staff
at the U.S. Headquarters. In January 2011, Dr. Phuong Nguyen, Ms. Hanh Bui, Mr. Tu Ngo, Ms. Que Nguyen,
and Ms. Thanh Nguyen went to the United States for professional development. Also, in order to build
understanding about the VEF financial procedures, the Director of Finance, Accounting, and Administration, Ms.
Lana Walbert, arranged for the Hanoi staff involved in financial matters, specifically Ms. Que Nguyen and Mr. Tu
Ngo for this year, to accompany her to GSA Kansas City for training. Generally, select VEF U.S. Headquarters
staff members travel to Vietnam for periods of two to three weeks, and each staff member travels for different
reasons, which include the following: (1) to oversee the administration of the Hanoi office; (2) to develop and
guide the management of VEF activities; (3) to provide training; (4) to deliver presentations and to oversee major
VEF events; and (5) to meet with U.S and Vietnamese entities of interest to VEF.
VEF provides training for the entire team as needed. This year the Executive Director contracted a
communications consultant to assist the U.S. team in improving and enhancing interpersonal communications
through interactive workshops and private coaching to staff that needed private guidance or training.
Finally, to assist individuals in their professional growth, VEF provides funds for training each year, which must
be related to the employee’s needs identified during the annual performance evaluation. Each Hanoi office staff is
allotted up to $1000 per year for such training. The U.S. staff must identify a training program to meet their
professional development needs as described in the summary evaluation letter issued to them by the Executive
Director. In all cases, the Executive Director provides the final approval.
SUMMARY
The two VEF offices function exceptionally well together, despite the geographical distance and cultural
differences between the United States and Vietnam. The staff communicates continually via emails, phone calls,
conference calls, WebEx meetings, and internet Skype chats and calls. As the final authority, the U.S. senior staff
establishes strategies, finalizes policies and procedures, reviews final documents, and oversees all operations, all
with the final approval of the Executive Director. The Hanoi staff members manage the logistics of VEF activities
in Vietnam and assist with all VEF programs and activities with oversight and approval by the U.S. Headquarters
Office. In spite of staff turnover, VEF management remains strongly focused on quality, efficiency, and
performance and makes every effort to ensure that VEF meets its mission and goals.