Professor Brings Expertise to Vietnam Through Fulbright Program

Although social work is an established profession in different parts of the world, there are still communities that are undergoing dynamic economic and social change. In many countries, including Vietnam, the process of establishing the profession of social work is a recent development that is still unfolding. Those trying to build a foundation for the field in Vietnam face hurdles, such as societal barriers and the lack of a trained workforce.

In an effort to remove those barriers and build a trained workforce, Boston University School of Social Work Professor Mary Collins was awarded a Fulbright Scholar grant to lecture at Ho Chi Minh City University of Social Sciences and Humanities during the 2011-2012 academic year. Professor Collins’ main substantive focus will be on child protection.

Collins is one of approximately 1,100 U.S. faculty and professionals who will travel abroad through the Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program in 2011-2012. This prestigious award gives her the opportunity to participate in an exchange of ideas with those involved in social work and social work education in Vietnam.

The Fulbright Program is the flagship international educational exchange program sponsored by the U.S. government and is designed to increase mutual understanding between the people of the United States and the people of other countries. Recipients of Fulbright grants are selected on the basis of academic or professional achievement, as well as demonstrated leadership potential in their fields.

Since its establishment in 1946 under legislation introduced by the late U.S. Senator J. William Fulbright of Arkansas, the Fulbright Program has given approximately 300,000 students, scholars, teachers, artists, and scientists the opportunity to study, teach and conduct research, exchange ideas and contribute to finding solutions to shared international concerns.