Explore Vietnam: Improve Your Employability and Discover South East Asian Culture

Key Information

Information

Application Deadline: 30/05/23 at 9:00 am

Opportunity type: Employability trips, Extra-curricular opportunities

Ref: 10007693

Dates

Departure Date: 03/11/23

Return Date: 11/11/23

Costs

£499: The total cost for students including flights, accommodation, transfers and programme fee. Students will be required to pay for: food, drink and a visa (if applicable)

Funding

DMU Global Bursary: £1,200 (the bursary is deducted from the total cost of the trip - students need to pay £499)

Booking

Accommodation: Shared hotel rooms booked by DMU Global

Travel: Booked by DMU (students travel as a group)

Contact

General Enquiries: Global Mobility Office - dmuglobal@dmu.ac.uk

Trip Lead: Global Mobility Office - dmuglobal@dmu.ac.uk

How to pay

Payment details: Students will be required to pay £499 as a contribution towards the cost of travel, accommodation and transfers after being offered a place on the trip. The DMU Global bursary will be deducted directly from the overall cost of the booking.

Eligibility

All DMU undergraduate students that will be in their second and third year of studies in the 2023-24 academic year (not on block teaching) are eligible to participate in this opportunity. The maximum number of places available is 16. Two DMU staff members will be accompanying the group. We encourage all eligible students to apply, and particularly welcome applications from:

  • Students that are in receipt of hardship funding or are from a widening participation background
  • Students that haven’t participated in DMU Global trips in the past
  • Students that may not have travelled much previously and can demonstrate the potential benefits of the experience

Shortlisted students will be invited to a group interview to learn more about your interest and motivations in applying for this opportunity and outcomes will be communicated following the group interview.


Please check our eligibility criteria for further details.

About

In cooperation with our partner, Pagoda Projects, this DMU Global opportunity aims to give students an insight into the working world in Asia, specifically Vietnam. Students will spend a week in Ho Chi Minh City (formerly Saigon), the largest city in Vietnam and one of the most dynamic and fastest growing in South East Asia.

This exciting programme will consist of a guided group project focusing on employability skills in an Asian context. Students will develop their capabilities through a series of guided events, workshops, and visits to tourist sites, markets, and local businesses. The programme culminates with students presenting their progress to a panel of Pagoda Projects and DMU staff.

This opportunity is open to students from all academic programmes. Whilst in Ho Chi Minh City, the students will participate in a week-long programme. The itinerary may include the following activities:

  • Vietnamese language crash course
  • Group project leading to a presentation to a panel of Pagoda Projects and DMU Staff
  • CV and interview workshop delivered by a local business
  • Cross-cultural business development workshop
  • A visit to the UK Consulate to gain an insight into Vietnam-UK relations
  • Seminar covering the international start-up scene in HCMC with keynote speakers
  • Factory visit to gain further insight into Vietnamese business

To learn more about their experience of DMU students that have participated in the programme in the past, check out the video below…


Learning Objectives

Participating in a DMU Global opportunity can help you develop a range of skills and competencies that enhance your studies and boost your employability. Through participation in this employability and cultural opportunity in Vietnam we expect that students will develop the following:

  • Improved critical thinking and problem-solving skills
  • Enhanced written and oral communication skills
  • An ability to effective collaborate with others as part of a team
  • Respect for other cultures, beliefs, world views and practices
  • Intercultural awareness and communication


Cultural Activities

Ho Chi Minh City is one of the most exciting cities in Southeast Asia, with a wonderfully vibrant street food scene, cool cafes, local craft breweries, bustling markets and millions of mopeds, the city is a charmingly chaotic whirl of colour, culture and life.

According to Lonely Planet 2018 ‘Saigon is a city of energy and discovery. Wander through alleys to incense- infused temples before negotiating chic designer malls beneath sleek 21st-century skyscrapers. The ghosts of the past live on in buildings that one generation ago witnessed a city in turmoil, but now the real beauty of the former Saigon’s urban collage is the seamless blending of these two worlds into one exciting mass.’

As part of the itinerary, students will have free time to explore the city independently, and there will also be a range of cultural activities provided, such as:

  • Welcome dinner and walking street tour
  • Cultural programme and city orientation
  • War remnants museum visit
  • Ben Thanh market tour and street food tour
  • Exploring the Mekong Delta & countryside
  • Vietnamese Coffee Workshop
  • AO show at Saigon Opera House

What’s included?

DMU Global will book all student flights for this opportunity, and students will be expected to pay the £499 contribution via the DMU Online Store within 14 days of receiving an offer of acceptance. All programme fees and accommodation will be booked by DMU Global. Included in this package offered by Pagoda Projects is:

  • UK based pre-departure support and support and guidance from their local team throughout the programme
  • Visa advice and travel & health insurance
  • UK and in-country airport transfers
  • Full orientation upon arrival and welcome pack
  • Hostel/hotel accommodation (single gender rooms)
  • Transport to and from all activities
  • Admission to activities and events

Visa Information

Due to various external factors and an unprecedented demand for international travel, there are significant delays in visa processing, as well as very limited availability of application appointment slots for some countries and embassies.

We recommend that you take all appropriate steps to secure a visa as soon as practically possible, and to notify DMU Global if you face any issues. It is your responsibility to meet the entry requirements of the country you are travelling to. Failing to do so may mean that you’re liable for the costs incurred to the university (including repayment of the DMU Global bursary).