SUMMER STUDY ABROAD PROGRAM

SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT


A 4-credit Global Field Engagement Program in Vietnam

AT A GLANCE

  • Global Field Engagement Program
  • Disciplinary Track: Sustainable Development
  • Study Abroad Destination: Vietnam
  • 2026 Dates: June 6-26 (3 weeks)
  • Credit: 4 U.S. credit hours (~ 8 ECTS credits) for eligible university students
  • Eligibility: Any field and level of study

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PROGRAM OVERVIEW

Engage with sustainability in Vietnam
This 3-week, 4-credit Global Field Engagement course invites students to dive deeply into sustainability in one of Asia’s most dynamic development contexts. Blending six thematic modules - such as human well-being, sustainable economies, nutrition, energy, urban planning, and the environmental commons - with immersive local engagement, students explore global sustainability through Vietnamese perspectives.

Situated in Ho Chi Minh City and the Mekong Delta, the program features field visits, stakeholder interviews, and project-based learning in cooperation with Vietnamese partners at organizations like FoodBank Vietnam, Institute for Circular Economy Development, Abavina, and Can Tho University.
Program Highlights
  • Interdisciplinary field learning across six thematic sustainability modules
  • Engagement with Vietnamese organizations leading in circular economy, food security, and community resilience
  • Hands-on, community-based learning projects contributing local impact
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ACADEMICS

Program Structure
The Global Field Engagement Course in Sustainable Development is an intensive, 4-credit program spanning three weeks plus pre-program eLearning. Students undergo a transformative learning journey, engaging with critical global issues through an interdisciplinary approach. The program is delivered in a sequence that builds from theoretical understanding to practical, hands-on experience. This progression ensures that students not only learn about global issues but also apply their knowledge in real-world settings.
Learning Outcomes
By the program's end, students will:
  • Understand core sustainability challenges through interdisciplinary analysis
  • Apply their knowledge to practical community-based development projects
  • Collaborate effectively across disciplines and cultures with Vietnamese peers
  • Build a professional digital portfolio showcasing skills and project impact
Further Details
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PROGRAM LOCATION: VIETNAM

The Asian Dragon is undergoing some of the fastest socio-economic changes any country in the world has seen. It is a major development success story with remarkable rates of economic growth since the start of massive political and economic reforms in 1986. But the lure of modern living has a deep impact on the traditional networks of family and community that continue to play a pivotal role in society.

UNIQUE EXPERIENCES

Vietnam is a highly inspiring Asian leader in its commitment to sustainability and innovation.

As part of the program, you will visit numerous local organizations and companies that work at the cutting edge of their respective fields. Starting in Ho Chi Minh City, the program might take you to Saigonicom, Tinh Than Foundation, the Institute of Circular Economy Development, FoodBank Vietnam, or Limart. You will then move to the Mekong Delta in the south of the country and visit partners like Abavina, Sokfarm, the Mekong Delta Development Research Institute at Can Tho University, or the Climate Change Institute at An Giang University.
Vietnam is also particularly rich in culture. Take an innovative walking exploration of the traditional Binh Quoi area of Ho Chi Minh City, and visit key cultural sites in the old Saigon. Learn about the Vietnam War at the Cu Chi Tunnels. Enjoy floating markets, row boat rides along small creeks to the Mekong River estuary, bike around local villages and stop at workshops for rice paper, coconut candy, and puffed-rice.

Learn how to cook delicious Vietnamese dishes and listen to local folk music. And use the weekends for some time to explore other parts of Vietnam, including Hanoi, Central Vietnam with Hue and Hoi An, or the famous Halong Bay. Siem Reap in Cambodia with the temple ruins at Angkor is also just a quick hop across the border.
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HOUSING & MEALS

The program includes 3 weeks in Vietnam. For this time, GEI Vietnam offers different housing options that students can choose from, pending availability. These include:

  • Homestays: Typically single rooms, with shared bathroom, and access to a kitchen and living room
  • Serviced apartments: Single or shared double rooms, with shared bathroom, and access to a kitchen and living room
  • University residence halls at our local partner universities: Shared double rooms, with shared bathroom and no kitchen facilities
  • Simple guesthouses: Shared double rooms, with shared bathroom and no kitchen facilities


Homestay host families typically provide breakfast and dinner. Students in serviced apartments, university residence halls, or guesthouses are usually responsible for all meals outside of core course meals.

You can find additional information in the following blog post: Accommodation – What to expect.

DATES, FEES, AND SCHOLARSHIPS

Program Dates

Application Due Date

Fees

Summer 2026 (3 weeks): June 6-26

April 1, 2026

Summer 2026: US $3,650 (3 weeks)

At GEI, we strongly believe in equal access to academic opportunities in study abroad. In order to help eliminate financial barriers, we offer a variety of merit scholarships, trailblazer scholarships, and opportunity scholarships and grants, ranging from $500 to full tuition awards. Each year, GEI is awarding several hundred thousand dollars in scholarships. You can find further information as well as additional resources for external funding opportunities in the following blog post: Scholarships & Grants.

VIETNAM

STAFF

All of our staff are highly experienced and resourceful professionals.
Thuy Phan, MA
Center Director
Dang Huynh, BA
Program & Student Services Coordinator
Cuong Nguyen Thai (Nick), MA
Program & Student Services Coordinator

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