[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 171 (Friday, September 3, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Pages 54087-54089]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-22136]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

International Trade Administration


Education Trade Mission to Indonesia and Vietnam

AGENCY: International Trade Administration, Department of Commerce.

ACTION: Notice.

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Mission Description

    The United States Department of Commerce, International Trade 
Administration, U.S. and Foreign Commercial Service (CS) is organizing 
an education trade mission to Indonesia and Vietnam, April 3-8, 2011. 
Led by a senior Department of Commerce official, the mission to these 
two countries is intended to include representatives from a variety of 
accredited U.S. education institutions. However, the emphasis will be 
on community colleges, intensive English language programs, and 
undergraduate programs. English language programs seeking to 
participate should be accredited by CEA (Commission on English Language 
Program Accreditation) or ACCET (Accrediting Council for Continuing 
Education and Training); community colleges and undergraduate programs 
seeking to participate should be accredited by one of the six regional 
institutional accreditors in the United States.
    The mission will introduce participants to potential students and 
prospective partners. Participating in the Education Trade Mission, 
rather than traveling to these markets independently, will enhance the 
schools' ability to secure the appropriate meetings, especially in 
light of the high level engagement and support of U.S. education by the 
U.S. ambassadors in each of these countries. The mission will include 
education sector briefings, and a student fair at each stop with the 
options of matchmaking sessions with potential recruitment partners, or 
networking sessions with local schools. Trade mission participants will 
interact with CS education specialists as well as other State 
Department advisors and officers to discuss opportunities, challenges 
and marketing strategies for each market.

Commercial Setting

Vietnam

    With a population of 86 million, a steadily increasing per capita 
income, a booming private sector, and the high value the Vietnamese 
place on education, Vietnam offers significant opportunities to U.S. 
providers of education services. Vietnam presently has over 20,000 
students studying abroad, paying about $200 million in tuition and fees 
every year. Of those, 13,000 are studying in the U.S. With an increase 
of 46% over last year, Vietnam ranks 9th among countries sending 
students to the U.S. This increase is the 6th consecutive double-digit 
increase in Vietnamese students going to the U.S. Notably, Vietnam 
ranks 3rd among countries sending international students to the U.S. to 
study at community colleges. English as a Second Language and English 
immersion programs and majors such as business management, engineering, 
information technologies, and sciences are popular among Vietnamese 
students.
    Education reform has not kept pace with economic development in 
Vietnam, and improving the education system will be crucial to 
sustaining long-term growth. Education has become a key feature in 
bilateral cooperation between Vietnam and the U.S. The U.S. Embassy in 
Hanoi has made the development of education in Vietnam a top priority, 
including dramatically increasing the number of Vietnamese students 
studying at U.S. institutions of higher learning and encouraging 
greater educational exchange between the U.S. and Vietnam.

Indonesia

    Indonesia, as the world's fourth largest nation and one of the G-
20's strongest economies, is a tremendous potential market for U.S. 
educational institutions. There are numerous State-owned and private 
national and international high schools and prospects for the higher 
education market are good. Most Indonesian students are keen to study 
abroad and the U.S. has been one of the most desired destinations.
    Under President Obama's U.S.-Indonesia Comprehensive Partnership, 
the education sector is the number one priority. The U.S. Embassy in 
Jakarta has a goal to double the current number of Indonesian students 
studying at U.S. educational institutions by 2014 to 15,000.
    At present, there are over 50,000 Indonesian students overseas, 
including, 7,692 students in the United States. Of these, approximately 
64 percent are pursuing undergraduate degrees. Indonesia ranks 16th 
among countries sending students to the U.S.

[[Page 54088]]

Indonesia is also a leading market for U.S. community colleges. In 
addition to two-and-four year programs, Indonesia offers a promising 
market for ESL. While English-language is commonly taught in most high 
schools, most Indonesian students need to attend an intensive English-
language preparation class before being qualified for admission to 
undergraduate studies.

Mission Goals

    The short term goals of the education trade mission to Vietnam and 
Indonesia are to (1) introduce accredited U.S. schools to potential 
students in each market (2) introduce these U.S. schools to potential 
partners and other industry representatives, and (3) inform mission 
members of local cultural, political and economic factors in Indonesia 
and Vietnam that will affect both student recruitment strategies and 
the opportunities/challenges related to establishing partnerships.

Mission Scenario

    In Jakarta, the trade mission participants will be presented with a 
briefing by the U.S. Embassy's Counselor for Commercial Affairs, the 
Senior Commercial Specialist for the education sector and other key 
U.S. Government and corporate officials. Participants will take part in 
an education fair. Participants will also have the option to take part 
in a matchmaking session with student recruitment agents or attend a 
roundtable presentation by local schools that wish to partner with U.S. 
schools.
    In Ho Chi Minh City, participants will take part in education 
sector briefings by Consulate officers, corporate executives and local 
education sector experts, and exhibit at an education fair for parents 
and students. Participants will also have the option to take part in a 
matchmaking session with student recruitment agents or attend a 
roundtable presentation by local schools that wish to partner with U.S. 
schools.
    In Hanoi, the U.S. mission members will be briefed by the U.S. 
Embassy's Counselor for Commercial Affairs, the Senior Commercial 
Specialist for the education sector and other key U.S. Government 
officials, corporate executives and education experts. Participants 
will exhibit at an education fair for parents and students. 
Participants will also have the option to take part in a matchmaking 
session with student recruitment agents or attend a roundtable 
presentation by local schools that wish to partner with U.S. schools.
    At all stops, participants will have networking opportunities with 
various multipliers such as Education USA, education consultants, U.S. 
Indonesia Society, Institute of Education Exchange, school counselors, 
etc. U.S. participants will be counseled before and after the mission 
by a domestic mission coordinator. Participation in the mission will 
include the following:
     Pre-travel briefings/webinar on subjects ranging from 
opportunities in the education sectors to security;
     A student fair in Jakarta, Ho Chi Minh City, and Hanoi;
     Education sector briefings in each city;
     Participants will have the option of networking meetings 
with student recruitment agents or a roundtable with local universities 
that are interested in foreign partnerships in each city;
     Airport transfers in Jakarta, Ho Chi Minh City, and Hanoi;
     Meetings with CS education industry specialists in 
Jakarta, Ho Chi Minh City, and Hanoi.

Proposed Mission Timetable

    Mission participants will be encouraged to arrive April 2, 2011 and 
the mission program will proceed from April 3 through April 8, 2011.

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April 2..............................................  Jakarta
                                                       Arrive in
                                                        Jakarta.
April 3..............................................  Jakarta
                                                       Education Fair.
April 4..............................................  Jakarta
                                                       Education Seminar/
                                                        briefings by
                                                        U.S. Embassy
                                                        officials.
                                                       Option A:
                                                        Matchmaking
                                                        Session with
                                                        student
                                                        recruitment
                                                        agents.
                                                       Option B: Visit
                                                        to 2-3 high
                                                        schools (feeder
                                                        schools) and
                                                        meet with
                                                        student
                                                        counselors.
April 5..............................................  Ho Chi Minh City.
                                                       Travel to Ho Chi
                                                        Minh City.
April 6..............................................  Ho Chi Minh City
                                                       Market briefings
                                                        by U.S.
                                                        Consulate
                                                        officials/
                                                        Education Sector
                                                        Executives.
                                                       Option A:
                                                        Matchmaking
                                                        Session with
                                                        student
                                                        recruitment
                                                        agents.
                                                       Option B:
                                                        Roundtable with
                                                        local schools
                                                        that wish to
                                                        partner with
                                                        U.S. schools.
                                                       Education Fair.
April 7..............................................  Hanoi
                                                       Travel to Hanoi.
April 8..............................................  Hanoi
                                                       Market briefings
                                                        by U.S. Embassy
                                                        officials.
                                                       Option A:
                                                        Matchmaking
                                                        Session with
                                                        student
                                                        recruitment
                                                        agents.
                                                       Option B:
                                                        Roundtable with
                                                        local schools
                                                        that wish to
                                                        partner with
                                                        U.S. schools.
                                                       Education Fair.
April 9..............................................  Depart Hanoi.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

Participation Requirements

    All parties interested in participating in the Education Mission to 
Indonesia and Vietnam must complete and submit an application for 
consideration by the Department of Commerce. All applicants will be 
evaluated on their ability to meet certain conditions and best satisfy 
the selection criteria as outlined below. A minimum of 40 and a maximum 
of 70 educational institutions will be selected to participate in the 
mission from the applicant pool. U.S. education institutions already 
providing training to Indonesian and Vietnamese students as well as 
U.S. educational institutions seeking to enter the market for the first 
time are encouraged to apply.

Fees and Expenses

    After an educational institution has been selected to participate 
on the mission, a payment to the Department of Commerce in the form of 
a participation fee is required. The participation fee will be $2,930 
to cover one representative. The fee for each additional representative 
is $600. Expenses for travel, lodging, most

[[Page 54089]]

meals, interpreters, and incidentals will be the responsibility of each 
mission participant.

Conditions for Participation

     Applicants must submit a completed and signed mission 
application and supplemental application materials, including adequate 
information on the schools accreditation, primary market objectives, 
and goals for participation. If the U.S. Department of Commerce 
receives an incomplete application, the Department may reject the 
application, request additional information, or take the lack of 
information into account when evaluating the applications.
     Applicants must provide detailed information on their 
mission objectives, and specify their options for matchmaking with 
agents and/or meetings with local schools in each city.
     Each applicant must also certify that the services it 
seeks to export through the mission benefit a U.S. based institution.

Selection Criteria for Participation

    Selection will be based on the following criteria:
     Applicant must be appropriately accredited as per 
paragraph one.
     Suitability of the education institution to the mission's 
goals
     Applicant's potential for business in Vietnam and 
Indonesia, including likelihood of exports resulting from the trade 
mission
     Consistency of the applicant's goals and objectives with 
the stated scope of the trade mission (as an example--be in the 
education sectors indicated in the mission description)
    Referrals from political organizations and any documents containing 
references to partisan political activities (including political 
contributions) will be removed from an applicant's submission and not 
considered during the selection process.

Timeframe for Recruitment and Applications

    Mission recruitment will be conducted in an open and public manner, 
including publication in the Federal Register, posting on the Commerce 
Department trade mission calendar (http://www.ita.doc.gov/doctm/tmcal.html) and other Internet Web sites, press releases to general and 
trade media, direct mail, notices by industry trade associations and 
other multiplier groups, and publicity at industry meetings, symposia, 
conferences, and trade shows.
    Recruitment for the mission will begin immediately and conclude no 
later than Friday, January 14, 2011. The U.S. Department of Commerce 
will review all applications immediately after the deadline. We will 
inform applicants of selection decisions as soon as possible after 
January 14, 2011. Applications received after that date will be 
considered only if space and scheduling constraints permit.

Contacts

U.S. Commercial Service Domestic Contact
Debra Rogers, 312-353-6988, [email protected].
Gabriela Zelaya, (408) 535-2757, x107, [email protected].
Bernadette Rojas, (216) 522-4740, [email protected].
Greg Thompson, 214-712-1932, [email protected].
U.S. Commercial Service Vietnam Contacts
    Ho Chi Minh City:

Dave Averne, Commercial Officer, [email protected].
Le Anh, Commercial Specialist, [email protected].
    Hanoi:

Yasue Pai, Commercial Officer, [email protected].
Tuyet Trees, [email protected].
Ngo Anh, [email protected].
U.S. Commercial Service Indonesia Contacts
    Jakarta:

Joe Kaesshaefer, Senior Commercial Officer, [email protected].
Henry Sutanto, Commercial Specialist, [email protected].

Sean Timmins,
Trade Promotion Programs, Commercial Service Trade Missions Program.
[FR Doc. 2010-22136 Filed 9-2-10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-FP-P