Despite the vast distance between them, Penn State and DTU are working together to change the world through education, so, in 2009, DTU signed a partnership agreement with Penn State, one of the five biggest public university systems in America, to share their internationally-standardized programs in Business Administration, Accountancy, Finance and Banking and Tourism and Hospitality with DTU. On the twentieth anniversary of DTU, Professor Curtiss Porter, former Provost of and Vice-President of Penn State, came to Vietnam to deliver a proclamation from the Mayor of Pittsburgh declaring that DTU’s anniversary day had been officially recognized as “DTU Day” in Pittsburgh.
Let’s listen to Professor Porter sharing his ideas about education and his opinion of DTU.
Professor. Curtiss Porter presents Distinguished Teacher. Le Cong Co a Campaign Medal, with a map of Pittsburgh city
Reporter: Good morning Professor Porter. I’m happy to meet you. As one of the leading Rectors to make significant contributions to the development of Penn State University, could you please tell us your views about the importance of education and successful ways of improving the education process?
Professor Curtiss Porter: At the age of fifteen, I was aware of the importance of a good education in the struggle against racism, since the time that Africans first arrived in America. The world has changed so much over the last sixty years. I must say that I really agree with the saying that
“War is temporary, but peace is forever”. And the quest for peace should always be our top priority. We can only improve humanity’s awareness of that through education. The world is now flat again, because the age of the internet now allows us all to communicate instantly and directly, wherever we may be, so we are all technologically in the same place. Through improved education, the world slowly becomes more civilized and better informed. The work that I did in my previous position at PSU serves as an example of what the American higher education system attempts to do at home and what can now be achieved abroad at DTU. We will continue to partner with well-known universities worldwide for a better future. I think that better higher education will make a huge difference and change the world.
Modern campuses and laboratories at DTU
Reporter: It has been two years since your last trip to Duy Tan University. How will you feel about DTU now?
Professor Curtiss Porter: Well, that’s a very interesting question. When I first came I was really pleasantly surprised to see your modern facilities here and meet your students. It was a new culture for me to see everyone coming and going on their motorbikes, which is rarely seen in America. This time I heard more about your upcoming plans for the future. I saw young dedicated researchers, who hold PhDs and Master’s Degrees from some of the world’s leading universities. The DTU PhD programs offer graduates the path to success. I was also impressed to hear many more DTU students speaking English proficiently. I visited DTU on the very day that you successfully celebrated your twentieth anniversary, so I strongly feel that you are growing in the right direction.
Reporter: Could you please share your advice with our young people at DTU?
Professor Curtiss Porter: I can tell you that, after talking to DTU President, you should not forget the lessons of your country. I think that those lessons can also be lessons for mankind in general. In the 20th century Vietnam was in great trouble and pain. The suffering and then the triumph of your nation have been the story of the century. When historians look back three hundred years from now, they will remember your peoples’ struggle. And they will use it as an example of overcoming negative factors to create a positive future. As educators, you should take pride in your country. You have been working hard to further the development of DTU, which means that you are all contributing to the improvement of your living standards and to your country’s development.
Reporter: You declared that DTU’s anniversary day has been recognized as DTU Day in Pittsburgh. Can you tell us more about what that means?
Professor Curtiss Porter: It’s an honorary event. It’s something that the Mayor of Pittsburgh does to commemorate an important occasion. My title is Chief of Education and Neighborhood Reinvestment, to develop education in Pittsburgh, along with domestic and foreign relations. Since Danang is our Sister City and DTU has a close partnership with Penn State University and Carnegie Mellon University, we thought it would be a good idea to recognize DTU, so DTU Day is special for us. People are not exactly setting off fireworks in the streets or celebrating but it’s an important day because the Mayor has signed a proclamation, which I have delivered to your President, to commemorate the relationship between your university and our city. Our Mayor is very progressive in the field of education. I thought it was very appropriate to celebrate and this is the same as an official gift from our Mayor. We are also presenting you with a Campaign Medal, with a map of Pittsburgh city and its three converging rivers. It’s just one way of congratulating you for twenty years of hard work. That’s what the Duy Tan Day in Pittsburgh is all about.
Reporter: Thank you very much for sharing your thoughts and hopes. I am sure that the partnerships will steadily develop so that we can continue to deliver the best education to our students.
(Media Center)