SUMMER INTERN ABROAD PROGRAM

GLOBAL HEALTH (VIETNAM)

GLOBAL PRACTICUM

A 4-credit global practicum to develop skills, knowledge, and understanding that prepare you for leadership and engagement in our global society.

AT A GLANCE

  • Global Practicum Program
  • Disciplinary Track: Global Health
  • Study Abroad Destination: Vietnam
  • 2026 Dates: June 27-July 24 (4 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

Co-create community health solutions in Vietnam
This 4-week, 4-credit global practicum invites students to engage in meaningful, community-aligned health interventions in Vietnam. Building on foundational global health theory and cross-cultural preparation, students work in small interdisciplinary teams alongside Vietnamese public health professionals, NGOs, and health educators.

Based in Ho Chi Minh City and the Mekong Delta, students engage with a local host organization to tackle a real-world public health challenge - ranging from maternal and child health to infectious disease, mental health, or health education. The practicum emphasizes ethical engagement, collaborative learning, and systems thinking, guided by weekly reflection colloquia and expert mentorship. Students document their growth through a polished digital portfolio.
Program Highlights
  • 4-week immersive practicum in community and clinical health contexts
  • Project-based collaboration with a local Vietnamese health partner
  • Weekly colloquia fostering reflection, ethics, and intercultural dialogue
  • Digital portfolio capturing academic, professional, and cultural insights
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ACADEMICS

Program Structure
The Global Practicum in Global Health is an intensive, 4-credit program spanning four weeks in a host country in Africa or Asia. Students immerse themselves in hands-on public health work, collaborating with local healthcare providers, NGOs, and community health organizations to address pressing health challenges in resource-limited settings.

The program follows a structured, experiential learning model, allowing students to apply theoretical knowledge in real-world contexts. Working alongside medical professionals and public health experts, students contribute to health initiatives focused on infectious diseases, maternal and child health, mental health, and health systems strengthening.

Each week includes a combination of clinical or field-based health work, data collection, and project design, complemented by weekly class colloquia, reflection sessions, and cultural engagement activities to deepen learning and cross-cultural understanding.
Learning Outcomes
By the end of the course, students will be able to:
  • Apply global health knowledge and field methods in a real-world setting
  • Collaborate effectively with host organizations to address health priorities
  • Demonstrate intercultural competence and ethical reflexivity
  • Work in diverse teams to design and implement community-based interventions
  • Communicate learning through a professional digital portfolio
Further Details
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YOUR DESTINATION: 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

Applied fieldwork with Vietnamese health leaders
Students work with trusted Vietnamese partners such as public health centers, community clinics, NGOs, or local universities - gaining first-hand experience designing and implementing health programs that address real challenges.

Collaborative team-based learning
Interdisciplinary student teams engage in applied projects - ranging from health education workshops to community-based surveys or care delivery innovations - developed in partnership with their host organization.
Weekly colloquia and mentorship
Through facilitated cohort sessions, students reflect on fieldwork challenges, ethical questions, and the systems shaping health outcomes in Vietnam - building depth and self-awareness.

Rich cultural integration
Students live and learn in Ho Chi Minh City and the Mekong Delta, absorbing the rhythms of local life through food (banh mi, pho), language, floating markets, and traditional storytelling. Optional weekend visits to rural villages or historic sites like the Cu Chi Tunnels provide additional context and enrichment.
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HOUSING & MEALS

The program includes 4 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 (4 weeks): June 27-July 24

April 1, 2026

Summer 2026: US $3,950 (4 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.

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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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