Prime Minister Phạm Minh Chính met with Vietnamese students studying at the University of South Florida during his trip to the US in September 2023. Vietnamese students make up the third-largest body of foreign students at this university. — VGP Photo

According to the recently released 2023 Open Doors Report by the Institute of International Education, the United States continues to be the top destination for Vietnamese students studying overseas.

This is reaffirmed by a noteworthy 5.7 per cent increase in the number of Vietnamese students at US universities and colleges during the academic year 2022-2023, totalling 21,900, which still falls short of pre-pandemic high of 23,777 students in the 2019-20 academic year.

The number of Vietnamese students makes for the fifth-largest group of foreign students in the US, the same as the last academic year.

The report highlights Việt Nam as the second-leading country of origin for international students at community colleges, constituting 7.6 per cent of all international community college students. Additionally, Việt Nam ranks as the fourth-largest source of international undergraduate students, contributing 14,295 students.

Notably, the fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM), along with business and management studies, remain the preferred areas of study for Vietnamese students in the US.

The data reveals that 47.6 per cent of Vietnamese students are pursuing STEM majors, while 24.7 per cent are focused on business and management studies.

The US has experienced a robust two-year rebound in international student enrolments following the COVID-19 pandemic, with a 14 per cent growth in new enrolments for the academic year 2022-23.

International students now comprise about six per cent of the total student population across US campuses, representing over one million students from more than 230 countries.

The Open Doors data underscores the pivotal role of education in the bilateral relationship between the US and Việt Nam.

In its commitment to strengthen educational cooperation as per the US-Việt Nam Joint Statement on upgrading ties to Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in September 2023 between the two countries' leaders, the US Agency for International Development (USAID) has initiated a five-year partnership with the Ministry of Education and Training (MoET) to modernise and internationalise Việt Nam's higher education sector. The project aims to enhance education quality, particularly in STEM fields, facilitate digital transformation at policy and institutional levels, and upgrade academic programmes to meet industry workforce qualification requirements and academic accreditation standards.

The US Mission to Việt Nam is also launching a dedicated exchange programme designed to foster innovation in technical training at Vietnamese community colleges. The initiative also includes expanded English language programs and STEM education activities for students in K-12. — VNS