The San José State University Social Work Education Enhancement Program team was invited to attend a conference at the Vietnamese Academy of Social Sciences in Hanoi on “Vietnam-US Partnership: Issues and Prospects.” Sweep Director Alice Hines discussed the SWEEP project and ways in which the strategic partnerships with Vietnamese universities, government ministries, USAID and Cisco Systems Inc. are contributing to the development of social work in Vietnam. Hines is pictured third from the right, with SWEEP co-director Ed Cohen and SJSU Professor Laurie Drabble. The three will be attending conference meetings in Hanoi this week.

San José State University’s College of Applied Sciences and Arts is host to the Social Work Education Enhancement Program, an initiative that is working to:

• Develop systems to strengthen higher education management and administration,
• Devise processes to enhance faculty development opportunities and programs
• Develop and employ relevant curriculum adaptable to Viet Nam’s changing knowledge and needs.

SWEEP is funded through the US Agency for International Development with a three-year grant. Visitors from Viet Nam spent a week at SJSU in September, with a group of fellows expected to stay for a month in the spring. Members of the SJSU SWEEP team will also be traveling to Viet Nam in December for an annual conference.