The speakers at the exchange included Ashley Barlett, Political-Military Officer; Kate Barlett, Cultural Attaché; and Barrett Bryson, Economic Officer.
During the conversation, Ashley Barlett, Political-Military Officer, shared: During the state visit to Hanoi, Vietnam, President Joseph R. Biden and General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong elevated the U.S.-Vietnam relationship to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, renewing the strength and dynamism of the U.S.-Vietnam relationship as both countries share the common goal of peace, prosperity, and sustainable development.
The elevation of relations between the two countries from a Comprehensive Partnership established in 2013 to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership is the result of strong efforts by both governments to establish and build mutual understanding and share opportunities and challenges in a rapidly evolving world.
Aiming to support the two nations' shared vision of bilateral cooperation, deeper institutional ties, and broader innovative economic engagement (including support for the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework for Prosperity (IPEF)), the United States seeks to strengthen cooperation with the Vietnamese government and people to expand engagement and launch new initiatives.
It is known that aspects of educational development and promoting study abroad between the two countries are of particular interest to both governments. Vietnamese students studying in the United States represent the fifth largest number of foreign students, and many are pursuing careers in science, technology, and engineering at community colleges, universities, and higher education institutions. The Fulbright program in Vietnam has connected thousands of scholars and students from both countries in fields such as climate science, business, and the arts, preparing them with the knowledge and experience in their respective fields.
The sharing session was lively, with students actively exchanging ideas with the speakers and gaining valuable knowledge, experience, and insights to improve their foreign language skills. During the session, the speakers also offered helpful tips for studying abroad to the humanities students.
- It's not necessary to focus on major cities.
- Choose a university based on your chosen field of study.
- Expand your network and communicate more.
Dr. Vu Thi Anh Thu - Lecturer in the Faculty of International Studies, thanked the speakers for taking the time to converse with the students of the Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities. She also expressed her hope that in the future, the US Embassy in Hanoi and the University of Social Sciences and Humanities will have more academic exchanges and expand cultural exchanges to further deepen the comprehensive strategic cooperation between Vietnam and the US.
Speaker information:
Ms. Ashley BartlettShe is a Political-Military Officer at the U.S. Embassy in Hanoi. She previously worked in the Protocol Office of the East Asia and Pacific Office, assisting the Assistant Secretary. She also served as an ASEAN Officer focusing on political and security issues in the EAP/MLA, working at the State Department since July 2013, and has a history of serving on political/consular trips to São Paulo, Brazil, and a consular trip to Hyderabad, India.
She graduated with a Bachelor's degree in History and International Relations from the University of Georgia and a Master's degree in International Relations and International Economics from the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies.
Mrs. Kate BartlettShe is the Cultural Attaché at the U.S. Embassy in Hanoi. Previously, she served as an Assistant Information Officer in Bogota, Colombia, where she oversaw the embassy's engagement with radio, print, and television journalists. As an Assistant Public Service Officer in Chisinau, Moldova, she managed the embassy's exchange, cultural, and English language programs, as well as American Spaces. Kate also served as the Director of Nonimmigrant Visas in Kabul, Afghanistan.
Prior to joining the Department of State, she worked as a Public Service Officer for the Provincial Reconstruction Group (PRT) in Kandahar, Afghanistan, where she oversaw PRT's communications strategy as well as its cultural and educational programs. She completed the Boren Fellowship in Tajikistan and the Fulbright English Teaching Assistant Fellowship in Indonesia. She speaks Vietnamese, Spanish, Persian, Romanian, and Indonesian.
Here are some photos from the exchange session:
