American Studies Program Vietnam

AMERICAN STUDIES
PROGRAM VIETNAM
The Asia Foundation’s international relations program in Vietnam strengthens and improves U.S.Vietnam relations by convening bilateral conferences, organizing research placements for visiting
American and Vietnamese scholars, and supporting the development of Vietnamese Studies in the
United States. One of the keys to fostering a
deeper and more comprehensive understanding of
the United States in Vietnam is helping
Vietnamese universities to develop and expand
their emerging American Studies programs.
Vietnamese university administrators and faculty
are eager to enhance the teaching and research
capacities of their institutions in this field.
O U R PA RT N E R S
With generous support from the Henry Luce
Foundation, The Asia Foundation works closely
with The University of Social Sciences and
Humanities, Vietnam National University-Hanoi
(USSH/Hanoi) to advance the multidisciplinary
study of the United States at the university level
in Vietnam. To achieve this goal, the Foundation
is partnering with USSH/Hanoi to carry out four
interrelated activities: technical assistance for
developing courses on American Studies in close
collaboration with the Faculty of International
Studies (FIS) at USSH/Hanoi; research and training in the United States for USSH/Hanoi faculty;
provision of books and teaching materials; and
workshops to encourage information-sharing
among American Studies lecturers and scholars
across Vietnam. Support extends to Danang
University in the central Vietnam and Can Tho
University in the south, both of which are
expanding their American Studies programs
beyond the study of the culture and literature.
U. S. - VIETN AM REL ATIO N S
The American Studies project builds on The Asia
Foundation’s recently completed three-year project on U.S.-Vietnam relations, which promoted
greater understanding among Americans and
Vietnamese about domestic conditions and international factors that affect bilateral relations in
order to enhance policymaking on both sides.
Strengthening American Studies in Vietnamese
universities helps to deepen Vietnamese understanding of the United States, improve mutual
cultural understanding, and strengthen U.S.Vietnam bilateral relations over the long term.
Under the current program, American scholars
spend time at FIS at USSH/Hanoi to lecture and
to work with their Vietnamese colleagues on
curriculum development. Faculty members of
USSH/Hanoi will receive additional training at
universities in the United States. Two information
sharing workshops on American Studies in
Vietnam have been convened by USSH/Hanoi
with the lively participation of many Vietnamese
scholars from institutions throughout Vietnam. A
book on American politics was translated into
Vietnamese, and 1,000 copies were printed and
distributed to selected public and university
libraries throughout Vietnam. Additionally, a
range of books on American Studies were purchased for USSH/Hanoi. These book purchases
substantially enlarged the American Studies
Collection at USSH/Hanoi and enhanced those
of Danang and Can Tho Universities.
VIETNAM
The Asia Foundation
established an
office in Hanoi
in 2000.
The Foundation’s
American Studies
Program Vietnam
improves opportunities
for multidisciplinary
study of the
United States
at the
university level.
Under the
American Studies
program, American
scholars spend
time at the
Faculty of
International Studies
at USSH/Hanoi
to lecture and work
with their
Vietnamese colleagues
on curriculum
development.
“These efforts have resulted in substantial improvements to the teaching of
the American Studies courses on politics, the legal system, foreign policy,
history, and culture of FIS at USSH/Hanoi. The course syllabi have been
updated to reflect the input of the faculty consultants, and USSH/Hanoi
faculty are more aware of available resources for their courses, including free
on-line materials. The networking workshop encouraged greater informal
networking and information sharing among the scholars and teachers.”
— Dr. Le The Que, Head of American Studies Division, FIS at USSH/Hanoi
The Asia Foundation is
a private, non-profit,
non-governmental
organization working
toadvance mutual
interests in the United
States and the AsiaPacific region. It is
funded by contributions
from corporations,
foundations, individuals, and governmental
organizations in the
U.S., Canada, Europe,
and Asia, and an
A M U LT I DI S CI P L IN A RY A P P R OAC H
The program improves opportunities for multidisciplinary study of the United States at the university level. This objective advances a broader and
deeper knowledge of the United States, and prepares students for future careers in government
and the private sector that will allow them to deal
more effectively with American counterparts.
With assistance from The Asia Foundation, the
Faculty of International Studies at USSH/Hanoi
has emerged as the leader in developing American
Studies programs in Vietnam. USSH/Hanoi has
on its own initiative visited with other universities
and institutions to share technical knowledge
about the development of their own American
Studies programs.
annual appropriation
from the U.S. Congress.
Through its programs,
the Foundation builds
leadership, improves
policies, and strengthens
institutions to foster
greater openness and
shared prosperity in
theAsia-Pacific region.
HEADQUARTERS
465 California Street, 9th Floor
San Francisco, CA 94104 USA
Tel: (415) 982-4640
Fax: (415) 392-8863
info@asiafound.org
WASHINGTON, DC
1779 Massachusetts Ave., NW
Suite 815
Washington, D.C. 20036 USA
Tel: (202) 588-9420
Fax: (202) 588-9409
info@asiafound-dc.org
VIETNAM
#10-03 Prime Centre
53 Quang Trung Street
Hanoi, Vietnam
Tel: (84-4) 3943-3263
Fax: (84-4) 3943-3257
tafvn@asiafound.org
www.asiafoundation.org
07-07