THE INFORMER PAGE 3

OCTOBER 16, 1991

Cap in Hanoi, cont'd.

In Vietnam, she explained, post-secondary institu-
tions each specialize in certain subjects, such as eco-
nomics, culture or engineering. Credits gained at one
university cannot be transferred to another. One of the
goals of the seminar was to help the country develop a
first and second year system of general education that
students could use when transferring to any institution.

This could help bring
the Vietnamese post
secondary system closer to
Canadian standards, said
Rob, but it still has a long
way to go. The Vietnam-
ese system is based on an “antidiluvian” Russian model,
he said. “It’s very ineffective, but the visionaries recog-
nize that they have to move toward comprehensive
institutions.”

However, Frieda said, there isn’t much money in the
country to do that. “You still see remnants of the war,
you see damaged bridges and a lot of poverty.”

On Aug. 14 Rob and Frieda began leading the
seminar with the help of translators. Frieda said it
wasn’t particularly difficult working through an inter-
preter, although she had to slow her pace somewhat.

She and Rob covered topics including an overview of
the B.C. and Canadian post-secondary system, leader-
ship models, structures for implementing change,
curriculum development, the credit system and trans-
ferability of credits, evaluation of programs and faculty,
grading systems and student evaluation and student
record systems. Each lecture was followed by a question

The Vietnamese system is based on an “antidiluvian”
Russian model, Rob said. “It’s very ineffective, but the
visionaries recognize that they have to move toward
comprehensive institutions.”

and answer period.

About 25 participants had been anticipated, but by
the time the seminar got underway, more than 80 had
registered. Many ministry officials attended, along with
rectors and vice-rectors from universities, colleges and
technical institutes throughout the country.

“Everything was done to make our work and stay as
pleasant as possible—plenty of tea, a good car and
driver , a dinner hosted by Dr. Thiep, and a luncheon
for the seminar group just
before Rob’s departure,”
Frieda reported.

Indeed, she and Rob got
a lot of attention. They were
the first foreign experts to
address an audience of Vietnam’s senior post-secondary
officials. The seminar was deemed so significant, in fact,
it was featured on national TV.

“Frieda and I were both overwhelmed with the
sense that we became a part of something that might
become quite important to this country,” Rob said.
“People stood up and made declarations that they were
prepared to adopt a more modern system.”

After the seminar Frieda delivered a lecture on
librarianship education at the Hanoi University of
Culture. Library education in Vietnam is fairly well
developed but in need of resource materials and some
external expertise, she said. Before concluding her trip
she visited and consulted at Can Tho University, the
Open University and the Ho Chi Minh University of
Technology, all in Vietnam. It was Frieda’s third visit to
the country.

Rob left Vietnam to deal with College business in
Bangkok, Singapore and Hong Kong.

Ministry Brief

@- Selkirk College will begin construction of
a new $2.6 million education wing at its Castle-
gar campus. The 14,000-square-foot facility
will include five classrooms, a 122-seat lecture
theatre, and 20 faculty offices. Construction is
scheduled to be completed by September 1992.

people signing up for membership by the end of the day. Pictured from left to
right are Joseph Balint, Bruce Scott, Heidi Hart (study group facilitator), Lynn
Jest and Brigitte Balint.