Moderator: GERALDINE DE BERLY, Associate Dean for Academic Affairs, University College, Syracuse University and Chair, UCEA Global Associates Knowledge Network.
Speakers: BARRY CLARK, Director of Global Business Services, Oklahoma Department of Commerce; Ambassador DAVID DUNFORD, Adjunct Instructor, Department of Near Eastern Studies, University of Arizona, and former U.S. Ambassador to the Sultanate of Oman; NINA HIEN, Visiting Fellow, Southeast Asia Program, Cornell University; EDWARD G. SIMPSON, JR, Vice President for Continuing Education, The American University in Cairo (AUC); DIEP THAI, Ph.D. Candidate, International Business and Economic Geography, SUNY–Buffalo

      Selected countries in the Middle East and Southeast Asia are now investing substantial sums of money in higher education and workforce development as they increase their participation in the global economy and attempt to increase their competitiveness in an increasingly flat world. In addition to investments in traditional brick and mortar universities and degree programs, these countries are also increasing their training and upgrading of the skills of their workforces by providing certificate and other programs to prepare their populations for the 21st century.
      These investments have provided new opportunities for university continuing education units, both domestic and international, to respond to the increased demand for such programs and courses. This session offers an overview of the market in Egypt and Vietnam—the political situation, players, focus areas, government support, etc. Speakers discuss some of the opportunities that exist for university continuing educators including current programs and ideas for developing new courses and programs.

DAVID DUNFORD will start the Symposium by providing an overview of the political economy of the Middle East and will also cover other issues such as culture and higher education. During his 30-year career with the State Department, Ambassador Dunford has held a variety of posts at several U.S. embassies in the region: Minister-Counselor for Economic Affairs in Egypt; Deputy Chief of Mission and Acting Ambassador to Saudi Arabia; and Ambassador to Oman.

EDWARD G. SIMPSON, JR, will focus on professional and job skills programs of AUC which serve over 30,000 individuals and cover a variety of fields such as business studies, language studies (both Arabic and English), information technology, electronic journalism, engineering services and management training.

NINA HIEN, who has lived and conducted research in Vietnam, will present an overview of the country’s political, economic and higher education environments. Since 1990, Vietnam’s economy has been growing at an average rate of eight percent per year resulting in rapidly rising living standards and a considerable reduction in poverty. There are however two main bottlenecks that can impede Vietnam’s future economic growth: a shortage of skilled labor and slow development of new infrastructure such as roads, ports and communications.

BARRY CLARK will present an overview of current professional education and training opportunities within Vietnam and will also examine some of the certificate programs and workforce development initiatives taking place in one of the fastest growing markets in Asia.

DIEP THAI will focus on examples of programs offered by U.S. universities and other entities in Vietnam that address educational needs of Vietnamese workers, framing her presentation within the context of policies and priorities set forth by the government.