Poster Session at NAFSA 2023: “Vietnamese Student Recruitment in the New Normal Era”

The NAFSA: Association of International Educators annual conference is one of the premier venues to conduct international education-related business. There are general sessions, poster sessions, an expo hall, receptions, and other social events, and days filled with meetings. This poster session was held at the annual conference in Washington, D.C.

I’ve presented at plenty of general sessions over the years. What’s special about poster sessions is that they’re quaint and old-fashioned yet effective and meaningful. They remind me of high school science fairs and, yes, awards are presented to colleagues with the best presentations. Although printing has become more sophisticated and visually appealing, we’re still using paper, thumbtacks, and bulletin boards. (One suggestion is to have digital boards and dispense with the printouts and thumbtacks. It would be more convenient and better for the environment.)

The magic and enjoyment are in the interaction with individuals and small groups of colleagues who share a common interest, Vietnam, and more specifically, Vietnamese student recruitment. I get to talk about one of my favorite subjects and network at the same time.

Note: What I’ve noticed about every NAFSA annual conference I’ve attended since I co-founded Capstone Education is that very little attention is paid to Vietnam, which has been a strategically important country for a long time. It seems like the only sessions that focus on Vietnam are the ones in which I’m presenting. I don’t know if other colleagues aren’t submitting proposals with a Vietnam focus, or if NAFSA just doesn’t think it’s important. Here’s to hoping that will change in the coming years.

Source: An International Educator in Viet Nam (Mark Ashwill)