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IPSL: Study, Service & Research in VIETNAM (Directory Program)

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  • Locations: Hanoi, Vietnam
  • Program Terms: Academic Year, Fall, Spring, Summer, Winter
  • Homepage: Click to visit
  • Program Sponsor: IPSL: Study Abroad + Service-Learning 
Fact Sheet:
Fact Sheet:
Click here for a definition of this term Language of Instruction: English, Vietnamese Click here for a definition of this term Class Status: 1-first year, 2-sophomore, 3-junior, 4-senior, 5-grad student, 6-other
Housing Options: Dormitory, Guest House Click here for a definition of this term Areas of Study: Anthropology, Asian Studies, Culture, Developmental Sciences, Ecology, Economics, Environmental Studies, Gender Studies, Health & Human Services, Human Rights, International Business, International Relations, International Studies, Law, Liberal Arts, Peace & Conflict Studies, Peace Studies, Political Science, Politics, Pre-Law, Public Health, Public Policy, Social Policy & Administration, Social Work, Sociology, Tourism, Urban Studies, Vietnamese Language & Culture
Program Type: field study, study abroad, volunteer abroad Minimum GPA: 2.5
Click here for a definition of this term Program: Direct
Program Description:
VIETNAM
Environmental Science & Youth Leadership and Development

During the COVID19 pandemic, IPSL is offering this program in an online format. Once travel is permissible again, students may immediately shift to onsite study and service abroad. Please contact IPSL for further details. 

VN5 720 16x9
 
Vietnam…History at your Fingertips
On IPSL’s Hanoi program you will be able to experience (& explore) the city that has been Vietnam’s capital for almost a thousand years! Hanoi is considered one of the main cultural centers of Vietnam, where most Vietnamese dynasties have left their imprint. A city between the rivers, built from lowland, Hanoi has many scenic lakes among which are the most famous Ho Tay, Thien Quang and Bay Mau. This charming Vietnamese capital has aged well, preserving the Old Quarters, monuments and colonial architecture, while making room for modern developments. Hanoi may have shrugged off several former names, including Thang Long, or "ascending dragon," but it hasn't forgotten its past, as sites such as Ho Chi Minh's Mausoleum and Hoa Lo Prison attest. Lakes, parks, shady boulevards and more than 600 temples and pagodas add to the appeal of this city.
 
Experience life in charming Hanoi like a local…not a tourist!
You will spend a semester in Hanoi, studying Vietnamese culture, language and society. Socialism in Vietnam has its own unique style, forged through years of resistance to threats from larger and more powerful nations. This determination to remain independent has created a culture of self-reliance, discipline and solidarity that is still visible today in public life. 
Through service learning, program excursions and everyday conversations, IPSL begin to understand this fascinating culture and people in a deeper, more meaningful way.
 
Your volunteer service immerses you in the culture and deepens your understanding of Vietnamese society in a way that goes beyond that experienced in traditional study abroad programs. It also contributes to your knowledge and use of the Vietnamese language.
 
Now More than Ever…
There is a clear and pressing need to engage with our world in an ACTIVE way. The world needs young leaders to fight for social justice and equal rights.
 
Are you up for the challenge?
 
Be a part of COSA (Community Organizing and Social Activism) – the only study abroad program working to create sustainable change through advocacy!
 
COSA – Community Organizing and Social Activism
Learn the practical skills to be an active agent of change and social justice. Study the many international efforts in history, learn from these efforts and use them to develop a personal ethic of service, advocacy and civic engagement. COSA will teach you the skills of community organizing and will empower you to create sustainable change in your own communities.
 
Program Highlights
Language of Instruction: English
Transcript issued by the IPSL Institute for Global Learning

Courses & Credits - Semester
Students may take up to 18 credits per semester (6 credits for summer program)
Courses are 3 credits each
 
Required Courses
Vietnamese Language 
COSA (Community Organizing & Social Activism) in Vietnam 
Intro to COSA (not included on summer program)
 
Possible Electives
Electives may vary depending on term and, as with all institutions, may not be offered due to low enrollment and other factors. Additionally, not all choices may be available as there may be a scheduling conflict between the required courses, your service obligations and your electives. It is best to choose additional electives from the list and get approval from your home school in advance.
 
Environmental Science and Sustainable Development
Sustainable Tourism
Global Health and the Environment
Sustainable Business in a Globalized World
 
Housing 
Students live in modern dorm/student housing at the Center for Sustainable Development Studies (CSDS). The dorms accommodate both international and Vietnamese students and volunteers, and are situated very close to the campus of Hanoi University (about 5 kilometers). There are also many services on campus that students can utilize. All meals (breakfast, lunch and dinner, 7 days per week) are included and served at the CSDS center. Self-serve western style breakfast and Vietnamese lunch and dinner are offered.

Hanoi bridge 

Service Opportunities
Services to disadvantaged children, orphans and street children
English language consulting and/or tutoring
Youth development
Environmental/conservation programs
Eco-tourism program development
Poverty alleviation
Women's empowerment programs
Micro-finance programs 
  
Eligibility
The program welcomes students of any nation who have a high school diploma or equivalent credential. TOEFL equivalent 550.
 
What's Included?
Tuition; administrative fees; books and materials; arrival and departure orientation; service placement and supervision; local transportation (4 monthly bus passes); academic excursions, health insurance; and accommodation and full board.
 
What's typically NOT Included?
Passport, visa (secured in country upon arrival with assistance from onsite program staff) fees and vaccine fees; airfare; books; spending money; additional local personal transportation; local cell phone and independent travel.

 IPSL engages students, educators, and grassroots organizations around the world in hands-on service to promote equitable relationships, social justice, sustainable change, and a commitment to our shared humanity. 
IPSL, the founder of Service-Learning, is a global education institute within the National University of Natural Medicine (NUNM.edu). They invest over 83% of their revenues directly back into the communities where they serve.