Winter break program in Vietnam for all students! 

This program is open to all Koç and other university students from all disciplines at the undergrad and grad levels. Since the working language of the program is English, a good command of the English language is essential.

 

DEADLINE FOR APPLICATION AND PAYMENT:  NOVEMBER 30, 2017

 

Have you ever wanted to travel to Asia? Have you ever been interested in the concept of service learning and social innovation? Now you have a chance to combine the two in this new winter program brought to you by OIP! A great way to spend your winter break!

Pulsating with energy, Ho Chi Minh City, former Saigon, is a place of contrasts. Next to the timeless alleys with Buddhist temples and street vendors are modern designer malls and sleek skyscrapers. Ho Chi Minh City is the perfect embodiment of modern-day Vietnam – and the ideal place to start to explore Vietnamese culture.

 

Program Calendar:

Deadline for application and payment*: November 30, 2017

Program dates: January 15 – 26, 2018

Check-in to accommodation: January 15, 2018

Check-out from accommodation: January 26, 2018

*See the PAYMENT INFO section for details related to payment

 

Student testimonials:

“I think that exchange of ideas allows for a stronger connection globally. I think that it makes us all better people. For me it allows me to take ideas I wouldn’t normally come across and weave them into my life and guide my decisions going forward.” Aaron, student in drama based education in Texas

“It’s good to go on a trip like this, because I feel like you get a better sense of how little you know about everything.” Elisabeth, student in engineering in Texas

 

ABOUT PROGRAM:

• High-impact education and engagement program in Asia
• A study and service learning journey
• Tradition and modernity experienced at the same time
• Exploration of urban life in a lower-class Ho Chi Minh City suburb, including conversations with a variety of local inhabitants about their work and family lives, a visit of a local market and a home lunch prepared by a host family
• Exploration of downtown Saigon with cultural sites and behind-the-curtain glimpses
• Overnight excursion with homestay in Mekong Delta
• River exploration of villages in Ben Tre Province, including visits to orchards, rural income-generation projects, and honey and coconut candy production sites
• Boat excursion to the Cai Be or Cai Rang floating markets and opportunity for a walking exploration of orchards and little workshops for the production of rice paper and rice crispies

 

Overview

The Consulting Abroad Program provides a learning experience focused on the challenges of building sustainable, impactful initiatives and businesses in emerging global marketplaces, such as Vietnam. The Program aims to create in each student an appreciation of entrepreneurial opportunities in critical sectors of human need in these complex, resource-constrained markets that are plagued by fragmented infrastructure and require more educated managers. The students will learn first-hand how businesses serving these needs contribute to community devel-opment and “do well by doing good”. They will also have opportunities to compare and contrast certain aspects of economic and social development in Vietnam and where they are from.

 

Program Process

The course has three phases. During the first phase (before traveling to the destination), the student will receive a description of the business and the challenge he or she work on. Using recommended readings, information from embassy website and independent research, the student is invited to develop an overview assessment report on the country, the market and the sector of the business. This will be discussed and compared with other mem-bers of the team on the kickoff day of the program.

In the second on-site phase, students work in team with other international and local participants to defines the appropriate deliverables that meet the entrepreneur’s needs and help to find creative solutions to the challenge he or she is facing. Teams might travel to the assigned field sites in order to get a first-hand understanding of the communities in which the project work happens. A Professor from the University of Economics, Ho Chi Minh City and a Business Program Manager from GEI oversee the ongoing project work in coordination with the entrepre-neur. Student develop a preliminary project report and a corresponding presentation for the supervising Professor and receive feedback on this preliminary report.

In the final phase of the program, enriched with the feedback and additional insights received, teams adjust and finalize the project report and present it to the entrepreneur during the last day workshop.

 

Learning Goals and Deliverables

The first phase of the program builds student capability to assess country-market and industry sector characteris-tics to contextualize a specific entrepreneurial business challenge in an emerging market.

Phase 1 Deliverables:

Country-Market-Sector Assessment Report (Optional)

The second, on-site phase hones the skills needed for timely and highly quality execution of the project delivera-bles in new and relatively unstructured contexts.

Phase 2 Deliverables:

Preliminary Project Report Presentation

Preliminary Written Project Report

The third phase focuses on pulling together the entire experience so that the learning is reflected in the final project report and presentation. Students require to work effectively in collaborative teams, communicate with the entre-preneur and partners to scope a business project, and function adaptively to meet project goals.

Phase 3 Deliverables:

Final Project Report Presentation
Final Written Project Report

 

For program schedule, click here.

 

Prerequisites

English is the working language for all program activities, including the CAP work, so that a good command of the English language is essential. Students will be matched according to their level of studies, their disciplines and the requirements of each project. As a result, students from any level of study and any discipline are generally welcome to apply. Many projects also benefit from interdisciplinary teams. In order to thrive and be able to experience the full benefits of this program, participants should be culturally aware and open-minded.

 

Location

The program gateway is downtown Saigon, the bustling city center of Ho Chi Minh City’s District 1. The area is known for its maze of little restaurants, cafés and shops. When placed in Ho Chi Minh City, students will be within easy walking distance of many main attractions such as Ben Thanh Market, the Reunification Palace, Notre Dame Cathedral and the War Museum.

A weekend excursion to the Mekong Delta includes a river exploration of villages in Ben Tre Province to orchards and honey and coconut candy production sites as well as to the Cai Be or Cai Rang floating markets. The accommodation is in traditional homestays, vetted by GEI.

 

Accommodation

Accommodation will be in double rooms at the Ambassador Saigon Hotel. Please click here for the Hotel’s website. Rooms are equipped with individual air-conditioning, a fridge, TV, phone, small safety deposit box and en-suite bathroom. Laundry and dry-cleaning services are available for a small fee. The hotel features 24-hour reception and security, free Wi-Fi and a daily breakfast.

 

APPLICATION

Deadline for application is November 30, 2017.

Students can apply by clicking “APPLY NOW” below or at the top of this page. You will be asked to upload a copy of the bank receipt as proof of payment of the program fee. If you have any problems with creating an application, please email to nakpinar@ku.edu.tr

PAYMENT INFO

Deadline for payment is November 30, 2017.

 

Program fee: 1984 USD

 

INCLUSIONS

• Tuition
• Arrival day airport meet and greet
• Housing
• Transportation from program activities
• Meals: 5 lunches and 4 dinners, all including 1 non-alcoholic drink
• Orientation
• Program related activity and entrance fees
• Full-time on-site coordination and support, 24/7 emergency

 

EXCLUSIONS

• International transport (flights, airport taxes, etc)
• Visas
• Travel and medical insurance
• Meals other than stated or extra beverages at the restaurants
• Personal expenses and gratuities

 

The students are responsible for their own visa and flight arrangements. 

 

Participation will only be confirmed once the full payment of the program fee has been made.

 

CANCELATION POLICY:

Full refund until November 30, 2017

Half refund between November 30 – December 7, 2017

NO REFUND after December 7, 2017 unless Koç University cancels the program

 

FOR PAYMENT:

*Make sure to state your full name and “Vietnam Program” in the explanation line of the bank transfer.

 

USD ACCOUNT

NAME OF THE BANK: YAPI KREDİ BANKASI

NAME OF THE BRANCH: KOÇ UNIVERSITY BRANCH

SWIFT CODE: YAPITRIS

ACCOUNT NO: 00540749

IBAN CODE: TR500006701000000000540749

 

For more information: Please email Ms. Nilüfer Akpınar Şahin at nakpinar@ku.edu.tr or visit her at OMER B397