December 20, 2006
Queens, N.Y. -
A delegation of professionals from Hanoi University of Education
visited St. John’s University’s Queens campus to sign a Memorandum
of Understanding (MOU) between the two universities on December
5.
The agreement, signed by Dr. Nguyen Viet Thinh, President, Hanoi
University and Julia
A. Upton, RSM, Ph.D., Provost of St. John’s University,
promotes the development of education, research, student exchange
and other activities. In its initial stages, the MOU will
focus on collaboration between the schools’ Psychology Departments
and will include English training courses for students and teachers
at Hanoi University, the promotion of research partnership, joint
publication, joint conferences and seminars of mutual interest.
Photo
Gallery
Hung P.
Le, D.A., Assistant Dean of the Graduate School of Arts and
Sciences and Director of the Vietnam Initiative at St. John’s
University, played a key role in developing St. John’s ongoing
relationship with Hanoi University and recognizes the similarities
between the two schools.
“Hanoi University is similar to our model in pedagogical terms
and in terms of our population. The administration is looking
to change its curriculum and the resources provided by St. John’s
can help make those enhancements.”
Associate
Dean Frank Biafora, Ph.D., St. John’s most recent Fulbright
Award winner, has met several times in the past with Vietnamese
education officials and has already presented them with St. John’s
Graduate Psychology model, which includes a research-laden
curriculum. During his most recent visit (October, 2006), Dean
Biafora stressed the importance of student feedback to the teaching
process and gave lectures on research and American history.
Predominantly a commuter school, Hanoi is also looking to
enhance its student development initiatives by providing mental
health and student wellness services, mentoring and career
development skills. With the addition of Residence Halls in 1999,
St. John’s began its own transition from a commuter to a residence
school and now serves as an excellent model for Hanoi.
The MOU is the first step in this professional and academic
relationship between the universities. With increased funding,
St. John’s hopes to expand its affiliation to include additional
educational exchanges of students and faculty and continuing
efforts for academic enrichment for Hanoi University faculty and
students.
For more information please contact Elizabeth Reilly, Assistant
Director of Media Relations, St. John’s University at (718)
990-5789, or e-mail inquiries to reillye@stjohns.edu.