SUMMER STUDY ABROAD PROGRAM

SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT (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: Sustainable Development
  • 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 sustainability where global and local meet
This 8-week, 8-credit program in Vietnam offers a deeply immersive experience for students passionate about sustainability, ethical development, and global engagement. Designed for learners across all disciplines, the program combines interdisciplinary coursework with real-world application through fieldwork and community-based collaboration.

Vietnam’s fast-paced development, rich cultural history, and dynamic grassroots innovation create a compelling environment for examining the complexities of sustainable change. Participants work alongside Vietnamese peers and local partners to co-develop solutions in areas such as food systems, urban development, climate adaptation, and inclusive economies.
Program Highlights
  • Integrated academic and field learning: Explore sustainability through six thematic modules grounded in Vietnam’s context.
  • Community-based projects: Tackle real-world challenges in collaboration with local organizations.
  • Cultural immersion: Engage in cross-cultural dialogue and everyday life in Vietnam’s vibrant cities and rural areas.
  • Leadership development: Strengthen core competencies for global sustainability and ethical engagement.

ACADEMICS

Program Structure
This 8-week summer program includes two academic courses and a capstone:
Learning Outcomes
Students will:
  • Apply sustainability concepts to real-world challenges through collaborative projects.
  • Develop interdisciplinary, systems-based approaches to sustainable development.
  • Strengthen leadership, teamwork, and communication skills in cross-cultural environments.
  • Reflect critically on ethical engagement and their role as change agents.
  • Build a professional portfolio that documents their global learning and impact.
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

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 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.

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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