Three main models of public-private partnership projects in Vietnam: an in-depth analysis of value for money

The research focuses on financial aspect of infrastructure investment in Vietnam in term of applying public private partnership (PPP) models; especially, value for money (VFM). Firstly, the study describes standard PPP model and explores VFM of this model. Secondly, the research includes experience in public financial innovation in some countries that reach higher VFM of reformed PPP models. Finally, it considers PPP models applied in Vietnam to understand VFM of these models better. This result is basis for Vietnam government to impose suitable policies to guarantee greater VFM in using PPP models. Keywords: value for money, public-private partnershi

Institutional staff perceptions on the impact of accreditation: A study in two Vietnamese vocational training colleges

Governments in many countries worldwide have increasingly focused on accreditation as an important strategy to improve the quality of vocational education and training (VET). In Vietnam, accreditation in vocational training is still in its initial stage of development. The first cycle of accreditation at institutional level was conducted in 2008, and accreditation at programme level was piloted for the first time in 2012. The purpose of this mixed method study was to investigate the actual effects of institutional and programme accreditation from the perspectives of staff members in two Vietnamese vocational training colleges. Sixty staff members in these two institutions participated in the study. A questionnaire combining closed-ended and open-ended questions was administered to all participants. To obtain more in-depth responses about the impact of accreditation, individual interviews were conducted with eight participants. The findings suggest that the staff members overall had a positive perception towards the impact of accreditation regardless of the type of accreditation. The three main perceived benefits of accreditation included the increased awareness amongst staff of QA, its role as a catalyst for institutions’ change and enhancement, and the improvements in managerial practices. However, the study found support for the view that accreditation seemed to have been geared towards accountability rather than improvement. Many staff members observed that accreditation did not lead to a significant increase in teaching and learning quality or the institutions’ reputation. The effects of accreditation were also seen to be temporary rather than long-lasting. In conclusion, the study argues that though accreditation in vocational training in Vietnam has gained some preliminary success, there is still a mismatch between policy and reality. A number of important implications at both national and institutional levels for more effective accreditation are identified

Vietnam’s Accession to the World Trade Organization: Economic Projections to 2020

This study presents a set of assessments of the long term economic effects of Vietnam’s accession to the WTO. Generally speaking, our results indicate that Vietnam would benefit from accelerating its participation in more open multilateralism. However, it is also clear from our analysis that these benefits will remain modest in the absence of comprehensive and complementary domestic economic reforms. Passive external liberalization, even when coupled with determined domestic reform, is inferior to WTO participation combined with negotiated market access and other activist multilateral agreements. Finally, our analysis shows that capital insufficiency is a very serious constraint on Vietnamese economic growth and diversification. Capital market reform can play an essential role in dynamic and sustained economic development for the country.Vietnam, WTO, Trade

Effects of some factors on carotenoid biosynthesis by Rhodotorula Muclaginosa

Carotenoid compounds are the popular natural antioxidants which are often isolated from plants. There have been more and more researches on carotenoid biosynthesis towards lowering product prices. In this study, in order to produce carotenoid, Rhodotorula mucilaginosa was grown on aqueous media composed of carbon source (glucose, glycerol), nitrogen source (yeast extract, (NH4)2SO4). The optimum nutrient concentration was 10g/L glucose, 10g/L glycerol, the ratio of yeast extract and (NH4)2SO4 (3:7). The fermentation time for obtaining the highest carotenoid yield was 10 days in our research condition. Additionally, some oxidative stress environment for Rhodotorula mucilaginosa was be studied. The result has shown that the low level of Cu2+ (4.5mM) or 1% H2O2 solution (% v/v) in the fermentation media could increase the carotenoid biosynthesis

EFL Agreeing and Disagreeing Discourses in Facebook

Agreeing and disagreeing are two common speech acts that occur in social conversations. Driven by the fact that there are direct and indirect way for expressing agreement and disagreement, and there are also mitigating strategies to protect interlocutors from face-threatening in disagreeing discourses, this study examined EFL students’ use of discourse strategies in their Facebook interaction. Thirty-four pre-intermediate EFL students at a university in Vietnam took part in this study. Data analysis shows that direct discourses is linguistically limited while indirect ones exhibit wider language use. Students also demonstrate two different directions of using mitigating strategies for their disagreeing discourses. Some pedagogical implications are also suggested in this study. Keywords: agreeing, disagreeing, direct, indirect, strategies DOI: 10.7176/JLLL/86-03 Publication date: February 28th 202

Application of Google Docs in English for Specific Purposes Collaborative Writing

English language learners today have considerable opportunities to practice their writing skill via their peer interaction in Web 2.0 platforms, such as Blogs, Wikis, and Google Docs. Different studies have investigated the influence of these platforms on student writing collaboration and interaction, but few studies had explored factors that may affect English for Specific Purposes (ESP) student collaborative writing in Vietnamese settings. This study, therefore, attempts to explore the impact of four factors, namely gender, student attitudes towards learning English, student economic status, and availability of English at home on Google Docs-based interaction and collaborative writing outcome at a southern university in Vietnam. Fifty participants took part in this study and they worked collaboratively in small groups in Google Docs to finish two writing tasks and complete a survey afterwards. Analysis of their survey, interaction, and writing outcome suggests that gender, student attitudes towards learning English, and the number of books available at their homes have an impact on their writing outcome whereas their economic status did not seemingly affect their writing quality. Some pertinent pedagogical implications are also discussed in this paper. Keywords: Google Docs, collaborative writing, English for Specific Purposes DOI: 10.7176/JLLL/78-02 Publication date: April 30th 202

Mineralogical characteristics of graphite ore from Bao Ha deposit, Lao Cai Province and proposing a wise use

Graphite, especially, high quality graphite can be used in many industrial applications including metallurgy, batteries, fuel cells, and refractories. In 2011, Vietnam Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment issued a mineral exploration license to explore Bao Ha graphite deposit, Bao Yen district, Lao Cai Province. The studied samples were taken from 3 drill holes of the Bao Ha largest ore body. Different methods including light microscopy, X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and carbon and sulfur analyzer were performed to identify its lithological and mineralogical characteristics as well as graphite quality, then propose a wise use of the resource. The Bao Ha graphite is characterized as disseminated flake graphite in massive form, which developed in the sillimanite schist and quartz-biotite schist of the Ngoi Chi formation. Graphite flakes occur as distorted clusters of flaky plates/flakes within 50÷500 mm, which is the medium size in comparison with the general grain size of graphite flake. Graphite particle makes up 33÷43% by volume and graphitic content (Cg) makes up 10.0÷11.7 wt.%. Impurities include mainly quartz, biotite, and feldspar (combining of K-feldspar and anorthite, the primary ore) or kaolinite (the weathered ore). This graphite ore should be refined to reach an ore concentration of at least 90% Cg for domestic industries of metallurgy, batteries, thermal materials, and refractories as well as for exports.ReferencesAsbury Carbons, 2015. Natural graphite - Introduction to natural graphite. http://asbury.com/technical-presentations-papers/materials-in-depth/natural-graphite/(Accessed on April 26, 2015). Bergmann J., Friedel P., Kleeberg R., 1998. BGMN - a new fundamental parameters based Rietveld program for laboratory X-ray sources, its use in quantitative analysis and structure investigations. CPD Newsletter 20, 5-8. Bien Xuan Thanh (Editor), 2014. Exploration of graphite deposit in Bao Ha area, Bao Ha community, Bao Yen district, Lao Cai province. Report. Song Da Lao Cai Mining Joint Stock Company. Cameron E., 1960. Graphite: Industrial Minerals and Rocks. Seeley W. Mudd Series, AIME (Chapter 20). European Commission, 2010. Report lists 14 critical mineral raw materials. http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_MEMO-10-263_en.htm?locale=en. (Accessed on April 26, 2015). Garnier V., Giuliani G., Ohnenstetter D., Fallick A.E., Dubessy J., Banks D., Vinh H.Q., Lhomme T., Maluski H., Pêcher A., Bakhsh K.A., Long P.V., Trinh, P.T., Schwarz D., 2008. Marble-hosted ruby deposits from Central and Southeast Asia: Towards a new genetic model. Ore Geology Reviews, 34, 169-191. Hoang Thai Son (Editor), 1997. Geological and Mineral Resources Map of Vietnam at 1:50,000 scale, sheets Doan Hung - Yen Binh. General Department of Geology and Minerals of Vietnam. Hoang Thai Son, Pham Ngoc Thach, Nguyen The Trung, Chu Hong Phong, Nguyen Ngoc Dung, Pham Xuan Doanh, 2000. Disscussion about metamorphism facies of Song Hong Series. Proceedings. General Department of Geology and Minerals of Vietnam. Industrial Minerals, 2011. Supply Situation Report: Graphite demand soars above precrisis levels. http://www.indmin.com/Print.aspx?ArticleId=2797590 (Accessed on April 04, 2011). Industrial Minerals, 2012. The Natural Graphite Report 2012-Data, analysis and forecast for the next five years. http://www.indmin.com/downloads/reports/graphite2012.pdf. Kleeberg R., Ufer K., Bergmann, 2005. The Quantification of Disordered Clay Minerals by the Rietveld Method - Some Practical Aspects. Presentation at the 42nd Annual Meeting of the Clay Minerals Society, June 11-15, 2005, Burlington/Vermont. Lu X. and Forssberg E., 2001. Flotation selectivity and upgrading of Woxna fine graphite concentrate. Mineral Engineering, 14(l l), 1541-1543. Lu X. and Forssberg E., 2002. Preparation of high-purity and low-sulphur graphite from Woxna fine graphite concentrate by alkali roasting. Minerals Engineering. 15(10), 755-757. Luu Huu Hung (Editor), 2001. Evaluation on graphite of Bao Ha area, Bao Yen, Lao Cai. Report. General Department of Geology and Minerals of Vietnam. Ministry of Industry and Trade, 2016. Circular - amending and supplementing a number of articles of the Minister of Industry and Trade’s circular no. 41/2012/TT-BCT of December 21, 2012, providing the export of minerals (July 05, 2016). https://thuvienphapluat.vn/van-ban/Xuat-nhap-khau/Thong-tu-12-2016-TT-BCT-sua-doi-41-2012-TT-BCT-xuat-khau-khoang-san-316914.aspx Mitchell C.J., 1993. Industrial Minerals Laboratory Manual - Flake Graphite. Technical Report. British Geological Survey. Nguyen Vinh, Phan Truong Thi, 1973. Distribution of contact and dynamic metamorphic rocks in Yen Bai - Nghia Lo area. Journal of Sciences and Techniques of Mining and Geology (ISSN: 1859-1469), 22, 1-13. Hanoi University of Mining and Geology. Northern Graphite Corporation, 2015. Bissett Creek Project. http://northerngraphite.com/bissett-creek-project/ Accessed on April 30, 2015. Persistence Market Research, 2015. Global market study on graphite: Battery segment to witness highest growth by 2020. http://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/market-research/graphite-market.asp. Pham Van Long, Hoang Quang Vinh, Garnier V., Giuliani G., Ohnenstetter D., Lhomme T., Schwarz D., Fallick A., Dubessy J., Phan Trong Trinh, 2004. Gem corundum deposits in Vietnam. Journal of Gemmology, 29(3), 129-147. Pierson H.O., 1993. Handbook of carbon, graphite, diamond and fullerenes - Properties, Processing and Applications. Noyes Publications. Plumbago Co., 2013. What is graphite. http://www.plumbagographite.com/graphite-story/what-is-graphite. (Accessed on April 26, 2015). Rodas M., Luque F.J., Barrenechea J.F., Fernández-Caliani J.C., Miras A., Fernández Rodríguez C., 2000. Graphite occurrences in the Low-Pressure/High-Temperature metamorphic belt of the Sierra de Aracena (Southern Iberian Massif). Mineralogical Magazine, 64, 801-814. Simandl G.J., Paradis S., Valiquette G., Jacob H.L., 1995. Crystalline graphite deposits, classification and economic potential. Proceedings of 28th Forum on the Geology of Industrial Minerals, Marinsburg, West Virginia, May 3-8, 1992, 168-174. Simandl G.J., Paradis S., Akam C., 2015. Graphite deposit types, their origin, and economic significance. In: Simandl G.J. and Neetz M., (Eds.), Symposium on Strategic and Critical Materials Proceedings, November 13-14, 2015, Victoria, British Columbia, British Columbia Ministry of Energy and Mines, British Columbia Geological Survey Paper 2015-3, 163-171. 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Impact of circular economy practices on financial performance of construction enterprises in Vietnam

The objective of the study is to assess the impact of circular economy practices on financial performance of construction enterprises in Vietnam. The study conducted a survey in 3 months using a survey resulting in 233 valid surveys representing 233 construction enterprises in Vietnam. Using Smart PLS 4.1 software to analyze data, the results show that circular economy practice positively impacts financial performance of circular economy construction and innovation enterprises that play a mediate role in the relationship between circular economy practice and financial performance. Finally, enterprise size has a role to play in moderating impact of circular economy practices on financial performance of construction enterprises in Vietnam