NEW STUDENT ALUMNI STUDENT STAFF VIETNAMESE

H.E. Mr. Daniel J. Kritenbrink - U.S. Ambassador to Vietnam - to Can Tho University

On June 5^th, 2018, Can Tho University (CTU) was honored to welcome the delegation of H.E. Mr. Daniel J. Kritenbrink, U.S. Ambassador to Vietnam; Ms. Mary Tarnowka, U.S. Consul General to Ho Chi Minh city and other delegates from the U.S. Embassy and Consulate General to pay a visit to CTU. The Rectorate Board and leader representatives of CTU's units received the delegates.

CTU's leaders welcoming the U.S. Ambassador at the Administrative Building

At the meeting, on behalf of CTU's leaders, Prof. Dr. Ha Thanh Toan, Rector, sent a warm welcome to the delegates from the U.S. Embassy and Consulate General, then shared information and activities of CTU, the support and projects jointly collaborated between the University and the U.S. partners. CTU has established scientific and technological cooperation with many international organizations, universities, research institutes, and businesses through over 250 memoranda of understanding. The collaboration with U.S. partners accounts for 15% of these memoranda of understanding that have been signed.

CTU has conducted over 30 grant programs/projects supported by U.S. donors. Accordingly, the cooperation between CTU and the U.S. partners has begun since 2000s, starting with the Project of Sustainable Development for CTU's Learning Resource Center funded by the Atlantic Philanthropies. Then, the cooperation has been expanded with more and more joint projects among partners. The main influential projects are the Project of Conservation of Coastal Biodiversity by OXFAM America; Higher Engineering Education Alliance Program by USAID, Arizona State University, and Intel Products Vietnam Co., Ltd.; Building University-Industry Learning and Development through Innovation and Technology (BUILD - IT) by Arizona State University; AQUAFISH-CRSP by University of Connecticut; two Advanced Programs in Biotechnology and Aquaculture in collaboration with Michigan State University and Auburn University; the English Access Microscholarship Program funded by the U.S. Embassy and Consulate General.

Thanks to these cooperation projects, infrastructure and research capacity of the University have been upgraded to contribute to the development of the Mekong Delta. More and more conferences and workshops have been organized, and the articles as the outputs of those projects have been published in international journals. These benefits of the cooperation have also supported training human resources and technology transfer with hundreds of scholarships for staff and students as well as around 25 candidates of the Mekong 1000 Project for Master and PhD. Degrees.

CTU would also expect to receive strong supports of U.S. partners for the upcoming expansion of cooperation relationship. On this occasion, through the connector of the U.S. Embassy and Consulate General, CTU would like to have more cooperation opportunities with U.S. partners in student and staff exchange, joint research projects which promote cooperative activities in the Mekong Delta and strengthen sustainable linkage.

Prof. Dr. Ha Thanh Toan, Rector of CTU, in his welcome speech

The U.S. Ambassador expressed his appreciation for the warm welcome, enthusiasm and hospitality from the University. The Ambassador appreciated the important role of CTU in education and training of human resources for the Mekong Delta during the integration process of the world economy. The Ambassador also highly appreciated the cooperation between Viet Nam and the U.S., especially emphasized that CTU is an important partner, "the symbol of research and innovation in the region", and believed that the cooperation between CTU and U.S. partners will be strengthened in the future. The two sides also discussed and pledged to support in teaching and learning English at CTU. Accordingly, exchange programs for students and teachers will be strengthened. In addition, the Embassy supports the establishment of "U.S. Space" at CTU's Learning Resource Center, called American Hangout to meet the needs of resources to study in the U.S., to bring American culture and values closer to the people in Can Tho.

H.E. Mr. Daniel J. Kritenbrink, Ambassador of the U.S. to Vietnam, speaking

Gift exchanges

On this occasion, the Ambassador and the University's leaders planting a tree to save the visit of the Ambassador to CTU

After the meeting, the U.S. delegates together CTU's Rectorate Board, leaders of CTU's units, and students moved to Learning Resource Center of CTU to celebrate the opening of "American Space" called American Hangout, located at third floor of this center. American Hangout will have a full collection of updated materials and resources about the U.S. It will be home to online and in-person programs that can promote American culture, interests, and priorities in Viet Nam. American Hangout will serve as a reference point for faculty, students, and interested community groups in Can Tho and the Mekong Delta region to freely exchange ideas and knowledge, improve English, and learn about the U.S. It is also equipped with an internet-connected TV that can broadcast live shows from the U.S. Centers in Ha Noi and Ho Chi Minh, and connect students to EducationUSA to help them fulfill the dream of studying in the U.S.

H.E. Mr. Daniel J. Kritenbrink and Prof. Dr. Ha Thanh Toan cutting the ribbon to open the American Hangout

Chatting online with the U.S. Centers in Ha Noi and Ho Chi Minh

The busy atmosphere at the American Hangout

The Ambassador talking and taking photos with students

On this day's morning, the Ambassador and the delegation visited the English class of the Access Microscholarship Program. The English Access Microscholarship Program is funded by the U.S. Department of State, through the U.S. Consulate General in Ho Chi Minh City to offer scholarships for disadvantaged students in Can Tho to improve the ability to use English as well as learn about the culture, the U.S. country, diplomatic relations between Vietnam and the U.S., and to help children improve soft skills.

Talking with the students of the Access class, Mr. Ambassador expressed his enthusiasm and surprise at the confidence and boldness of the children with fluency in English. They showed their knowledge about the U.S., not only confidently answered the questions of the Ambassador but also boldly questioned the Ambassador on Viet Nam country, Vietnamese food and tourist attractions, etc. On this occasion of the world environment day June 5^th, using their English language capacities, the students presented their solutions for environmental protection, receiving the compliment from the Ambassador.