Program Reviews

My 4 weeks at a Vietnam hospital was one of the most meaningful experiences I have had as a fourth-year medical student. The kindness and hospitality from the host, Vietnamese doctors, and medical students made me feel welcomed and part of the team from day one. I was able to see and learn about medical conditions and cases that are not commonly encountered in the United States which helped broaden my understanding of medicine and patient care. Beyond the clinical experience, I was able to build lasting relationships, make valuable connections, and form genuine friendships with people who shared the same passion for medicine. The program was extremely well organized and made the entire process easy, from setting up the visa to providing a safe and comfortable homestay. I never felt worried about my safety and was able to fully enjoy the experience because everything was taken care of. This was truly a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity that I would rate 10/10 and I would gladly do it all over again.

I had a wonderful time on my clinical rotation. We were given instructions on what we would need for our time in Vietnam. We were greeted at the airport and shown around the city to help us get acclimated. During our time, we had the privilege of learning from the medical staff at the hospital. I cannot emphasize their kindness and generosity in helping us feel safe and welcomed. We learned a lot but also were able to spend time in the local community trying local experiences and cuisine! I would highly recommend this experience.

My medical student rotation in Vietnam was an incredible experience. A large part of that was due to how smoothly everything was organized from beginning to end. The logistics were seamless throughout the entire process, making it easy to focus on learning and enjoying the experience.

The coordinators were exceptionally responsive, approachable, and easy to reach at all times. Whenever my group had questions about contacting our preceptors at the host university, navigating the city, recommendations for local attractions, travel opportunities outside of rotation hours, or trying authentic Vietnamese cuisine, they were always available and eager to help.

The host university we worked with was filled with some of the kindest and most welcoming people I have ever met. The faculty and students were very open to international visitors and showed a genuine interest in exchanging knowledge, clinical skills, and cultural perspectives. The environment was collaborative, engaging, and made us feel truly included.

Beyond the educational experience, I was fortunate to build meaningful friendships with students and colleagues from abroad. The connections and the experiences I made during this rotation will stay with me for years to come. I would highly recommend this program to any medical student seeking both professional growth and cultural immersion.

I did not rate the academics part because my program was non-traditional. It was work focused, meaning the students I took to Vietnam were to use the trip as their first assignment as working photojournalist and GEI really made that work. At the last second, a university we had partnered with the year before, pull out, but GEI had another university ready and willing to partner with us. What really stood out, was a student had a medical emergency, and Thuy who was on the ground with us and Jonathan, were INCREDIBLE!!! Thuy got us to a local hospital then an ambulance to Ho Chi Minh City, while Jonathan handled everything with the insurance and the hospital in Ho Chi Minh. They made the experience less stressful with their professionalism.

This was my second trip with GEI and I'm now looking at them for a trip to Ghana I loved working with them that much!!

This program had a great blend of getting to know Vietnam and learning about a research topic. There was plenty of support from faculty and coordinators. I learned a lot and had a great time! I worked with a university in Vietnam and a local student. This gave me a unique perspective I did not have in the past. It was a great experience to work with the university and the student.

Overall, I would recommend this experience to other students. At the end of the rotation, I could present a PowerPoint on a topic of interest that I worked on during the last two weeks of the process. I received ample support and feedback on this assignment.

This Field Intensive is a study course by NYU's Center for Global Affairs with the Rwanda travels run by GEI, specifically their Kigali office. The program consisted of 6 class sessions taught in New York, and then a 10-day trip to Rwanda, with meetings and site visits in and around Kigali, ending with a safari at Akagera National Park.

GEI runs the program expertly, setting up topically appropriate meetings with officials, NGOs, and experts, and taking the NYU students to site visits in Kigali and surrounding areas. GEI manages all the in-country travel, meals, and hotels expertly and efficiently. The program is well-led by the director of their Kigali office.

I have run more than 6 programs in Rwanda for students and faculty using GEI, and every one of them was a success because of their work. GEI knows the country exceptionally well and has creative ideas for things to include in the itinerary. They have opened doors for us, and gone out of their way to open doors they hadn't opened before. Plus, they know all the best restaurants and work with the restaurants to accommodate the group. They also work within our budget for guides, hotels, restaurants, ground transportation and other things to support the program. GEI staff are all professional and friendly, and are willing to work hard for demanding groups amid schedule changes and unforeseen events. Yvan and Francoise are awesome! GEI will not disappoint you.

In 2018, a colleague and I led a Jan term course to Vietnam and Cambodia. This was a service learning/experiential learning course in collaboration with Global Engagement Institute (GEI). During the Jan term course, students collected data for a partner NGO of GEI in San Francisco. Vietnam has a high prevalence of anemia and malnutrition in children living in rural communities. During the Jan term course, we visited five different schools and collected data on 130 children. The data collected included: measuring hemoglobin, height, weight and body mass index of the children. The students had an amazing experience. GEI provided us with a guide who was exceptional in introducing us to the culture and arranging all the site visits. In addition to the service learning, we also had the opportunity to have lunch with a local family, visit some hospitals, museums and learn more about the Vietnam war and visit some amazing sites such as Angkor Wat in Cambodia.

This is a good program for students who want to experience working with foreign students. This program is helpful for students to understand clearly about teamworking, presenting skills. It also help students improve knowlegde about a specific topic. It is a wonderful chance to make friend with foreigner and practice english. My partner is so cute and she supported me too much during working. I had a wonderful time to experience this project because I can update my knowledge about breastfeeding and understand how to make a paper.

I had a wonderful 4-week time working with GEI and my partner. During the working process, I always receive supports and do not have any time constraints because of the flexible time management of the coordinator. Besides, the program is also very meaningful with many activities that contribute to the community. It is also an opportunity to exchange with people from many other countries, as a way to internationalize social issues. Especially after this program, I am happy to have a great partner, great teamwork experience with her. I am so grateful to join in this activity.