06/11/2026
Overview of the working session
The U.S. Embassy delegation included Ms. Alexandra Iansa Greig-Duarte, Foreign Service Officer; Dr. Kisha Bryan Jordan, Fulbright Specialist; Ms. Anya Jennene Bratic, English Teaching Assistant; Ms. Vu Thi Diu, Fulbright Program Coordinator at the U.S. Embassy in Hanoi; and Ms. Tran Thi Hai Yen, Program Coordinator at the Regional English Language Office (RELO) of the U.S. Embassy in Vietnam.
Representing Hong Duc University were Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Thi Thuc, Vice President; representatives of the Department of Science, Technology and International Cooperation, the Faculty of Foreign Languages, and the Faculty of Social Sciences; together with lecturers, teaching assistants and English language support staff currently working at the University.
In her welcoming remarks, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Thi Thuc, Vice President of HDU, expressed her appreciation for the U.S. Embassy's continued attention and support. She emphasized that the University places great importance on international cooperation, particularly in education, English language training and cultural exchange.
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyễn Thị Thục, Vice President of Hong Duc University, delivers remarks at the working session.
Introducing the University's development history and educational scale, the Vice President highlighted the positive outcomes of its cooperation with the Fulbright Program, the Regional English Language Office (RELO) and the U.S. Education Office. To date, Hong Duc University has welcomed five Fulbright specialists, hosted English Teaching Assistants and successfully implemented three English Access Scholarship Programs.
These cooperation initiatives have significantly contributed to improving foreign language proficiency and enhancing international cultural awareness among lecturers and students. They have also provided learners with opportunities to access advanced educational approaches and broaden their prospects for international integration.
Speaking at the meeting, Ms. Alexandra Iansa Greig-Duarte expressed her pleasure at visiting and working with Hong Duc University. She highly appreciated the enthusiasm and eagerness to learn demonstrated by the University's lecturers and students, as well as its commitment to improving educational quality.
Ms. Alexandra Iansa Greig-Duarte delivers remarks at the working session
Sharing her impressions of Thanh Hoa, a province renowned for its rich historical and cultural traditions and strong commitment to learning, Ms. Alexandra Iansa Greig-Duarte emphasized the important role of education as a bridge connecting the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between Vietnam and the United States. She expressed her hope that educational cooperation would continue to expand, with the Embassy supporting the University's development on the basis of equality, mutual respect and shared benefits.
During the working session, participants also listened to feedback and recommendations from the Fulbright Specialist and English Teaching Assistant regarding their professional experiences, as well as the opportunities and challenges they encountered during their initial period at the University. These discussions provided valuable insights for HDU to better understand their needs, strengthen support mechanisms and create more favorable conditions for future cooperation activities.
As part of the program, Ms. Alexandra Iansa Greig-Duarte held a sharing session with the University's lecturers, students and school pupils on the history, culture and education system of the United States, as well as educational and cultural exchange programs available to learners and academic staff.
Ms. Alexandra Iansa Greig-Duarte shares insights during the exchange programme with students
Participants were also introduced to the Fulbright Program, the activities of the U.S. Education Office and various initiatives supporting English language education. Through direct interaction and discussion, lecturers, students and pupils gained a better understanding of the U.S. educational environment and received useful information about scholarship opportunities, academic exchange programs and international cultural engagement.
Students actively engaging in discussions and exchanges during the programme
The session also highlighted the importance of foreign language proficiency and encouraged learners to take a proactive approach to studying, research and international integration. It provided an opportunity for the HDU academic community to broaden its understanding of international educational cooperation and explore pathways to study and professional development in an international environment.
The working session and cultural exchange marked another positive step in strengthening the partnership between Hong Duc University and the U.S. Embassy in Vietnam. They laid a solid foundation for further cooperation in expert exchanges, English language education, academic collaboration and cultural exchange, contributing to the University's ongoing efforts to enhance educational quality and international integration.