January 2018

HIGHER ENGINEERING EDUCATION ALLIANCE PROGRAM Quarterly Newsletter | January 2018

what’s inside? 2 ASU sets stage to expand productive collaborations with Vietnam’s higher education leaders

3 BUILD-IT Alliance launches second Maker Innovation Space in Vietnam

5 The final HEEAP Vocational Cohort reflects on their time at ASU

6 Vietnamese scholars study at ASU to advance Ho Chi Minh City’s Smart City efforts

7 More than 550 participants attend series of BUILD-IT workshops on accreditation and evaluation

9 ASU launches Workforce Development Council in HCMC

9 Lac Hong University wins Robocon 2017

10 Educational technology and English woven creatively in classrooms at HCMUTE

11 Policy and Leadership Seminar III in HCMC tackles challenges in higher education policy realization

12 Maker Innovation Spaces in action

12 Arizona State University supports Vietnamese student entrepreneurship competition HEEAP Quarterly Newsletter | January 2018 ASU sets stage to expand productive collaborations with Vietnam’s higher education leaders By Joe Kullman

Professor Huynh Thanh Dat (foreground, left), President of Vietnam National University Ho Chi Minh City, and Arizona State University President Michael Crow (right) sign a memorandum of understanding on December 18 on an agreement for the universities to pursue a range of joint academic, research and global education leadership ventures. Photographer: Jessica Hochreiter/ASU.

rizona State University and Viet The VNUHCM agreement also provides institutional quality assurance assessment Nam National University Ho Chi a general framework for exchange to aid Vietnamese universities in attaining A Minh City are forging a long- activities that will include visits by faculty higher-level educational credentials and term agreement to pursue an array of and students, year-long study-abroad accreditations. collaborative ventures aimed at mutual opportunities and faculty sabbaticals, Major objectives set forth in the goals in academics, research, global as well as joint seminars, courses and VNUHCM agreement include creating educational leadership and economic workshops, and sharing of technical a “toolkit” for that university’s post- development. support and services. secondary education quality assessment On December 18, ASU President The new alliance builds on other and building an education data center to Michael Crow and VNUHCM President ongoing related endeavors between ASU, support assessment projects. Huynh Thanh Dat signed a Memorandum VNUHCM and several other Vietnamese Aiding Vietnam’s efforts to upgrade its of Understanding that paves a path universities over the past several years. university education system so that it can toward establishing joint research Those multifaceted efforts focus on supply a better-trained workforce and projects, undergraduate and graduate elevating higher education in Vietnam, boost the country’s economic outlook studies programs, and faculty, student particularly in engineering, science and helps to strengthen key U.S. governmental and academic support staff exchanges technology. Projects involve developing and marketplace relationships in between the universities. advanced curriculum and improving Southeast Asia, says ASU President

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Michael Crow. to succeed in an international market American higher education system so “ASU’s goals in the collaboration economy. that we can adapt it to our university and agreement with VNUHCM align with VNUHCM President Dat views the to the Vietnamese system. “We are trying the international investment interests of collaboration with ASU as particularly to do everything we can” to achieve that U.S. industries,” Crow says, “and just as pivotal in Vietnam fulfilling the quest to transformation as completely as possible, importantly with our goals in preparing modernize its higher education system. Dat says. ASU students to thrive in a global Dat and a contingent of Vietnamese He emphasized that the joint ventures marketplace.” education officials have been on an with ASU will help Vietnam education The first major undertaking will be extensive trip across the United States, leaders institute a more advanced planning and development of a National visiting San Francisco, the Boston area university governing system, including Assessment Project to evaluate the quality — including Harvard University and the improvements in administrative practices, of higher education in Vietnam. Massachusetts Institute of Technology — and financial management and fund- Inspired by ASU’s New American Washington, D.C., before coming to ASU. raising strategies, as well as cultivating University strategy, the Vietnam National “We came here to learn about the entrepreneurship and the generation Assembly Chairman for Education of business startup ideas from within asked ASU leaders to support Vietnam research and academic programs. in its efforts to improve access to its The memorandum signing ceremony universities in addition to ramping up was hosted by the office of Global educational quality. Outreach and Extended Education The outcome of the assessment, ASU’s goals in the in ASU’s Ira A. Fulton Schools of along with specific recommendations for collaboration agreement Engineering, which has been at the initiating improvements, will be presented forefront of ASU’s collaborations with at a national conference in October. with VNUHCM align with Vietnamese universities in partnership The delegation of 10 Vietnamese the international investment with the U.S. Agency for International education leaders that attended the interests of U.S. industries, Development and major industry partners. memorandum signing at ASU included a USAID also sponsors the BUILD-IT member of Vietnam’s National Assembly and just as importantly with Alliance at ASU, which is leveraging Committee for Culture, Education, Youth, our goals in preparing ASU government, industry and academic Adolescents and Children. The committee partners to match science, technology, students to thrive in a global is responsible for the monitoring and engineering and math instruction at evaluation of Vietnam’s education system. marketplace. Vietnam’s higher education institutions to Vietnam’s government wants to the needs and capabilities of the country’s see its education system advance to Michael Crow key industries.  a level where it can help to meet the Arizona State University President SOURCE: fullcircle.asu.edu/fulton-schools/asu- requirements for the industrialization and sets-stage-expand-productive-collaborations- modernization necessary for the country with-vietnam-higher-education-leaders

BUILD-IT Alliance launches second Maker Innovation Space in Vietnam By Erik Wirtanen

uilding off the success of its August 11 and will help students gain first Maker Innovation Space in skills to launch and test new technologies B Ho Chi Minh City, the USAID and innovative solutions to community Building University-Industry Learning and development challenges. These spaces Development through Innovation and enable students to design, prototype and Technology Alliance, better known as the create manufactured projects. BUILD-IT Alliance, has launched a second Students will be able to translate the Students showing Craig Hart (in gray suit) some makerspace in Danang, Vietnam. theory they learn in the classroom into of the capabilities of the new Maker Innovation The new Maker Innovation Space at prototypes for technological solutions Space in Danang. Photo courtesy of Hoang Tang the University of Danang opened on for real-world problems. It is not only an Kim Nam Phuong.

From left: Samuel Harris, Education Program manager, Amazon AWS; Thai Ba Canh, director, Danang City Department of Science and Technology; Jeffrey Goss, associate vice provost for Southeast Asia Programs at ASU and executive director of Global Outreach and Extended Education; Bruce Newton, vice president of Worldwide Human Resources, eSilicon; Guyen Thi Thanh Thanh, event interpreter and lecturer of English at University of Danang; Le Thi Uyen, event emcee and Danang University of Education student, Associate Professor Doan Quang Vinh, vice president, University of Danang at the opening of the Maker Innovation Space in Danang. Photo courtesy of Hoang Tang Kim Nam Phuong.

educational facility, but also a solutions its second facility based on the city’s I also expect, though, is that Vietnam’s and inventions laboratory. reputation for innovation and the strength inventors and technology leaders of “Technology is changing everything of its partners there. Both the University of the future will come out of the Maker we know…countries and people that Danang and Danang University of Science Movement.” embrace innovation are in the driver’s and Technology invested considerable ASU has been an active part of recent seat. Innovators get to shape these effort, expertise and resources in the new STEM innovation initiatives in Vietnam, changes,” said USAID Vietnam’s Deputy Maker Innovation Space. including the 2017 STEM Conference Mission Director Craig Hart at the With the introduction of Maker Spaces hosted by Arizona State University’s launch event. around the country, USAID aims to Higher Engineering Education Alliance The BUILD-IT Alliance is a five- help coming generations of university Program and BUILD-IT, the Women in year project funded by USAID and graduates lead inclusive, technology- STEM Leadership Program, the Vietnam implemented by ASU. It is designed based growth, which fits squarely into Engineering Education Conference. The to help Vietnam modernize its science, Vietnam’s ongoing effort to revolutionize university invited Vietnamese faculty to technology, engineering and mathematics its economy under the Vietnam 2035 campus to learn more about the emerging higher education system. strategy. field of internet of things with Intel.  In June, the BUILD-IT Alliance launched “I know this makerspace will quickly SOURCE: fullcircle.asu.edu/outreach/build- become a place of collaboration, ideas its first Maker Innovation Space in Ho it-alliance-launches-second-maker-innovation- Chi Minh City and selected Danang for and experimentation,” Hart said. “What space-vietnam

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MARCHREGISTER 8 & 9, 2018 NOW ATHO STEMCON.HEEAP.ORG CHI MINH CITY, VIETNAM

4 Visit our website at heeap.org HEEAP Quarterly Newsletter | January 2018 The final HEEAP Vocational Cohort reflects on their time at ASU By Khandle Hedrick

All 22 members of the last HEEAP cohort gather with ASU faculty, staff and student volunteers at the closing ceremony for a final photo with the ASU pitchfork symbol representing the ASU mascot, proudly held high. Photo courtesy of HEEAP.

he year 2017 marks the last year teambuilding, Think-Pair-Share, PBL and of the Intel-sponsored HEEAP Quick Money. Additionally, I have found T Vocational and University Cohorts. that my colleagues are also applying what For the past six years, two groups of they learned at ASU in their classrooms. approximately 25 engineering professors HEEAP: How have your students from vocational schools and universities responded to the changes you have in Vietnam have come to spend their made in your classroom? summer break at ASU learning innovative (From left) Son Hai Nguyen, Nguyen Le Viet Nguyen: My students are very excited Hoang, David Benson, Tyler Michael, and Anh ways to make their classrooms more Thuan Dinh Tran kick in for a team photo after to discuss and tell me that they are engaging and to ultimately better prepare completing their final emergency evacuation interested in learning this method, as it is their students for a career in engineering simulation project with HEEAP. Photo courtesy applied immediately and they are not left immediately following graduation. Since of Son Hai Nguyen. sleepy like when I taught with the usual 2012 there have been 301 Vietnamese method. They have the opportunity to professors who have participated in the participation in HEEAP has impacted their work more and learn more. HEEAP Cohorts. classes and students this semester. Tran: I have found that my students are The 2017 vocational cohort was HEEAP: How have you been using doing well. They still do their big applied comprised of 22 professors from Ho what you learned as part of the HEEAP project which is to make a refrigeration Chi Minh City. The professors studied at Vocational cohort at your university? system (simulation only) from my ASU for four weeks under the direction Nguyen: After training with the HEEAP requirements: lightest, smallest, cheapest. of HEEAP Academic Director, David Vocational cohort, I applied new methods They will also get higher scores if parts Benson, and were challenged to embrace for my lectures at my school. I applied are movable. Students are very excited in new teaching methods by taking the role Flipped Classroom, Think-Pair-Share, my classes. of a student again themselves. HEEAP group discussion to solving problems, HEEAP: Have you faced any was able to catch up with two of this Content and Language Integrated challenges this semester since year’s vocational cohort graduates - Son Learning Lessons, Project Desktop and implementing these new methods in Hai Nguyen, a mechanical engineering Project Based Learning to my lessons. I’ve your classroom? professor at Cao Thang Technical also used Kahoot.com to play mini games Nguyen: Implementing change is hard College, and Anh Thuan Dinh Tran, a with my students. as engineering education in Vietnam is professor from the Industrial University Tran: I have being using active limited with few materials and equipment. of Ho Chi Minh City - to see how their methods which I studied at ASU, such as Traditional training programs are a little

heavy in theory and have not gone into practice and application. Tran: I face a problem that is the time WEPICS 2018 of a course. There is not enough time if I always apply ASU teaching methods. So WOMEN ENGINEERING PROJECTS I have to combine traditional methods and IN COMMUNITY SERVICE ASU methods. Here we also have lack of facilities to teach. Calling all STEM women students, HEEAP: If you could tell the sponsors engineers and entrepreneurs! of the HEEAP Vocational Cohort one Sign up for WEPICS 2018, where you thing, what would you say? have the opportunity to work on Nguyen: Thank you to the HEEAP projects that help solve real problems program sponsor. I have had great facing your local community, and a experiences with this program. I have chance to win a $1000 USD Cash made great changes for myself in thinking Project Development Scholarship! and acting for the cause of education BUILDITVIETNAM.ORG/WEPICS and training. This program is very meaningful to me, my school and Vietnam for its innovation and promotion of the development of education. 

Vietnamese scholars study at ASU to advance Ho Chi Minh City’s Smart City efforts By Monique Clement

Six Vietnamese scholars arrived at Arizona State University in August to study in Ira A. Fulton Schools of Engineering master’s programs as part of the Intel Grand Challenge Master’s Fellowship program facilitated by ASU’s Higher Engineering Education Alliance Program. Pictured are five of the students arriving at Phoenix International Airport on August 7. Photo courtesy of Angela Harguess.

recent $1 million investment from known as HEEAP, the Intel Grand Ho Hoang Hai Nam are studying materials Intel Products Vietnam helped Challenge Master’s Fellows began their science and engineering, Le Phuoc Tri A Arizona State University to studies within graduate engineering is studying solar energy engineering sponsor six Vietnamese scholars for one- programs at ASU’s Ira A. Fulton Schools and commercialization, and Pham Quoc year master’s fellowships to speed the of Engineering in August 2017. Thai is studying civil, environmental and transformation of Ho Chi Minh City into an Nguyen Quang Hung is studying sustainable engineering. innovative Smart City by 2025. chemical engineering, Dao Doan Duy “I chose chemical engineering to Facilitated by ASU’s Higher is studying environmental resource dig deeper into the industry and learn Engineering Education Alliance Program management, Hoang Thi Khanh Ha and more about using chemistry to solve

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environmental and energy problems,” Jeff Goss, Associate Vice Provost for SE said Hung, who studied analytical Asia Programs at ASU. “This fellowship chemistry at Vietnam National University will help to further the development and Hanoi University of Science prior to this decide of HCMC into one of the world’s fellowship. “I hope that I can manage to premier Smart Cities.” help Ho Chi Minh City to build modern Founded in 2010, HEEAP is a systems regarding wastewater treatment, collaboration of academic, government air quality control and food quality control.” The Fellows were recognized by Dr. Le Quoc and corporate partners in the United Cuong, Deputy Director of Ho Chi Minh City’s As part of their efforts to advance Ho Department of Information and Communications, States and Vietnam whose goal is to Chi Minh City to become a Smart City, and Sherry Borger, Vice President, Technology improve the quality of higher engineering fellows will work on an applied project and Manufacturing Group General Manager, education and technical vocational to develop their skills. After they finish Intel Products Vietnam, at the Intel Products programs in Vietnam — a country that is the program by August 2018, fellows Vietnam Grand Challenges Master’s Fellows quickly becoming a hub of innovation. Award Ceremony in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, will return to Vietnam and begin work on August 4, 2017. Photo courtesy of Minh Quy. Applied and hands-on workshops HEEAP on Smart City projects for the HCMC offers at ASU and abroad help to create government for at least three years. clubs related to smart sensor applications work-ready graduates with applied “I am really honored,” said Ha about the where I can discover more about the technical skills needed by industry. opportunity to work on HCMC’s Smart internet of things.” HEEAP has previously supported City projects. “I want to be at ASU to Recent Vietnamese bachelor’s degree fellowships at ASU to help female learn more new things and then come graduates whose engineering-related faculty at partner universities extend their back and contribute my ability to operate studies focused on Smart City design master’s education. During the 2016– this project. I believe that this project will were eligible for the fellowships. The final 2017 academic year, HEEAP facilitated help my country increasingly become six scholars were recommended by their the Advancing Women in Engineering modern and developed.” dean or department chair, met standard Fellowship, a one-year opportunity for All six fellows are excited about their ASU admission requirements and were Vietnamese female students to earn their time at ASU. chosen based on their undergraduate master’s degree in electrical engineering, “ASU is No. 1 in innovation, and I GPAs, GRE scores, English proficiency mechanical engineering or information also know that there are a lot of internet and interviews with the HCMC People’s technology at ASU.  of things systems facilitating students Committee, Intel and ASU. SOURCE: fullcircle.asu.edu/outreach/ around campus,” Thai said. “I think that “It has been an honor to collaborate vietnamese-scholars-study-at-asu-to-advance- ASU’s campus can be seen as a small with Intel Products Vietnam and the Ho ho-chi-minh-citys-smart-city-efforts/ Smart City. ASU also has many labs and Chi Minh City People’s Committee,” said

More than 550 participants attend series of BUILD- IT workshops on accreditation and evaluation By Nguyen Huu Diem Huong

rom September 7 to October leads of BUILD-IT Activity 4: Implementing quality systems that meet international 2, 2017, the BUILD-IT project Quality Systems. All workshop instructors accreditation and recognition standards F conducted a series of 14 in- provided useful knowledge and expertise to universities and education organizations country workshops on international on how to develop sustainable quality nationwide. A series of workshops on accreditation, quality assurance and assurance systems that help to ensure the principles of successful institutional evaluation of student learning. More than continuous improvement at both program quality assurance systems was delivered 550 participants from BUILD-IT and and institutional levels, which in turn in Ho Chi Minh City, Danang and Hanoi. non-BUILD-IT universities and education are critical for successful international At the program level, administrators organizations in both STEM and non- accreditation and recognition. The and faculty in Hanoi started to explore STEM areas from Can Tho, Ho Chi Minh workshops also introduced new ABET accreditation, including mission, City, Danang, Hue and Hanoi participated perspectives from U.S. educators that are organizational structure and timeline, in the workshops. relevant and applicable in the context of to consider the next step in the efforts The workshops were led by Kathy Vietnamese educational institutions. to advance quality academic programs Wigal, BUILD-IT project director, and The workshops introduced essential and curriculum, and worked on using Scott Danielson and Charles Nguyen, co- knowledge about how to develop templates developed by BUILD-IT to

More than 550 participants from BUILD-IT and non BUILD-IT universities and education organizations in both STEM and non-STEM areas from Can Tho, Ho Chi Minh City, Danang, Hue and Hanoi participated in the workshops. Photo courtesy of BUILD-IT.

draft partial outlines for their AUN-QA in the field. Workshop participants in Ho self-assessment reports. Meanwhile, Chi Minh City were also introduced to the participants in Ho Chi Minh City were application of the concepts of formative given a forum to share and discuss and summative assessment methods, success stories and challenges where they had to re-think different encountered as part of the preparation activities in their teaching and learning process for ABET and AUN-QA, and were process, including both classroom exposed to experiences in establishing learning activities and assessment of and maintaining relationship with student learning at courses and program employers via Industrial Advisory Boards. Workshop participants in Ho Chi Minh City level using a constructive alignment In addition, the latest series of BUILD- were also introduced to the application of approach. the concepts of formative and summative IT workshops had a particular focus Many participants who attended the assessment methods, where they had to rethink on providing tools that help faculty, different activities in their teaching and learning workshops have shared that they found administrators and quality assurance process. Photo courtesy of BUILD-IT. the knowledge and skills learned very staff to effectively establish, run and valuable, which was seen as “lifebuoy” connect the different stages in the quality streamline the assessment process for to their teaching and learning activities, systems — particularly at the program student learning outcomes, practiced as one young faculty put it. Another level. These are the stages that are developing different types of valid, reliable participant shared that the workshops often considered as gaps in the current and fair assessment rubrics, and re- “helped me to learn new and useful practice of teaching and learning in most evaluated and critiqued course evaluation knowledge which I had been searching universities in Vietnam. In particular, tools currently being used at different for the whole life but had failed to find it — workshop participants explored using BUILD-IT schools to develop high-quality thank you.”  a working automated data aggregation instruments measuring instructional model developed by BUILD-IT to effectiveness based on rigorous research

Designed to promote innovative practices in all aspects of teaching and learning in STEM ﬁelds for BUILD-IT partners, this award recognizes innovative approaches in teaching and learning in key STEM ﬁelds.

APPLY NOW BUILDITVIETNAM.ORG/PEARSON-AWARD

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ASU launches Workforce Development Council in HCMC By Alexandra Stinchfield

BUILD-IT Upcoming Events

Members of the newly formed Workforce Solution Council gather for a photo. This Council will define critical We invite you to visit our skill gaps and work with ASU to develop collaborative short-term and longer-term education and training programs to develop and sustain a world class STEM workforce. Photo courtesy of Alexandra Stinchfield. website to discover all that BUILD-IT is offering in 2018 n Vietnam, with strong foreign direct Nike, FPT Software, Esquel Garment Throughout Vietnam, BUILD-IT is investment investment and rapid Manufacturing, Datalogic, G-7 Technology, hosting a number of workshops economic growth, employers are GES, Microchip, National Instruments, focused on Developing Quality I Systems. Visit our website to struggling to find the right workers with Nidec, On Semiconductor, Samsung, adequate and relevant skills. To address Sonion and Minh Nguyen. The meeting learn more about these unique opportunities! this challenge, the Saigon Hi-Tech Park was facilitated by Jeffrey Goss, associate (SHTP), Arizona State University (ASU) vice provost, Southeast Asia at ASU, and and Intel launched the inaugural Workforce Tran Cong Tuan, head of administration at Development Council meeting on August Saigon Hi Tech Park. Available Scholarships 18. The meeting was hosted at SHTP’s The meeting consisted of two group and Awards training center convening industry and sessions focused on reviewing workforce BUILD-IT is partnering with academia partners to discuss the current challenges and defining top workforce industry leaders to offer innovative workforce challenges and future state competencies. The first meeting initiated scholarships and awards to faculty, requirements towards the formulation of a a great discussion on current workforce educators, students, and beyond. Workforce Development Council. challenges, future state requirements Visit our website to learn more and This Council will define critical skill gaps and the role of universities and industry sign up today! and work with ASU to develop collaborative working together to develop human short-term and longer-term education and capital in HCMC. The next meeting on training programs to develop and sustain a October 26 dove deep into specific Visit builditvietnam.org world class STEM workforce. solutions and trainings that addressed to learn more today The companies represented were current challenges. 

Lac Hong University wins Robocon 2017

he Lac Hong University team Robocon 2017 attracted the Malaysian team at the final match that defeated their Malaysia rivals on participation of 19 teams from 18 lasted one minute and twenty seconds. T Sunday to win the 2017 Asia- countries and territories across the This is the sixth time that Vietnam has Pacific robot contest (ABU Robocon Asia-Pacific region and was hosted been the champion of the robot contest. 2017) on August 27 in the Japanese by the Japanese broadcaster NHK. Its five previous championships victories capital of Tokyo. At the quarter finals and semifinals, were in 2002, 2004, 2006, 2014 and PANO-a team from Lac Hong University the Vietnamese team had outstanding 2015. Vietnam has also become the was crowned champions with an outright performances, resulting in winning over country with the most wins at the ABU victory, known as APPARE, meaning teams from India and the host country Robocon. This is the second time that splendid in Japanese. Japan and Thailand team of Japan. With its all-out efforts, a team from Lac Hong University has tied for third place. the Robocon Vietnam team defeated the won the Asia-Pacific robot contests for

The winners from Lac Hong University speaking with reporters about their win at Asia-Pacific Robocon 2017. Photo courtesy of Minh Giang.

college students, following their previous varying heights. Points were scored when with an APPARE victory. victory in 2014. a team’s discs landed on a spot where Vietnam’s national TV broadcaster VTV Under this year’s game rules, a robot its ball was knocked off, hence the theme will host the contest in 2018.  was required to throw discs at balls “The Landing Disc.” If a team successfully SOURCE: builditvietnam.org/news/lac-hong- which were on seven spots consisting knocked off all the balls and landed its university-wins-robocon-2017 of circular tables attached to columns of discs on all spots, they won the game

Educational technology and English woven creatively in classrooms at HCMUTE By James Cervin

The 17 participants of the Moodle training class proudly stand with their instructors, Ngoc Ngo (fifth from left) and James Cervin (tenth from left). Photo courtesy of BUILD-IT.

uring the third of week of August, Each day, participants were provided Ho Chi Minh University of with guides, techniques and hands-on D Technology and Education hosted opportunities to not only learn how to a Moodle training seminar for 30 English use the Moodle features to enhance faculty members chaired by Tin Dang. English language acquisition, but also Arizona State University Instructional to appreciate the academic value and Designer Ngoc Ngo and Global Educator multiple adaptations and uses for student James Cervin conducted a week-long engagement in their courses. training that focused on improving the By the end of the fifth day, participants digital pedagogy and delivery of language were able to design an aesthetically learning modalities through a learning appealing course in which materials were management system. Ngo and Cervin organized to ensure maximal navigability tackled such topics as test and quiz with customized learning paths for various design, embedding video, the utilization learners. Most importantly, the training has of discussion boards and creating a helped participants gain confidence in community of practice and engaged applying educational technology creatively learning outside of the classroom walls. in their teaching. 

10 Visit our website at heeap.org Policy and Leadership Seminar III in HCMC tackles challenges in higher education policy realization By Marcus Ingle and Phuong Nguyen

Led by Professor Marcus Ingle (front row, fifth from right) of Portland State University in collaboration with faculty from the Southeast Asian Ministers of Education Organization Regional Training Center in Vietnam and implementing partner Arizona State University, the seminar was the third in the series and gave participants an opportunity to build on the work of the previous events. Photo courtesy of BUILD-IT.

uring September 6–8, leadership innovative university policies that are of from eight Vietnamese universities high value to their institutions and will help D participated in the Policy and them to realize their short and long term Leadership Seminar III on Leading STEM-related educational goals. Strong University Policy Realization as part of participant enthusiasm, engagement and the BUILD-IT Alliance. Led by Professor knowledge transfer between university Marcus Ingle of Portland State University Strong participant enthusiasm, engagement teams included frequent sharing and in collaboration with faculty from the and knowledge transfer between university questioning of one another’s policy issues, Southeast Asian Ministers of Education teams included frequent sharing and advocacy strategies and completed Organization Regional Training Center in questioning of one another’s policy issues, exercises. advocacy strategies and completed exercises. Vietnam and implementing partner Arizona Seminar participants were also joined Pictured is Phuong Nguyen, ASU Vietnam State University, the seminar was the director, leading an exchange between by representatives from USAID and the third in the series and gave participants university teams. Photo courtesy of BUILD-IT. Ministry of Education and Training. Le My an opportunity to build on the work of the Phong, head of the Division of Higher and previous events. international accreditation goals, industry Professional Secondary Accreditation, Focused on leadership roles and engagement and entrepreneurship MOET General Department of Education skills needed to lead policy realization, opportunities, development of Testing and Accreditation, Dang Van Huan participants highly appreciated opportunities for women in STEM fields and Nguyen Thi Thu Thuy, senior officials learning the seven traits of change- - all intersect in the world of policy. In at MOET Higher Education Department, preparedness, various non-monetary fact, to realize institutional as well as shared updates regarding the resolution motivators, distinctions between country wide goals in any of these areas, on training human resources to meet policy implementation and realization, institutions must be prepared with current requirements of Vietnam’s planned communicating a policy, mobilizing and relevant university policy and related Education 4.0 objectives supported by implementation, policy feedback and procedures to encourage and advance a recent MOET decree on university adaptation and policy sustainability. innovation and change. The series on autonomy. The many innovation areas of BUILD-IT Leading Policy Innovation has given Industry representatives from Microsoft - including applied curriculum and project- participants practical concepts and tools and Fablab Saigon shared their insights based learning, quality assurance and to help identify, formulate and realize on challenges and opportunities

when working in partnership with higher education institutions; their Maker Innovation Spaces in action investments and plans for their By Alexandra Stinchfield workers to have proper skills and expertise to succeed; and important factors for success in collaborating with higher education institutions. Notably, Seminar III participants benefited throughout the sessions by the presence of Phil Keisling, director of the Center of Public Service at Portland State University. Keisling is a specialist in "policy realization" having served as Oregon's elected Secretary of State for eight years. Keisling shared practical suggestions on policy implementation and compliance with the participants. A highlight of the seminar was the sustained, high-level of engagement of the university participants in n Monday, August 21, 2017, interacted with students who were the learning process. They arrived Saigon Hi-Tech Park held a 3D learning how to design, prototype and well-prepared and participated O design workshop in the Maker create products in the space. actively in all of the applied learning Innovation Space for university students. The Maker Innovation Space is a critical sessions. The seminar ended with More than 40 students attended the part of the BUILD-IT project. The space an action plan for each participant workshop learning how to design and is a key component in initiating a culture to implement the policy tailored to print products using 3D printers. This of innovation by providing an experiential STEM improvement requirements of will be a first among many programming space where students and faculty can their own institutions.  opportunities in a space designed to design, create, innovate and develop work- support innovation, design-build projects ready competencies. The area is designed and provide a space for students to to empower faculty and students to engage experience an applied project curriculum in a range of activities such as sharing in the rapidly developing STEM fields. ideas, designing, building, and developing The University of Danang Maker new products. Students will also have an Innovation Space recently hosted U.S. opportunity to engage in a combination Ambassador Ted Osius and Consul of hands-on processes, networking and General Mary Tarnowka as they participate in industry led programming. 

Arizona State University supports Vietnamese student entrepreneurship competition By Monique Clement

ietnam is looking to become a show their ability to innovate. country of innovators, and the The Maker to Entrepreneurship Phuong Ho, director at SEAMEO, shares V country’s student entrepreneurs Program supports prototypical startups her insights at the seminar. A highlight of are answering the call. and promotes their innovative ideas the seminar was the sustained, high- To celebrate the grand opening and scalable products. MEP came out level of engagement of the university semester of the Maker Innovation Space of a series of Maker Innovation Forums participants in the learning process. They at the University of Danang in Vietnam, sponsored by the U.S. Department of arrived well-prepared and participated actively in all of the applied learning the Maker to Entrepreneur Program put State and organized by Arizona State sessions. Photo courtesy of BUILD-IT. on a one-week competition for students to University in the cities of Ho Chi Minh

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Seven teams competed in the final round of the Maker to Entrepreneur Program’s competition in September 2017. The top three teams took home $1,400 in prizes. Photo courtesy of Thao Nguyen.

City, Danang, Hanoi and Can Tho. At a smart hydroponic system for growing these forums, entrepreneurs, small vegetables that is easy and affordable business owners, startups, makers and enough for home use. The autonomous inventors connected with government system allows households to grow their representatives responsible for developing own vegetables free of harmful chemicals and administering innovation and in an energy and water efficient manner. entrepreneurship policy. Additional competing teams created an Together, these stakeholders identified environmentally friendly tank for burning challenges and solutions to support votive paper, along with a robotic arm and Vietnam’s burgeoning ecosystem, create two versions of an internet of things platform economic value and drive development in for smart home technology and devices. science, technology engineering arts and ASU Engineering Projects in mathematics, or STEAM. Team Prime’s A ROGO-Robot, a modular Community Service Director Joshua robot to help teach kids engineering and Over the week of September 25, Loughman and Associate Director Hope technology skills, won first place at the Maker student teams from the University of and Entrepreneur Program’s competition. Photo Parker contributed to the competition.  Danang worked to create a viable idea courtesy of Thao Nguyen. SOURCE: fullcircle.asu.edu/outreach/arizona- to help real-world communities and state-university-supports-vietnamese-student- businesses, and then build a tangible to help Vietnam modernize its science, entrepreneurship-competition product. technology engineering and mathematics For the final round, seven student teams higher education system. ASU’s Kellie brought their best ideas to prototype Kreiser, executive director of Thunderbird final products, pitch them and provide for Good, was among the additional demonstrations of their prototypes at the competition judges. University of Danang Maker Innovation Lab. First place and $700 went to team Products were scored on their PRIME, who created A ROGO-Robot, originality, innovation, feasibility, social a simple, modular robot designed to impact or business potential, and their teach community children the basics prototype or proof of concept. of programming, integrated circuits, The competition was judged in part by mechanics and other technology skills. Jeffrey Goss, ASU associate vice provost Team PANT9X created a wireless of Southeast Asia, executive director of sensor network to monitor soil and weather Global Outreach and Extended Education conditions for a landslide early warning Vietnamese student teams presented product prototypes at the Maker to Entrepreneur in ASU’s Ira A. Fulton Schools of system to take second place and $400. Program’s competition at the University Engineering and principal investigator of The Guardians team took home third of Danang’s Maker Innovation Space in BUILD-IT, a project implemented by ASU place and $300 for their work creating September. Photo courtesy of Thao Nguyen.