2016 Academic Exchange Program – Plus 3 Set to start

In a week’s time, the Plus 3 annual academic exchange program between students of the Ho Chi Minh City University of Economics and Finance (UEF) and the University of Pittsburgh (US) will officially begin, lasting from 8^th until the 14^th of May, 2016. This is an international student exchange activity with many helpful and interesting modules constantly maintained and expanded by UEF. All students participating in the program must meet requirements in terms of GPA, skills, and physical health before departing for Vietnam.

The Plus 3 program was first organized at UEF in 2009 and has developed ever since. UEF takes pride in being one of the five universities worldwide chosen to cooperate with the University of Pittsburgh in carrying out the program (other universities are in China, Germany, Costa Rica and Italy). After 8 years of operation, Plus 3 has become an annual event where UEF students directly interact, study, exchange knowledge and hone their language skills with international students.

The topic of this year’s Plus 3 program in Vietnam is “Development”; therefore, students will not only learn Vietnamese but also be provided with general knowledge about Vietnamese culture and history, the urban planning and development of Ho Chi Minh city as well as that of the Mekong Delta rural areas. To have closer and more realistic look at the operation of businesses, students of both universities will get to visit partner corporations such as the Vietnam Singapore Industrial Park, Vietnam - Singapore Industrial Park, II – VI Vietnam Company, the Vina Capital Fund, Phu My Hung Corporation, Cat Lai Terminal of the Saigon Newport Corporation, Glass Egg Digital Media company, etc.

A highlight of the 2016 Plus 3 program is the trip to the Western provinces, where students get to know the pace of life, the people, and the local development planning. At the same time, they have a chance to become honest farmers, taking part in rustic traditional games reflecting the cultural traits of the region. Another no less exciting excursion is the visit to the seaside city of Vung Tau, where students can join in beach games, viewing the city from high above and taste traditional Vietnamese cuisine.

In addition, Pittsburgh students also visit historic sites and cultural heritages in HCMC like the Cu Chi Tunnels, the War Remnants Museum, Xa Loi Pagoda, Thich Quang Duc Monument, Notre - Dame Cathedral Basilica of Saigon, Saigon Central Post Office, the Independence Palace and Ben Thanh Market. To further strengthen the bond and understand more closely the cultural and historic identity of the host country, students participate in the artistic exchange, sports competition traditional games and Vietnamese cuisine classes.

 

Through these engaging activities, hopefully, students from the two universities will form a dynamic harmony between education, history and culture. They also have many opportunities to interact with, understand and learn from each other, marking some of the most beautiful moments in a student’s life.