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Widening Participation Summer Study Abroad Programme – Vietnam

12 August 2024

For the second year running, UCL Study Abroad & International Student Support (Student Support & Wellbeing Services) delivered its flagship Widening Participation (WP) Summer Study Abroad Programme, 10-17 June 2024.

group of students stand in front of Vietnamese cultural landmark.

Continuing to expand innovative education activities in the region, the 2024 edition was hosted by– a first for both institutions. Flights and programme fees were fully funded by the Global Experience Bursary, championing լƵ 2022-27 Student Life Strategy of prioritising intercultural engagement for all.

The aim of the programme was for students to develop their independence, leadership, social and communication skills in a completely different country. Out of 170 applications, 15 students across eight faculties were selected to participate, having written strong personal statements and meeting at least one WP marker such as being care-experienced, estranged, holding refugee status, having special education needs or disabilities, to name a few of the markers. UCL has a diverse community, so the Study Abroad Team are proud to have brought this group of students together from different year levels, disciplines and backgrounds to participate in this unique opportunity. The cohort reflected that connecting with other UCL WP students was an aspect of the programme that they took away from just as much as the unique experiences of Vietnam.

Lessons were learnt in and out of the classroom. UCL students networked and engaged in meaningful discussions with local staff and students through lectures and talks led by Professor David Bangsberg (Provost and Dean College of Health Sciences), Assistant ProfessorJason Picard (Vietnamese History and Culture, College of Arts and Sciences) and UCL alumni ProfessorAndrew W. Taylor-Robinson, (Professor of Microbiology & Immunology). Traditional workshops, cooking classes and contrasting field trips from the bustling Old Quarter of Hanoi to the calming UNESCO-protected natural sites of Quang Ninh (home of the famous Ha Long Bay) and Ninh Binh, introduced students to a culture and part of the world they had never imagined travelling to when they started at UCL.

The experience was life-changing, with Maro Achora, second-year Electronic and Electrical Engineering MEng student, reflecting, “Traveling to Vietnam with UCL was an unforgettable experience that profoundly impacted my personal and academic growth... Our coordinator entrusted us with independence, which not only boosted my confidence but also allowed me to explore and engage with the local environment in meaningful ways. Reflecting on my personal values, beliefs, and goals while immersed in a different culture provided insights into myself and my place in the world… Words cannot fully capture how beneficial this trip was for me. It expanded my horizons, challenged my perspectives, and equipped me with skills and memories that will last a lifetime,”

For most of the cohort, this was their first time travelling abroad on their own, which provided an exciting opportunity for growth, but with the comfort of having UCL and VinU staff supporting them every step of the way. The Study Abroad Team look forward to continuing to deliver short-term global mobility opportunities like this, cementing UCL as London’s global university.

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