Vietnam Minister of Education and Training Visits UTHSC-H
His Excellency, Minister Nhan Thien Nguyen led a delegation from the Ministry of Education and Training of Vietnam to visit The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston on December 8, 2006. The visit was part of an international tour of some of the world’s leading universities in order to facilitate the Vietnamese government to establish several universities in the next 10 to 15 years.  The Vietnam Education Foundation (VEF) organized their visit to the US and the Dean of the Graduate School of Biomedical Science and Professor, George M. Stancel, PhD hosted their visit to UTHSC-H.
The delegation from Vietnam included:
Nhan Thien Nguyen Minister of education and training  (MOET) of Vietnam Ga Van Bui President, University of Danang Thuy Thi Bich Dong Vice rector, University of Natural Science, Vietnam National University at Ho Chi Minh City (VNU-HCMC) Toan Van Nguyen President, Hue University Thuy Thu Pham Vice rector, Hanoi University of Technology Phu Pham Professor, University of Technology, VNU-HCMC Nghia Cong Pham Vice rector, National University of Economics Vien Duc Tran Vice rector, Hanoi Agricultural University Huong Thi Le Nguyen Senior expert, Higher Education Department – MOET Toan Duc Nguyen English interpreter, International Cooperation Department - MOET
The VEF delegation included:
Lynne McNamara Executive director and director of programs Ly Huynh Program manager, VEF-Hanoi Hung Tran Technical director, VEF-Hanoi Chinh Van Dang VEF student, UT-SPH Thang Nguyen VEF student, UT-GSBS Liem Minh Phan VEF student, UT-GSBS Thien Chinh Vu VEF student, UT-SPH
The Office of International Programs welcomed the delegation after their brief tour of the Texas Medical Center.  Dr. Hui-Ming Chang, vice president for international programs and special advisor to the president, welcomed the minister and gave introduction of the university and Office of International Programs. Dean Stancel then went into further detail explaining the UT/UTHSC-H system.
Afterwards, the delegation met at the UT Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences where they received presentations from several UT schools.  Dean Stancel, and Assistant Dean of Admissions Dr. Victoria Knutson, presented the GSBS. Dean Jack Smith and Associate Dean for Academic Affairs, Dr. Todd Johnson, presented the UT School of Health Information Sciences.  Dean Guy Parcel and Associate Dean for Academic Affairs, Dr. Cynthia L. Chappell and Assistant Dean for Academic Affairs, Dr. Mary Ann Smith, overviewed the UT School of Public Health.
Following the meeting at GSBS, the delegation divided into several groups to attend various sessions on different aspects of UTHSC-H
The sessions consisted of:
Library Resources and Facilities Dr. Elizabeth Eaton Executive director, Houston Academy of Medicine-Texas Medical Center Library IT and Computing Facilities Rick Miller Vp and chief information officer for information technology   Dr. William Weems Assistant vp for academic technology, associate dean for information technology, associate professor and chief information officer Institutional Finance Laura Smith Associate vp finance and legislative afairs Research Infrastructure Dr. George Stancel Dean- John P. McGovern GSBS Endowed Professorship and professor   Bruce Brown Director, environmental health and safety
Following the sessions, a welcome reception took place in the Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences.  President James T. Willerson greeted the minister and expressed future interests with Vietnam and the Ministry of Education and Training.
December 8, 2006
Dr. Nhan Thien Nguyen, Vietnam minister of education and training with the delegation, VEF executives, VEF fellows, and UTHSCH administration
VP Chang welcomes the delegation and introduces the university	The UT/UTHSCH system is presented by Dean Stancel
Dean Stancel welcomes the delegation	(left to right) Minister Nguyen and VP Chang
Dean Parcel presents the School of Public Health	Dean Parcel answers questions from the delegation
Assistant Dean Smith, School of Public Health	Assistant Dean Smith explains the School of Public Health admissions process
Dean Parcel and Associate Dean Chappell	(left to right) Minister Nguyen, Dean Parcel, Associate Dean Chappell, Dr. Hwang, Assistant Dean Smith
Dean Stancel discusses the Graduate School of Biomedical Science	VEF Fellow Thang Nguyen helps explain the Graduate School of Biomedical Science system to the delegation
Dean Smith introduces the School of Health Information Sciences	Minister Nguyen and Dean Smith
Dean Smith answers questions	Dean Smith and Associate Dean Johnson explain admission criteria for SHIS
Associate Dean Johnson displays data from the SHIS programs	Dr. Eaton hosts the Texas Medical Center libraries and resources session
Dr. Eaton and delegation	VEF Fellow Chinh Van Dang and Dr. Eaton
Associate VP Smith hosts a institutional finance session	Associate VP Smith and delegation
VP & CIO Miller and Assistant VP, Associate Dean & CIO Ween presented the IT and Computing Facilities	VP & CIO Miller and Assistant VP, Associate Dean & CIO Ween explained the computing facilities at UTHSCH to the minister
Recent technological advances were discussed with the minister	(left to right) Dr. Thuy Pham, VP & CIO Miller and Assistant VP, Associate Dean & CIO Ween
Dean Stancel discusses research infrastructure within UTHSC-H	(left to right) VP Chang and VEF Executive Director McNamara
(left to right) Minister Nguyen, VP Chang, and Dean Stancel	(left to right) President Willerson, VP Chang, Minister Nguyen
(left to right) VP Chang, President Willerson, Dean Stancel and Minister Nguyen