Ministry admits irregularities at civil servant exam

The Ministry of Industry and Trade has admitted to violations in an examination to choose civil servants last year, saying its officials had leaked answers of the test to certain candidates.

According to a report Minister Vu Huy Hoang submitted to the Nation Assembly, the ministry had asked its agencies to cooperate with police and the Ministry of Home Affairs to thoroughly inspect the violations in the examination to choose civil servants for the Market Monitoring Agency under the ministry. Strict penalties will be imposed on any groups and individuals found to have committed violations, the minister stated.

The ministry said it had canceled all results of the test, and taken sanctions against violators, in which Do Thanh Lam, deputy director of the Market Monitoring Agency, was reprimanded by the ministry.

This is the first time that the ministry has admitted to wrongdoing by its officials who disclosed answers of the test to some candidates with the aim of helping them pass the exam. Ten out of 299 applicants who benefited from the leakage were later found to be either interns working for the Market Monitoring Agency or relatives of the officials.

Power outage holds up air traffic in HCM City

A power outage from 11:05am to 12:25 am at the Ho Chi Minh City Area Control Centre (ACC/HCM) caused delays to three international transit flights and several other domestic flights from Tan Son Nhat airport on November 20, according to the Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam (CAAV).

The incident did not pose any danger to flight safety as response measures were taken promptly by the Southern Region Air Traffic Service Company, the CAAV reported.

The Hanoi Air Traffic Control Centre (ATCC/HAN) was alerted in order to support the monitoring of flights out of and into Ho Chi Minh City’s aviation space.

Meanwhile, the national air traffic control centres of Singapore, Malaysia, Laos and Cambodia were informed of the incident.

Senior officials from the Civil Aviation Authority and the Vietnam Air Traffic Management Corporation, as well as leading technicians, flew to Ho Chi Minh City immediately to investigate the cause of the incident in a bid to prevent repeat occurrences.

Passengers can get train tickets shortly before departure

The Vietnam Railway Corporation (VRC) has announced passengers could come to a station to collect the tickets they book online around 30 minutes before their departure, instead of four hours as previously.

According to a plan for selling electronic train tickets which VRC released on Monday, travelers making online reservations must take delivery of tickets no later than four hours prior to departure.

However, this requirement later prompted outcries among passengers. They said it was irrational that online booking and payment were meant to save time but VRC’s requirement would force them to wait a long time before boarding their train.

These complaints had led VRC to reduce the time needed to collect train tickets from four hours to 30 minutes ahead of departure time.

People are still wondering why VRC does not let passengers print their e-tickets as is done by the airline sector. VRC said this cannot be done before 2016. This is also the way the aviation sector did before passengers could print their e-tickets.            

Heavy rain that struck central provinces from Ha Tinh to Phu Yen last week will continue into this week, probably causing floods in the region, according to the central region weather center.

According to forecasts by the National Center for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting, water levels of rivers in Quang Ngai Province have been rising fast and are predicted to reach 4.9 meters in the Tra Khuc River and 3.7 meters in the Ve River in the province.

River water levels from Quang Tri to Quang Ngai may hit the first warning mark and even above the second warning level in some areas.

Water levels of rivers from Ha Tinh to Quang Binh and from Binh Dinh to Phu Yen may rise to the first warning level, and people in the area should watch out for landslides and flash floods, said the center.

Data from the Central Committee for Flood and Storm Control showed that flash floods and landslides have occurred 250 times in 2000-2014, causing damage worth over VND3.3 trillion.

The disaster killed 650 people and injured 350 others, swept away over 9,700 homes and flooded 100,000 others and more than 75,000 hectares of paddy and other crops during the period.

In early September, rain lasting for days in Thanh Hoa Province had boosted water levels of streams in Nhu Thanh District, and three people were swept away due to floods at Ong Hai Stream in the district.

In August, ten people were killed and injured due to flash floods in Lai Chau Province.

40,000 city firms yet to join social insurance

As many as 40,000 enterprises active in HCMC have yet to comply with the social insurance policy as regulated, according to the HCMC Social Insurance Agency.

Cao Van Sang, director of the agency, unveiled the information on November 13 at a conference to review one year of implementing Decision 3651/QD-UBND on social insurance and health insurance of the city government.

Most of those firms are of small scale and operate with a staff of six people on average.

Due to the large number of such small-scale enterprises, it is extremely difficult and time-consuming for authorities to launch inspections and impose punishment, and measures are limited to warning and calling on those enterprises to abide by insurance regulations, Sang said.

The economic downturn in recent years has caused more difficulties for many enterprises, which has adversely affected the campaign to call on employers to buy social insurance, health insurance and unemployment insurance for their laborers, he said.

By the end of June, the number of people with social insurance coverage had increased 4.2% against the same period last year.

Inspectors of the city’s Department of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs reported to have collected VND72 billion of social insurance premium debts from 432 firms among 1,278 enterprises which owe insurance premiums.

The Department had cooperated with the city’s social insurance agency to look into violations such as late payment of social insurance premiums and evasion of insurance payment.

Nine Vietnamese fishermen rescued in Malaysian waters

Nine Vietnamese fishermen were rescued by a Gibraltar-flagged ship when their vessel, the BTh 96017TS, sank in Malaysian waters on November 18, the Office of the National Committee for Search and Rescue said on November 19.

The Mare Britannicum took the fishermen to Singapore on early Nov. 19. They are now in normal health condition.

After receiving report on the case, the Foreign Ministry has contacted the Singaporean government, requesting support to bring the saved men home as soon as possible.

“Heroic Mother” title bestowed upon 699 women in Binh Dinh

An additional 699 women in the central province of Binh Dinh have been honoured as “Heroic Mother” under the President’s recent decisions No. 2457/QD-CTN and 2457/QD-CTN.

The authorities in central Binh Dinh province presented the title to 13 women and the family members of 97 deceased heroic women at a ceremony in Quy Nhon City on November 19 in accordance with the decisions.

Addressing the award ceremony, Deputy Chairman of the provincial People’s Committe, Mai Thanh Thang said local authorities would do their utmost to improve the living conditions of the heroic mothers and their families, who have made outstanding contribution to the nation.

Newborn of serious accident discharged from hospital

The newborn who was flushed out of his mother’s womb right  and injurred in an accident was yesterday discharged from Children Hospital in Ho Chi Minh City.

One month after he was treated in an  intensive care unit, the newborn baby returned home with his father.

Dr. Nguyen Thanh Hung, Children Hospital’s director said that the baby would be installed false legs and receive psychological support to lead a normal life  few years later.

On the way to a local hospital in the Mekong Delta Province of An Giang to deliver the baby last month, his mother was crushed by the truck and was killed instantly at the site. The impact also forced her unborn son out of her womb. The infant got one of his legs crushed. Meanwhile one leg of his father was seriously broken.

Microchips used at fuel stations to scam customers

The police in Nghe An Province has arrested a man who had been supplying customised microchips to dozens of fuel stations designed to cheat consumers.

Between October 9 and November 7, the economic police and the Department of Science and Technology jointly inspected fuel stations and discovered a large scam.

Colonel Nguyen Xuan Thiem, head of the provincial economic police said they discovered at least 209 customised microchips and 20 fuel stations that had installed them. The chips were installed to give a false number at the pump and overcharge customers. For each 100 litres of fuel, the station held back 4 to 11 litres.

On November 5, police arrested Nguyen Son Hai, who allegedly helped install the chips at fuel stations. A few days later, Le Van Toan turned himself in and confessed to selling the microchips to Hai. The investigation has led to two other arrests since.

The suspects said fuel stations in other provinces such as Nam Dinh, Ninh Binh and Thanh Hoa have also been using the microchips.

Chairman of Nghe An Province People's Committee Nguyen Xuan Duong praised the investigators and awarded the team VND80 million (USD3,800).

Phu Quoc becomes second-tier city

A ceremony was held on November 15 to announce the PM’s decision recognising Phu Quoc island district in southern Kien Giang as a second-tier city.

A ceremony to announce the PM’s decision recognising Phu Quoc island district in southern Kien Giang as a second-tier city, Phu Quoc, November 15, 2014 - Photo: VGP/Le Son

Addressing the event, Deputy PM Nguyen Xuan Phuc called on Phu Quoc island to bring into play its advantages and potential to develop the maritime economy and tourism.

The Deputy PM also asked the local authorities to pay attention to building a green-clean-beautiful-friendly city while preserving the natural environment to keep the reputation as the Pearl Island.

Located on the Vie Nam-Cambodia-Thailand marine economic corridor, Phu Quoc island district covers more than 593sq.km with a population of over 100,000. It comprises 27 islands with Phu Quoc being the largest and dubbed the Pearl Island.

Its average annual economic growth is 25% with per capita income reaching US$ 3,416 per year.

Kien Giang is also working on procedures to recognise Phu Quoc Island a provincially-run city in the time to come, which is a step in turning the island district into a special economic-administrative zone.

In the long term, the island district is envisioned to become an economic and political hub, a crucial frontier in national defence and security, and a crucial transit point for international travelers.

Vietnam to start constructing $1bn Mekong Delta expressway next month

The first phase of the US$1billion Trung Luong-Can Tho Expressway project in the Mekong Delta will break ground on December 20 and is expected to be complete in 2018.

During the phase, a 54km part of the 78km expressway will be built to link Trung Luong in the southern province of Tien Giang to My Thuan – also in the province – at an estimated cost of VND14.5 trillion ($680.5 million).   

The section will have four lanes, including two – about 2.5 meters in width each – for vehicles traveling at 80kph and two others – 2.75 meters wide each – for those running at 40kph.

Thirty-eight bridges, 8.1km in total length, will be constructed over many rivers flowing through the section.

Upon the completion of the first phase, the second phase of the project will be implemented to build the remaining 24km of the expressway, linking My Thuan to Can Tho City – known as the capital of the delta.

The second phase is expected to be complete in 2020, at a cost of about VND7 trillion ($328.5 million).

As such, the total investment in the two phases amounts to VND21.5 trillion ($1.009 billion).

The investor is Cuu Long Corporation for Investment, Development, and Project Management of Transportation Infrastructure, which will carry out the project in the form of BOT (Build-Operate-Transfer).

Cuu Long will recoup its investment by collecting fees from vehicles traveling on the expressway.

Crime in HCMC to ease following compulsory drug detoxification: official

Criminal offenses in Ho Chi Minh City will become less common in the near future when the city applies obligatory drug detoxification to drug addicts, said Major General Phan Anh Minh, deputy chief of the city police.

The official made the forecast at a meeting of the city People’s Council’s Legislation Committee on Tuesday, which focused on outstanding issues related to crime and drug abuse.

Major General Minh told the meeting that most criminals in the city are drug addicts who, in an attempt to get money to buy drugs, commit crimes including thefts, robbery and even murder.

In the first nine months of this year, city police uncovered 3,009 criminal cases, and most of the offenders were drug addicts, he said.

Therefore, these addicts – who now number 19,000, up by 7,000 from late last year – will be sent to social centers for compulsory drug detoxification while pending orders issued by courts to officially admit them to rehab centers, the official said.

The obligatory detoxification has been approved by a National Assembly resolution to allow local authorities nationwide to set up obligatory drug detoxification centers for homeless drug addicts.

The resolution was issued following a proposal from city authorities who want to restrain the rising number of drug addicts and ease public concerns about their presence in public places.

These centers will help stop a drug addict’s rush on the spot, offer them preliminary detoxification, and provide them with psychological consultancy, pending relevant orders issued by courts, the official said.

Pursuant to the Law on the Handling of Administrative Violations, which took effect on January 1, 2014, addicts can be sent to a drug detoxification facility only when a court judgment is issued for this purpose and when they fail to stay sober after being monitored for three to six months by local authorities.

Now, with the NA approval, the city authorities are proceeding with the collection, classification and allocation of drug addicts to ten compulsory drug detoxification centers.

In a report delivered to the NA on October 29, Minister of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs Pham Thi Hai Chuyen said the number of drug addicts in Vietnam increases by 7,000 every year, and the figure stood at over 200,000 as of the end of September.

Surgical needle in woman’s abdomen in 9 years removed

A 34-year-old woman in the north-central province of Ha Tinh has been removed a 4-cm surgical needle from her abdomen after it was carelessly left there by local doctors when she underwent a Caesarean delivery in October, 2005.

Nguyen Thi Hoa suffered pain in her back and abdomen after the Caesarean delivery though the incision has closed. Her family accordingly took her to medical clinics for checking but it has not abated.

She at last hospitalized to the Can Loc General Hospital on November 4 after she had suffered a pain inside her abdomen for nine years. Doctors of the Can Loc General Hospital gave the woman an X-ray test and said that there could be a surgical needle in her belly and that another X-ray should be made for confirmation.

On next day, Hoa arrived at the Cua Dong Hospital in the central province of Nghe An for another X-ray test that clearly showed a curved needle inside her abdomen, in the location where doctors at Can Loc Hospital performed an emergency surgery on her uterus that was ruptured nine years ago, when she was six months into pregnancy.

The Can Loc General Hospital is continuing investigation of the case to verify the responsibility.

Jetstar Pacific to launch Hanoi-Bangkok route

The low-cost carrier Jetstar Pacific will open new flight route from Hanoi to Bangkok starting on March 29, 2015.

The new service will be operational with a daily flight using 180-seat Airbus A320 aircraft.

The flight will depart Hanoi at 12.25 p.m. and at 12.10 p.m. on Tuesday, Wednesday and Saturday. On the return leg, the flight will take off at 3.35 p.m. in Bangkok and at 2.40 p.m. on Tuesday, Wednesday and Saturday.

Jetstar Pacific has begun selling tickets for Hanoi-Bangkok route since November 20 and for Ho Chi Minh City-Bangkok route which is expected to be launched on December 10.

The budget carrier has also operated local domestic flights connecting Vietnam’s main airports in HCMC, Hanoi, Danang, Vinh, Haiphong, Hue, Buon Ma Thuot, Nha Trang and Phu Quoc Island.

Leather firm to pay record-breaking fine

The HCM City People's Committee issued a record-breaking fine of US$300,000 on Tuesday to the Hao Duong Leather Tanning Co. for polluting and for misconduct in submitting environmental reports.

The company was found violating waste water treatment regulations at its factory in the Hiep Phuoc Industrial Complex in HCM City.

The local authority ordered the firm to collect and process its waste water before allowing it to run through water treatment units.

Checks uncover rigged circuits on gas pumps

A random inspection in the southern province of Nghe An revealed 11 gas stations were using fake integrated circuits to cheat their customers.

The fake circuits helped stations steal 4 – 11.6/100 litres of gasoline. After tracking the origin of the fake circuits, the police have arrested Nguyen Son Hai, Bui The Ai and Tran Le Duc.

Two machines used to run cheating programs and 209 fake circuits were found, according to the police's report.

Police found 20 other gas stations suspected of using fake circuits in gas pumps. They are still investigating.

Gang members caught impersonating police

The Police Department for High-tech Crime Prevention (PC49) arrested a gang of phone scammers who stole a total of US$310,000.

The gang members would call unsuspecting victims claiming to work for their mobile carrier and tell them they have unpaid bills worth several thousands of dollars.

Victims were then referred to a fake police officer, who would tell them they were suspected of working with an international money laundering network.

They were often told to transfer all the money in their bank accounts to the police for "investigation purposes."

Police identified six gang members and arrested five of them, with the exception of Do Dinh Phuong, who evaded arrest.

The suspects have confessed to phone scamming and a number of other crimes.

Germany helps Thua Thien-Hue clear unexploded ordnances

The German Ministry of Foreign Affairs has funded a number of projects to help the central province of Thua Thien-Hue disarm unexploded ordnances (UXOs) left over from the war.

In March 2014, the ministry pledged 257,911 EUR (359,940 USD) to implement a project clearing bombs and mines in A Luoi district; developing information management tools; and building a provincial database and an Information Management System for Mine Action for the province, where many sites were fierce battles during the American war.

In 2012, the German ministry funded similar projects in Huong Thuy town and Hong Bac commune of A Luoi district, and Quang Loi commune of Quang Dien district, which turned nearly 220 ha contaminated by UXOs into farming land.

It also supported the locals in agricultural activities and raised their awareness of UXO risks, according to Nguyen Thanh Binh, Director of the provincial Department for External Relations.

Germany has aided the province in other fields such as education-training, heritage preservation, and disaster prevention and control.

Thua Thien-Hue has more than 172,400 hectares of land polluted with UXOs or 34.4 percent of its total area - one of the highest levels in Vietnam. The worst affected districts are A Luoi (65,000 ha), Phong Dien (39,000 ha), Nam Dong (18,000 ha) and Huong Tra (13,000 ha).

Youth to propel economic development

Developing countries with large youth populations could see their economies soar if they invest in educating young people, protecting their rights and keeping them healthy, according to the 2014 World Population Report.

The UN Population Fund and the Centre for Central Youth and Adolescents released the report yesterday, titled The power of 1.8 billion: Adolescents, youth and the transformation of the future.

Economies grow more when the country's working-age population is larger than the dependent population, according to the report. But to maximise growth, countries must ensure the young people approaching working age are equipped to seize job opportunities.

"Viet Nam has entered a golden population period, recording the highest proportion of young people in the country's history," said Arthur Erken, the UN Population Fund's representative in Viet Nam.

Young people between 10 and 20 made up nearly 40 per cent of the population. This window of time where Viet Nam had so many youth was a unique opportunity for the country to ensure that people were educated and supported so they could achieve their full potential, Erken said.

"We can't afford to let this period be wasted," he said.

In order to harness the booming young population, Viet Nam needed policies that would improve its workforce's quality, he said. It should expand education and training programmes, and improve the business investment environment to help generate sufficient jobs for young people entering the labour market, he said.

"Only when we aim high today we will make that young person's future a brighter one, with rights and promises fulfilled," said Le Quoc Phong, secretary of the Viet Nam Youth's Union.

The Government, ministries and agencies should allow Vietnamese youth to participate more in designing and analysing the policies that affect them to ensure they meet their needs, Phong said.

"Young people are the innovators, creators, builders and leaders of the future," said Babatunde Osotimehim, executive director of the UN Population Fund. "But they can transform the future only if they have skills, health, decision-making and real choices in life."

Nuclear power development – Vietnam’s long-term strategy

Nuclear power development is Vietnam’s long-term strategy to meet the country’s increasing demand for energy, reduce dependence on energy imports and environment pollution caused by fossil fuel and enhance the development of science and technology and infrastructure.

The statement was made by Nguyen Cuong Lam, Vice Director General of Electricity of Vietnam (EVN) at the Nuclear Industry Suppliers Forum Atomex Asia 2014 in Ho Chi Minh City on November 19.

Lam said to safely operate the nuclear power plant in Vietnam it is necessary to implement several comprehensive measures, such as safe location, advanced technologies, human resource training, fuel supply and waste treatment.

Organised by Russian State Corporation ROSATOM, the forum focussed on prospects for development of the nuclear energy in Southeast Asia such as reactor technology and safety control, localization and requirements for atomic industry suppliers, personnel training and raising public awareness on importance and necessity of nuclear power in socio-economic development.

Vietnamese and Rosatom experts presented their plan on human resource training and construction process of the Ninh Thuan Nuclear Power Plant.

To help develop the country’s energy sector Rosatom is already providing support to Vietnam by training of specialists in the construction and subsequent operation of facilities. In 2014/15, more than 340 Vietnamese students will study at Russian institutes and universities in various nuclear technology specialities.

Rosatom is also organizing internships at nuclear plants under construction in Russia for construction specialists from Vietnam.

In 2014, 150 Vietnamese specialists completed internships at the construction sites of units Nos.3 and 4 at the Rostov nuclear power plant.  The number of students will increase to 1,000 in the future.

Atomex Asia 2014 is in a series of annual events aiming to facilitate talks and cooperation among nuclear suppliers organized by ROSATOM all over the world.

New decree promulgates regulation of border gates

The Government issued a decree on the management of border gates, detailing regulations on State supervision and control at the gates, as well as the entrance and exit of people and goods through the gates.

The legal document puts the flow of goods and people, including the exit, entry, transit, export, and import, under strict control by agencies of the State.

The decree promulgates the rules applicable to border gate zones; entry, exit and residence in these zones; as well as restrictions and temporary cessation of entry and exit via land border gates and land routes.

It also stipulates that all individuals and goods must be accompanied by complete and valid legal papers to pass through border gates, complying with the principles and procedures prescribed by import, export, entry and exit legislation as well as relevant national and international treaties to which Vietnam is a signatory member.

Health Ministry warns risk of A/H5N8 virus spread

The Ministry of Health recommends the public to strictly follow precautionary measures in order to prevent the A/H5N8 bird flu strain, which currently occurs in poultry in several European and Asian countries, from infecting humans.

People are advised not to slaughter or eat ill or died chickens and ducks, and to inform local authorities when detecting abnormally ill or died fowls.

They are also recommended to visit medical stations for checking and treatment if flu symptoms occur after they get in touch with fowls.

The ministry is coordinating with the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and international organisations to keep a close watch on the spread of the A/H5N8 virus in poultry and humans to have timely response measures.

According to the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control, no A/H5N8 case in humans has been recorded in the world so far.

However, the virus led to the destruction of millions of farm birds in Asia, mainly the Republic of Korea, China and Japan, after an outbreak earlier this year.

Workshop talks safety for motorbike riders

The management over motorbike riders should be intensified since they account for more than more than 70% of the country’s total road accidents, heard a Hanoi workshop on motor vehicle ownership and use.

The workshop came up with the information found by the World Bank that motorcyclists in Hanoi are less likely to change their habit of using motorbike despite concerns over safety and traffic conditions.

The event was co-organised by the National Committee for Traffic Safety (NCTS), the World Bank (WB) and the Association of Motorbike Manufacturers in Vietnam on November 18.

It aimed to improve safety for Vietnamese motorbike riders with the involvement of researchers, relevant governmental bodies and manufacturers.

Head of the WB’s study mission, David Spice stressed the need to improve awareness of Vietnamese motorbike riders on safe traffic behaviours through education and regulations.

Meanwhile, NCTS Vice President Khuat Viet Hung highlighted the convenience and efficiency of motorbikes in Vietnam, saying that motorbikes would remain the country’s major means of transportation for years to come.

Representatives from ministries and sectors discussed ways to promote safety in urban and suburban traffic while reducing the environmental impact of motor vehicles.

Participants shared their views on solutions, including improving behaviour in the ownership and use of motorbikes, and technical, environmental, and health requirements.

According to the World Bank, the number of motorbike owners in the Southeast Asian countries almost tripled in the 2003-2009 period.

In Vietnam, this means of transportation accounts for more than 85% of road vehicles nationwide.

Approximately 95% of Vietnamese motorbike riders wear helmets, while only one out of four children under 16 does. NTSC statistics show that 9,000 people die in road accidents every year in Vietnam. During the first 10 months of 2014, road accidents killed 7,000 people and injured many more.

Hoa Hao Buddhist sect leaders review yearly operation

The Central Executive Board of Hoa Hao Buddhist sect held the second annual conference in southern An Giang province on November 19 to review its performance in 2014 and map out orientations for 2015.

Participants agreed that during the year, the sect has kept to the motto “For the dharma, for the nation” in its religious activities. The sect has held 1,286 religious teaching sessions and 28 religious classes in many localities for followers.

Meanwhile, Hoa Hao Buddhism followers have engaged in charitable activities such as building houses for poor people and helping poor patients with a total funding of nearly VND107 billion.

On the occasion of the conference, the Government Committee on Religious Affairs presented its decisions approving the 27 members of the board, headed by Nguyen Tan Dat, who were elected by the 4th congress of the sect.

Founded in 1939 in An Giang province, the Hoa Hao Buddhism sect now has over 2 million followers in 19 cities and provinces nationwide.

Home to more than 800,000 followers, An Giang province is regarded as the Holy Land of the sect.

UNICEF helps Vietnam improve environmental sanitation

A programme on environmental sanitation jointly carried out by the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and the Ministry of Health in Vietnam since 2009 has contributed to raising public awareness of using hygienic toilets and giving up the indiscriminate defecation habit.

The programme has implemented in over 900 villages in seven provinces nationwide, benefiting 184,000 rural households with more than 220,000 children. As many as 125 villages have been recognised as those with hygienic household toilets.

According to UNICEF Vietnam, similar programmes have helped about 26 million people in more than 50 countries give up the habit of defecating in the open.

UNICEF said about 2.5 billion people worldwide have not yet used hygienic toilets, putting themselves and their children at risk of suffering deadly diseases such diarrhoea.

In 2013, over 340,000 children under five died of diarrhoea resulted from the shortage of clean water and the unawareness of environmental sanitation and personal hygiene.

2015 young Southeast Asian initiative academic fellows on environmental issues

The U.S. Mission in Vietnam seeks candidates for the 2015 Young Southeast Asian Initiative (YSEALI) Academic Fellows on Environmental Issues.  Vietnamese citizens between the ages of 18 and 25, full-time undergraduate students or those who have graduated from college, university, or other institutions of higher learning who demonstrate strong leadership qualities and potential in their university, place of work, and an interest in community service and volunteerism, and have a good command of English, are invited to apply for the program.  The application deadline is 5:00 PM, Monday, December 29, 2014.

YSEALI is President Obama’s initiative to strengthen leadership development and networking in ASEAN, deepen engagement with young leaders on key regional and global challenges, and advance people-to-people ties between the United States and young and emerging Southeast Asian leaders.  

Funded by the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, the YSEALI Academic Fellows on Environmental Issues is intensive academic program whose purpose is to provide groups of Fellows with a deeper understanding of the United States, while simultaneously enhancing their leadership skills.  The Institute will consist of a balanced series of seminar discussions, readings, group presentations, and lectures.  Educational travel to other parts of the United States, local site visits, and volunteer opportunities will complement the coursework and classroom activities.  More information about the program, including details about how to apply, and application form, is available at the Department of State has temporarily disabled hyperlinks.

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