On February 13, 2011, VACNE leadership welcomed a representative of AU, Washington DC, to work on cooperation between AU and VACNE in practical education of American students at its office.
At the meeting, from VACNE's side, there were Ass. Prof. Dr. Pham Binh Quyen, VACNE's Director General and Ms. Pham Thu Hue, Chairman of VACNE's Committee for Community Development cum Director of the Center for Marinelife Conservation and Community Development (MCD - a member organization of VACNE). Ms. Rebecca Bellinger, Director of International Program Development, School of International Service (SIS) represented AU in the meeting.
After introducing and exchanging information and documents with each other, the AU representative has raised the need to send AU students to SEA countries, including Vietnam, to research and gain practical knowledge on environmental protection and community development activities in these countries. Currently, at SIS, there is a program about sending graduate students to partner countries as interns, to participate in seminars or in local short practical courses. VACNE with nearly 150 member units, including a number of independent or institutional research units is totally capable of meeting demands from SIS/AU.
After the discussion, the two sides agreed that for the time being VACNE will facilitate an SIS intern for 5 weeks, from June 20 to July 22, 2011. The intern will be hosted by MCD and the subject of the research will be social and environmental issues of rural and coastal communities. During the working stay in Vietnam, the student will also help the VACNE Office in enhancing information activities, namely upgrading the English part of the VACNE's website. In the future, both sides will enhance the cooperation regarding the research subjects as well as the forms of cooperation like organizing seminars, short practical courses for SIS students, etc.
http://vacne.org.vn/default.aspx?newsid=5626