Professors from Leeds University and Notre Dame trip for Executive MBA Vietnam Program

A Visit of Professors from Leeds University in the United Kingdom
and University of Notre Dame in the U.S.
to Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City in Vietnam

In April, 2008 Runckel & Associates arranged the visit of Professors from Leeds University in the United Kingdom and Notre Dame University in the U.S. to Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City in Vietnam to look at the issue of innovation and/or change in Vietnam. Program was in support of a proposal to look at change in Vietnam as a reference for CEOs and aspiring CEOs in the UK Healthcare system (a government run system) to look at how best to recognize and develop innovation as a part of their daily management in the Public Health Service. The visit involved an extensive range of visits with government, international organizations, non government organizations (NGOs), businesses - both international and Vietnamese plus educators, students, social workers and business people throughout the country.

Breakfast meeing with Mr. Alphonso DeMatteis – General Director, Delta Construction Management Company, Director DeMatteis Family Trust (which builds schools, churches, vocational schools, etc.)
Pictured above on the left: Chris Runckel, President of Runckel & Associats who organized the trip and Mr. DeMatteis.

Pictured above on the right: Prof. Dr. Sc. Banh Tien Long, First Deputy Minister, Ministry of Education and Technology (MOET) and Dr. Nguyen Xuang Vang.

Picture left: Dr. Nguyen Ngoc Hung and Dr. Nguyen Xuan Vang of MOET.


Pictured above: Dinner with MOET.	Pictured above: The group meets with young people in Hanoi.

Pictured above and left: In the afternoon, we looked at art as a medium to show change and innovation in Vietnam. We meet artist, Van Duong Thanh for a briefin on art as a medium of innovation, cultural absorption, rejection, etc.


Pictures above: Professor Becky Malby of Leeds University, Martin Fischer of the U.K. and Mike Cloonan of Notre Dame University in the U.S. at the University of National Science.	Pictures above: Meet with Dr. Phung Thuy Phuong and Dr. Dong Thi Bich Thuy, University of National Science – These are two of the most influential and leading experts in the Community Based service learning – a new method of education.


Picture above: Group meets with Madame Nguyen Thi Oanh to discuss Social Work and Community Development in Vietnam	Picture above: Group meets at the Park Hyatt with the U.S. Consul General Ken Fairfax and the UK Consul General Deborah Anne Clarke – both individuals are the Senior Diplomats for their countries in the South of Vietnam

Picture above: Group discussing environmental protection, pollution controls, learning lessons from China’s development, etc.

Picture left: Chris Runckel in front of Hanoi Agricultural University.

About the Author:

Christopher W. Runckel, a former senior US diplomat who served in many counties in Asia, is a graduate of the University of Oregon and Lewis and Clark Law School. He served as Deputy General Counsel of President Gerald Ford’s Presidential Clemency Board. Mr. Runckel is the principal and founder of Runckel & Associates, a Portland, Oregon based consulting company that assists businesses expand business opportunities in Asia. (www.business-in-asia.com)

Until April of 1999, Mr. Runckel was Minister-Counselor of the US Embassy in Beijing, China. Mr. Runckel lived and worked in Thailand for over six years. He was the first permanently assigned U.S. diplomat to return to Vietnam after the Vietnam War. In 1997, he was awarded the U.S. Department of States highest award for service, the Distinguished Honor Award, for his contribution to improving U.S.-Vietnam relations. Mr. Runckel is one of only two non-Ambassadors to receive this award in the 200-year history of the U.S. diplomatic service.