Thomas Vallely | Từ chính trường đến giáo dục và hành trình của ĐH Fulbright | TQKS #99

Key Concepts

Liberal Arts Education, Fulbright University Vietnam (FUV), US-Vietnam Relations, Post-War Vietnam, Education Reform, Deregulation, Technology Acquisition, AI, Autonomy in Education, Strategic Partnership, Trade Imbalance.

Fulbright University Vietnam and Liberal Arts Education

• Origin Story: Thomas Vallely's initial involvement with Vietnam was self-serving, aiming to boost his political career. However, after withdrawing from a congressional race, he developed a genuine interest in Vietnam, leading to his second career focused on US-Vietnam relations.
• Fulbright Program Foundation: Vallely's desire to fund a Vietnamese graduate student at Harvard Kennedy School led to the creation of the Fulbright program in Vietnam. This was facilitated by Senators John Kerry and John McCain, who integrated it into the existing Fulbright mechanism.
• Fulbright's Vision: Senator Fulbright envisioned the program as a means of fostering knowledge exchange and understanding between America and the rest of the world, contrasting with the colonialist approach of the Rhodes Scholarship.
• Fulbright Economic Teaching Program (FETP): Initially, the goal was to introduce development economics to Vietnam's Seventh Party Congress. When this faced resistance, the program was relocated to Saigon as a one-room schoolhouse, eventually evolving into FUV.
• Resistance to University Model: Vallely and his team initially resisted the idea of building a university in Vietnam due to concerns about the existing educational system and regulations.
• Key Figures: Former Prime Ministers Phan Văn Khải and Nguyễn Tấn Dũng played crucial roles in advocating for the establishment of a university.
• Henry Rosovsky's Influence: Harvard Professor Henry Rosovsky advised against building a branch campus, citing the example of Yale-Singapore's failure due to lack of embeddedness in the local society.
• Embedded Model: FUV adopted an "embedded model," aiming to integrate deeply into Vietnamese society, ensuring its long-term sustainability and relevance.
• Rationale for Liberal Arts: Liberal arts education is seen as valuable because it fosters well-rounded individuals with broad knowledge, critical thinking skills, and adaptability, crucial for innovation and understanding complex issues like AI ethics.
• Oppenheimer Example: J. Robert Oppenheimer's broad knowledge beyond physics is cited as an example of why a well-rounded education is important for even highly specialized roles.
• Adapting to AI: FUV is adapting its curriculum to incorporate more science and AI-related subjects, recognizing the importance of these fields while maintaining the core values of liberal arts education.
• Resistance and Persistence: Overcoming resistance to the liberal arts model in Vietnam required persistence and leveraging the existing momentum for educational reform.
• Soviet Influence: Vietnam's education system was heavily influenced by the former Soviet Union, which emphasized specialization. The liberal arts model is seen as an addition to, rather than a replacement of, this system.
• Parental Concerns: The Boston Consulting Group (BCG) advised against using the term "liberal arts" due to parental preferences for specialized, job-oriented education. However, FUV chose to stick to its vision and convince parents of the value of a broader education.

US-Vietnam Relations and Geopolitical Context

• Post-War Reconciliation: The US-Vietnam relationship was initially driven by American veterans seeking reconciliation and by Vietnam's desire to establish diplomatic ties with the US.
• Strategic Importance: Vietnam's strategic importance has increased over time, making it a key partner for the US in the region.
• Fulbright's Anti-War Stance: Senator Fulbright's opposition to the Vietnam War influenced his interest in fostering knowledge exchange and understanding between the two countries.
• Deregulation of the Internet: The deregulation of the internet in Vietnam in 1997 was a pivotal moment, connecting the country to the world and fostering economic and social development.
• Technology Acquisition: Acquiring technology is crucial for Vietnam's future, and the US-Vietnam strategic partnership is seen as a means of navigating geopolitical tensions and accessing necessary technologies.
• Vietnamese Foreign Policy: Vietnam's non-aligned foreign policy is praised for its skill in navigating complex geopolitical dynamics.
• Trade Imbalance: The significant trade imbalance between Vietnam and the US is a potential concern, but it is argued that this imbalance is partly due to the global supply chain and should not be solely attributed to Vietnam.
• Potential Tariffs: The danger for Vietnam lies in specific tariffs targeted at the country, rather than general tariffs that affect all trading partners equally.

Education Reform and Future Directions

• K-12 Importance: A strong K-12 education system is essential for the success of higher education initiatives like FUV.
• Green Energy Potential: Vietnam has significant potential in green energy, but deregulation is needed to attract private sector investment and accelerate growth in this sector.
• Autonomy for Universities: Granting more autonomy to existing universities is crucial for fostering innovation and acquiring the technology needed for Vietnam's development.
• Overregulation: Overregulation of higher education is seen as a barrier to progress.
• Fundraising and Engagement: FUV is actively seeking donations to fund its AI institute and campus development. Potential donors are encouraged to engage in a joint thought process to develop programs that align with their interests.
• Co-Design Program: FUV's co-design program, inspired by Olin College of Engineering, aims to provide students with hands-on learning experiences from day one.
• Lessons Learned: Vallely acknowledges making mistakes in building FUV but emphasizes that these mistakes have been valuable learning experiences.

Notable Quotes

• "Mr. Thomas Valet has never given up on peace. Over the course of five decades, he has brought Vietnam and the United States together..." - White House Press Release
• "I made every single possible mistake you can make in building a university." - Thomas Vallely
• "Vietnam is really, really good at foreign policy. Do not fix it." - Thomas Vallely
• "The deregulation of the internet creates connections for Vietnam to the world." - Thomas Vallely

Technical Terms and Concepts

• Liberal Arts Education: A broad-based education that emphasizes critical thinking, communication, and a wide range of subjects in the humanities, arts, and sciences.
• Development Economics: The study of how to improve economic conditions in developing countries.
• Market-Based Economy: An economic system in which prices and production are determined by supply and demand, rather than government control.
• Branch Campus: A satellite campus of a university located in a different country.
• Embedded Model: A strategy for universities to integrate deeply into the local society and culture.
• AI (Artificial Intelligence): The simulation of human intelligence processes by computer systems.
• Deregulation: The removal of government regulations from an industry or sector.
• Trade Imbalance: The difference between a country's imports and exports.
• Tariff: A tax on imported goods.
• Co-Design Program: An educational approach where students actively participate in designing their learning experiences.

Synthesis/Conclusion

The interview with Thomas Vallely provides a comprehensive overview of the development of Fulbright University Vietnam, the evolution of US-Vietnam relations, and the challenges and opportunities facing Vietnam's education system. Vallely emphasizes the importance of liberal arts education, the need for deregulation and autonomy in higher education, and the strategic significance of technology acquisition for Vietnam's future. He also highlights the crucial role of individuals, partnerships, and a deep understanding of local context in driving positive change. The story of FUV is not just about building a university; it's about fostering a new generation of Vietnamese leaders equipped to navigate a complex and rapidly changing world.