StudentsThe Vietnam-Netherlands MDE currently welcomes students from a number of overseas universities each year. These students attend MDE courses for a period of around three months. We consider this a valuable academic and cultural experience for visiting students. MDE students also gain from having more interesting and diverse class environments.
Currently, there are two sessions of study that are suitable for foreign students to join us for all or part of:
End of January - end of June
Start of September - December
The MDE Program can provide official accreditation to the universities of foreign students for the subjects they successfully complete with us.
There is a fee of US$400 per student for a session of study, which includes tuition costs, access to MDE computer (including internet and printing), photocopying and library facilities, and academic guidance.
MDE staff are able to provide advice and assistance about visas and Hanoi accommodation to visiting students.
Universities and students interested in our international student program should contact Dr Adam McCarty. Information about the timing of courses and their content can be provided upon request. Please see the Alumni page for the kind words of foreign students who have previously joined the MDE.
NEW INFORMATION: The MDE Program will be running a special Foreign Student Program in October-November 2005. Students will have the chance to study the courses “Applied Issues in Vietnam’s Development” 'Vietnam and Regional Development' and 'Research Methodology 1' in a class with the MDE students. As a part of the Foreign Student Program, the MDE will provide acomodation assistance, Vietnamese language training, and a fieldtrip to study poverty in Vietnam. Please see the Foreign Student Information Sheet for more information about the Program for 2005. Please contact Dr Adam McCarty if you are interested in partipicating in the courses, or require further information. The MDE Program will provide accreditation to the universities of participating students for the successful completion of the courses.Visiting academicsThe MDE offers support to Vietnamese and non-Vietnamese scholars engaged in applied economic research on Vietnam. Visiting academics are offered the use of MDE facilities, and the MDE can provide assistance in the location of research assistants, data, and other research inputs. The MDE Program encourages academics to get involved in lecturing and seminars during their time with us. If interested, please contact the MDE Director, Professor Vu Thieu.Volunteers and teaching staffThe MDE is eager to attract international volunteers and teaching staff to assist with various aspects of the project (in particular, economists and English teachers). To express interest in volunteering for or working with the MDE, please contact Dr Adam McCarty.Sponsoring the MDEThe MDE is capacity building for good governance in Vietnam. It is producing a new generation of economists trained in critically applying economic analysis to real policy problems. The MDE seeks and values cooperation with outside organisations/individuals. Options for cooperation include:
Providing scholarships to MDE students: arrangements can be made so that sponsored places are named after the benefactor, directed toward particular groups in society or lead to specific types of thesis research. Sponsors may also wish to assist students to meet living costs - approximately US$3000 over the course of the degree.
Assistance for field-trips
Library/computer funding
Assisting to improve the human resources of the MDE
Please contact Professor Vu Thieu if you are interested in discussing cooperation options with the MDE. All sponsors are thanked in MDE publications and at MDE graduations and other events.
We would like to thank the following recent supporters:
New Zealand Government
Luxembourg Government
Ford Foundation
Australian Youth Ambassador for Development Program
World University Service of Canada
Australian Volunteers International
Many thanks are also extended to the many individuals who have contributed time and expertise to MDE students through seminars, teaching, thesis supervision and other activities.
Foreign Student Information Sheet
Want to study in Vietnam?
· Study Development Issues with Vietnamese students · Go on a field-trip to study poverty in a remote Vietnamese village · Cultural exchange and Vietnamese language lessons · Stay in historic Hanoi and visit surrounding tourist attractions
Join the Vietnam-Netherlands MDE Program (MDE) Autum Foreign Student Program, October-December 2005
Welcome to the Autum Foreign Student Program at the MDE! Our Program provides you with an opportunity to get practical, in-country experience of the development challenges facing contemporary Vietnam. Our Program is based in Hanoi, where you will study a formal academic subject at the MDE: “Applied Issues in Vietnam’s Development” (details below). This is taught in English, and you will be joined by local Vietnamese students. The Program also includes a field-trip to Phu Tho province to conduct hands-on research about the causes of poverty there. The Program also provides an excellent opportunity for cultural exchange. Language courses will be provided by the Program, which we highly recommend you make use of. Also, you will be able to join Vietnamese students in Hanoi in social activities they organise. Finally, the Program will provide you with an opportunity to conduct research for your dissertation.
What will I study? “Applied Issues in Vietnam’s Development” led by Dr Adam McCarty Vietnam has undergone rapid change in recent decades. The country has grown at an unprecedented pace and has implemented significant economic and social reforms. This course provides an overview of the history and future of Vietnam’s transition to a market economy. The course will examine key issues of development such as economic freedom, corruption, reform of state-owned enterprises, trade policies, and the role of foreign aid in Vietnam. Also, the development of the East Asian region is covered, with topics such as the ‘East Asian Miracle’ and the ‘East Asian Crisis’ receiving attention.
Field Trip: The second half of the course will move from these policy issues to specific case studies in development. Classes in research methods for development will be given, culminating in a field trip to a poor village in Phu Tho province in north-eastern Vietnam. On the field trip, students will work in groups to study various aspects of development, such as health, education, land ownership, access to credit, environment and employment. A basic grounding in Economics would be helpful for this course, although it is not mandatory.
What is the MDE Program? The Masters in Development Economics (MDE) is a part-time degree taught in English by Vietnamese and foreign lecturers. The curriculum focuses on applying economic theory to the policy challenges facing Vietnam. The MDE has achieved international standards in the teaching of development economics. The MDE is taught at the National Economics University, Hanoi. The campus is situated 15 minutes (by bicycle) from the centre of Hanoi. For more information about MDE, visit: www.mde.edu.vn.
The MDE has high quality facilities available for student use. These facilities include - a computer room with ADSL internet access (and 10 new computers!), - a library with many resources relating to development and economics, - a university cafeteria and - air-conditioned study rooms. There are a number of other libraries and facilities in Hanoi available for student use, including the World Bank's Vietnam Development Information Centre and the UNDP library. MDE staff can provide visiting UEA students with access to these other libraries, and give academic guidance to assist them with their dissertation research.
Coming to Hanoi: Before coming to Hanoi, the MDE will provide you with a detailed Information Pack about staying in Vietnam. Your Information Pack will include material on Vietnam and its history, health issues, accomodation, transportation, food, communication, and clothing. We will be happy to answer by email any questions you have about other aspects of staying in Vietnam.
Arrival in Hanoi: Staff and students from the MDE will meet you at the airport, and take you to your hotel. The MDE will arrange a hotel for temporary accomodation while you get settled. The hotel will be in Hanoi’s historic ‘Old Quarter’, which will allow you to familiarise yourself with the city straight away.
Staying in Hanoi: The MDE will provide assistance in finding longer-term accomodation, should you request it. There are a number of relatively cheap housing options for visiting students, located near the University. Hanoi is a very safe city, and the University campus is no exception. Buses connect the University to the centre of Hanoi and other areas, and transport around the city is inexpensive.
Vienamese language lessons: If you would like to take Vienamese lessons (which we thoroughly recommend!), this can be arranged. The cost of these would be covered by the Program.
Social and cultural activites: There are several extracurricular and social activities that foreign students can get involved in, including the MDE Toastmasters Club and sports teams. The Vietnamese students also tend to organise a number of social events with visiting students. MDE students very much enjoy the chance to meet, work with and socialise with visiting students. The cross-cultural exchange between the Vietnamese and foreign students is very valuable.
We warmly welcome you to our Program. We believe you will enjoy the experience of living and studying in Vietnam! Exchanging ProgramAt present, every year MDE offers two courses with local fieldtrips in Spring and Fall for students of the Council for International Educational Exchanging (CIEE) and students of the University of East Anglia (UEA) respectively: 1. Socio-economic Development of three countries in Indochina today; 2. Vietnam and Regional Development.