SUMMER STUDY ABROAD PROGRAM

ENTREPRENEURSHIP & SOCIAL INNOVATION (VIETNAM)

GEI MICROCERTIFICATE IN GLOBAL ENGAGEMENT

An 8-credit microcertificate program to develop skills, knowledge, and understanding that prepare you for leadership and engagement in our global society.

AT A GLANCE

  • Microcertificate in Global Engagement Program
  • Disciplinary Track: Entrepreneurship
  • Study Abroad Destination: Vietnam
  • 2026 Dates: June 1-July 24 (8 weeks)
  • Credit: 8 U.S. credit hours (~ 16 ECTS credits) for eligible university students
  • Eligibility: Any field and level of study

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PROGRAM OVERVIEW

Shape sustainable change in Vietnam's innovation ecosystem
Spend eight transformative weeks in Vietnam exploring how entrepreneurship can drive social change. In this immersive summer program, you’ll combine intensive coursework with practical field experience - working directly with Vietnamese innovators, community leaders, and social enterprises to address real-world challenges.

From the buzzing entrepreneurial scene in Ho Chi Minh City to community-based ventures in more rural contexts, you’ll engage deeply with the economic, cultural, and political factors shaping inclusive development in Southeast Asia. Through structured academic modules and a field-based practicum, you’ll strengthen your ability to lead ethically and effectively in a global context.
Program Highlights
  • Interdisciplinary curriculum combining theory, tools, and action for social impact
  • Hands-on field experience with a Vietnamese social enterprise or innovation partner
  • Cultural and professional immersion in Vietnam’s fast-evolving entrepreneurial landscape
  • Mentorship and teamwork with local peers, grassroots leaders, and experienced facilitators
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ACADEMICS

Program Structure
This 8-week summer program combines two integrated 4-credit courses for a total of 8 U.S. academic credits. Students begin with a field-based learning module to explore innovation frameworks and local entrepreneurial dynamics. In the second half, students are placed in group practicum experiences with Vietnamese host organizations.
Learning Outcomes
By completing this program, students will be able to:
  • Understand and apply key frameworks in social entrepreneurship and innovation
  • Analyze and navigate the entrepreneurial ecosystem in an emerging market context
  • Design and execute projects that create measurable social and environmental value
  • Strengthen cross-cultural collaboration, leadership, and ethical decision-making skills
  • Produce a professional digital portfolio demonstrating applied knowledge and skills
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

A dynamic innovation landscape
Vietnam’s rapid growth and youthful energy make it one of Southeast Asia’s most exciting places to explore innovation. From start-up incubators in Ho Chi Minh City to social enterprises focused on education, health, and sustainability, students engage with a wide range of local actors shaping change at the grassroots and systems levels.

Cultural insight and exchange
Students experience Vietnam beyond the business context - through language lessons, shared meals, historical site visits, and traditional arts workshops. These activities help students understand the cultural values that influence social innovation, while building meaningful relationships with local peers and community members.
Project-based collaboration
Students are not just learners - they are collaborators. Through field placements and team-based projects, they work hand-in-hand with Vietnamese organizations to design solutions, troubleshoot challenges, and co-create strategies for social impact. These projects are tailored to students’ academic interests and host needs.

Professional growth and reflection
Weekly colloquiums create space for integrating learning, receiving feedback, and developing core competencies in leadership, communication, and ethical entrepreneurship. The program concludes with final presentations and a digital portfolio that captures the depth and breadth of students’ academic and professional growth.
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HOUSING & MEALS

The program includes 8 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 (8 weeks): June 1-July 24

Summe 2026: April 1

Summer 2026: US $7,950 (8 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.

INSTRUCTORS & COORDINATORS

Meet our core team

All of our instructors and coordinators are highly experienced and resourceful professionals.
Waleed Fatth, MPH
Program Director
Francoise Uzamukunda, MA
Academic Director, East Africa
Thuy Phan, MA
Academic Director, Vietnam
Chone Chaowai, MIDP
Academic Director, Thailand
Kari Cousins, MA/MSc
Academic Director, Southern Africa
Yvan Rubengebenge
Operations Manager, Rwanda
Eric Kingoina, DCS
Operations Manager, Kenya
Dang Huynh, BA
Operations, Vietnam
Denyse Iradukunda, BA
Operations, Rwanda
Sammy Davies Mochama, BSc
Operations, Kenya
Mabwe Gwamure, BSc
Operations, South Africa

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