Scholarship Info Session & Demo Class in Laos

Lao friends! We have some exciting news to share! The Fulbright School will be returning at the end of July! This time, we will be bringing a wealth of information about scholarships, with a special focus on a Public Policy Demo class, which will be taught in Vietnamese!

We are thrilled about this opportunity to connect with you and hear your thoughts and concerns about public values. Together, we can work towards finding solutions to social issues and enhancing the quality of life in our community.

Don't miss out on this amazing chance to learn and make a positive impact! Link to register for participation: HERE

• Demo class topic: “Foreign-financed Railway Development in Southeast Asia: Case studies in Laos and Vietnam” by Mr. Nguyen Xuan Thanh.
• Abstract: This lecture seeks to understand how foreign-financed infrastructure has been implemented and perceived differently in varied local contexts by examining two completed railway projects in Southeast Asia, namely the high-speed Vientiane-Kunming railway in Laos and the Cat Linh-Ha Dong urban railway in Hanoi, Vietnam. At the price tag of US$5.9 billion, it took only four years to build the 422km Vientiane-Kunming railway which passes through difficult natural terrains and has been hailed as a BRI landmark project. Launched at around the same time in late 2021, the 13km Cat Linh-Ha Dong (A2) urban railway cost almost US$900 million. The lecture will also examine how the actual contexts in the recipient countries and the levels of trust vis-à-vis partner have determined the outcomes of infrastructure investments, and whether these experiences can be generally applied to any infrastructure development partners.

Nguyen Xuan Thanh has over twenty years of experience in teaching, designing, and implementing development policies in finance and public investment. At Fulbright University Vietnam, Thanh teaches at the Fulbright School of Public Policy and Management. Nguyen Xuan Thanh is also a senior fellow at the Ash Center for Democratic Governance and Innovation, Harvard Kennedy School (HKS). Thanh's research interests are banking, public investment, and infrastructure development. At the Fulbright School, he teaches courses on Introduction to Public Policy, Policy Implementation, Appraisal of Public Investment, and Leadership in the Public Sector. He also teaches regularly in the Fulbright School's executive education and participates in policy dialogues with public sector agencies in Vietnam and Southeast Asia.

• See you this July 29 at the @American Center in Vientiane Capital!