Basic information about The Community – University Engagement Program between The University of Natural Sciences, Ho Chi Minh City (UNS) and The Portland State University, U.S (PSU)"

   The University of Natural Sciences (UNS) in Ho Chi Minh City is the host institution for the Community-University Engagement Project. The Community-University Project began in 2006 and is coordinated jointly between UNS and Portland State University (PSU) in the United States.

   The ultimate goals of the Community-University Engagement Project are to increase educational excellence at the University of Natural Sciences while working to help mitigate environmental challenges in Ho Chi Minh City. This will be accomplished by building capacity in teachers, students, the administration and the community for the application of innovative teaching and learning methods that incorporate projects within the community.

   The teaching and learning methods known as, “Community-Based Learning,” (CBL) applies theories towards solving real problems of the community. Other words used to describe Community Based Learning activities are Service Learning (SL) and Community-University Engagement. CBL has been applied successfully at many reputable universities in the United States such as Portland State University, as well as in other developed nations. The CBL methods will be adapted and tailored to the unique situation of Vietnam.

   During the early stage of the Community-University Engagement Project, the Community-Based Learning efforts will be primarily carried out by the Center for Educational Excellence and professors and faculty within the Botany-Ecology Department (Division of Biology). Professors within the department will have a couple of pilot classes that combine the CBL method with subjects in the field of environmental science and biology. After the pilot stage, classes incorporating CBL will be developed and implemented in other departments within the University of Natural Sciences.

   Detailed Information about The Community – University Engagement Program

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 Why it was necessary to establish The Center for Educational Excellence

   The national government in Vietnam passed a resolution to actively focus on and promote educational reform and innovation for Vietnamese Universities from 2006 to 2020. The establishment of the Center for Educational Excellence (CEE) is in alignment with this goal and will help to support and promote innovation in university education.

   The operations of the CEE will improve the quality of teaching and learning at the University of Natural Sciences. It will also serve to elevate the status of the University of Natural Sciences, making it a frontrunner in Vietnam and showing the country the importance of developing innovative teaching and learning methods nationwide.

   The CEE will also serve to increase cooperation between different departments and divisions at the university by encouraging cross-disciplinary projects and interdisciplinary studies for the purpose of addressing pressing social needs.

   The establishment of CEE is one of the three purposes of the overarching Community-University Engagement Program established by the partnership between the University of Natural Sciences of Ho Chi Minh City and Portland State University in the United States. Establishing the CEE was one of the key purposes of the program, because without the institutionalization of the project’s purposes that the CEE provides there would be no long-term driver of the project to turn it into a sustainable program. The CEE’s existence and work is vital to carrying out and continuing the work of the program and to demonstrate to school and government administration, faculty and potential donors the program’s legitimacy.

   The establishment of the Center for Educational Excellence is necessary in order to increase educational quality, meet the goals of the Vietnam National University of Ho Chi Minh City, and to align with the national policy of Vietnam.

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 Objectives of The Center for Educational Excellence

   The objectives of the Center for Educational Excellence are three-fold.

   The first objective of the CEE is to move methods of teaching and learning in undergraduate and graduate education towards combining theory and practice. This will allow students to apply their knowledge and work with the community to solve local problems.

   The second objective of the CEE is to assist students and professors and provide them instruments and support to increase educational excellence.

   The third objective of the CEE is to serve as the point of connection for the faculty and the community.

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 Responsibilities of The Center for Educational Excellence

   Disseminate information about educational excellence to all parts of the University of Natural Science.

   Assist in helping professors gear their syllabus towards incorporating Community-Based Learning and other teaching methods to increase the quality of education.

   Create opportunities for faculty members to collaborate in their teaching and research.

   Develop and nurture relationships between different faculty, departments and interdisciplinary subjects.

   Seek information about social needs and problems facing the community.

   Connect the potential of students and the university with needs of the community.

   Organize short-term trainings and workshops on teaching methods and Community-Based Learning.

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