SUMMER STUDY ABROAD PROGRAM

GLOBAL HEALTH (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: Global Health
  • 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

PROGRAM OVERVIEW

Advance public health practice in Vietnam
This immersive 8‑week, 8‑credit microcertificate combines rigorous academics with hands-on fieldwork in Vietnam - a leader in cost-effective, community-driven healthcare innovations. Students explore global health topics like disease burden, health systems, governance, infectious disease, maternal and child health, and mental health through two integrated courses and an applied practicum.

Working alongside Vietnamese clinics, public health centers, NGOs, and university partners, participants co-design and deliver health interventions aligned with community priorities. Weekly colloquia, professional mentorship, and a final digital portfolio support reflection, cross-cultural skill-building, and impact-driven learning.
Program Highlights
  • 8 U.S. credit microcertificate with field-based learning
  • Collaboration with local healthcare institutions, NGOs, and research labs
  • Sustained immersion in diverse urban and rural health settings
  • Reflective cohort seminars and mentorship-led development
  • Digital portfolio showcasing professional growth and applied projects

ACADEMICS

Program Structure
The Global Health track of the Microcertificate in Global Engagement is an intensive, 8-credit program spanning eight weeks over a summer. Students undergo a transformative learning journey, engaging with critical global issues through an interdisciplinary approach. The program structure includes two main courses, both in Vietnam, and a capstone project, 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 program completion, students will:
  • Demonstrate comprehensive understanding of global and local health drivers
  • Apply interdisciplinary frameworks to health interventions in Vietnam
  • Analyze health system dynamics and governance structures
  • Engage ethically and collaboratively in diverse cultural contexts
  • Present a professional portfolio documenting applied learning and development
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

Immersive public health fieldwork
Students gain direct insight into Vietnam’s healthcare system through structured site visits to urban clinics, rural health centers, NGOs, and traditional medicine settings, engaging with stakeholders to understand local health challenges.

Collaborative intervention design
Working with Vietnamese partners, students ideate and implement group-run interventions - such as health education campaigns, sanitation initiatives, or community health assessments - tailoring solutions to local needs.
Guided reflection & intercultural dialogue
Weekly colloquia and mentorship sessions offer space for critical reflection on the intersection of culture, ethics, and health systems - enhancing cultural humility and collaborative competence.

Vivacious cultural integration
Daily life in Ho Chi Minh City and the Mekong Delta includes sampling street food like pho and banh mi, navigating floating markets, and visiting cultural sites. Optional weekend trips offer exploration of Cu Chi Tunnels, Hos, rural villages, or river excursions
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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

April 1, 2026

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.

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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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