INNOVATE: Global Issues in Engineering and Business: Vietnam

INNOVATE Application Deadline has been extended to November 11th 2022!!!

INNOVATE has been in existence since 2008. The Asia Institute is our in-country contact for logistics for the program.

INNOVATE is a 3-credit course that takes place during the entire spring semester, and program travel happens during Spring Break. This year, students will go to Vietnam! Students participating in the program will travel to both Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi from March 3-11, 2022. Students will attend multiple professional site visits with both local and international companies, partake in cultural tours, and engage with local Vietnamese students.

In the spirit of international collaboration, the program is designed to promote interaction among students of various cultures and backgrounds. INNOVATE prepares tomorrow's leaders to grapple with the issues of technology and globalization, not just in the abstract, but also through direct experience. Outside of the formal framework of the program, the conversations that occur during dinner and sightseeing excursions will give students the opportunity to reflect on what they have learned and to challenge their thinking about their own culture.

Important Program Related Dates:

New Application Deadline: Nov. 11, 2022

Mandatory Program Agreement Meeting: Nov. 16, 2022 5:30pm-7:30pm on Zoom

What You'll Accomplish:

As an engaged and active participant in this program, you will have the opportunity to develop:

An understanding of business and engineering innovation in Vietnam
The ability to adapt and thrive while traveling through Vietnam
A deeper understanding of the role that history and culture play in the development of a technology and business

In the past- INNOVATE students visited Beijing, Suzhou and Shanghai in China. This year, students will travel to Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi in Vietnam!

Where You'll Live:

Lodging in 3-4 star hotels with doubles/triples with a shared bathroom for the duration of the trip is included.

What You'll Study:

This is a 3-credit course

Engineering students can view how these courses will fulfill degree requirements here:

Bioengineering: coming soon
Chemical Engineering: coming soon
Civil and Environmental Engineering: coming soon
Electrical and Computer Engineering: coming soon
Industrial Engineering: coming soon
MEMS: coming soon

Business Students:

1 of 2 foreign culture requirements waived
Counts as a Supply Chain major elective
For business students who are not Supply Chain majors, it counts as 3-credits of business elective toward the 120 required for the BSBA

Your Pitt Study Abroad Contacts:

Dr. Rajgopal

Dr. Rajgopal is a professor of Industrial Engineering and has been on the faculty at Pitt since 1986. He also serves as the graduate program director for the Industrial Engineering department. He is an advocate for study abroad and has led a number of study abroad programs.

E-mail:

rajgopal@pitt.edu

Lauren Smith-Lemesh M.Ed.

Om Swastiastu Pitt! My name is Lauren, and I am one of the Global Programs Managers in the Swanson School of Engineering. I studied abroad in Indonesia during undergraduate, and worked as a peer study abroad advisor once I returned. After my study abroad trip, I knew that I wanted to support students to have life-changing experiences abroad too. Let's talk about your interests and find a program that will help you achieve your goals!

E-mail:

l.smith@pitt.edu

Schedule an appointment

Schedule an appointment with me using Pathways!

Log in to Pathways or use the Navigate app.
Select Appointments > Schedule an Appointment
Select Pitt Global as the Care Unit.
Select 152 Benedum as the Location
Select ENGR Global as the service
Select my name and find a time that works for you!

Having trouble or don't see a time that works for you? Just email me!

Items Billed by Pitt
	In-State	Out-of-State
Program Fee (see the "What's included" section)	$4,350	$4,550

Total Billed by Pitt	$4,350	$4,550

Estimated Additional Out-of-Pocket Costs
Meals and Personal Expenses		$300- 500
Visa for Vietnam		Varies
If you are not a U.S. Citizen and require to travel for a visa application (Depends on if you have to travel to apply for the visa)		Dependent on travel costs required
Airfare to Vietnam		Varies

Total Estimated Program Cost
	In-State	Out-of-State
Total Estimated Cost of Program (Includes items billed by Pitt and additional expenses, does not include visa application costs if you are not a U.S. citizen)	TBD	TBD

What's Included:

As a part of the program costs, the following is included in the program:

Tuition for 3 Pitt credits
All Accommodations
Airport transfers (in-country) and all ground transportation
International health and accident insurance
Some meals
Admission and participation to all events and excursions

Remember that your lifestyle and spending choices can greatly affect the amount of money you'll need while abroad. Visit our budgeting page for more information.
For global scholarship opportunities, check out:

The Pitt GEO scholarship page for links to national, provider and private scholarship samples
PittFund$Me for Pitt sponsored funding including Pitt wide global scholarships, Nationality Rooms, VIH, etc.
PittFund$Me for the SSOE Global Experience Scholarships

When You'll Go:

Spring Break: March 3rd - 11th, 2023

What Else You Need to Know:

Application requirements:

Undergraduate and graduate students from all majors are eligible to apply

Must have applied for a passport or already hold a passport by the application deadline. Need to apply? See instructions here.

Must be in your second, third or fourth+ year at the time of application

2.75 GPA

Past INNOVATE students want you to know…
"The friends I have made during this trip have that spark of adventure inside of them, and it was a pleasure to enjoy this experience with them."
-Andrew Welby (Check out his blog!)
"Leaving China definitely made me feel depressed. Even though I was only there for a short time, I knew I was not close to being ready to leave. I learned so much about the country in such a short amount of time and honestly was able to have the time of my life. "
- Sean Kurtz
"The trip is coming to an end—we just had the closing dinner. The Pitt graduate that spoke made me want to move here because of how easily she adjusted. The trip flew by, and the slideshow of pictures made me realize how many places we all saw in such a small amount of time. I also realized how close everyone got."
- Victoria Portier (Check out her blog!)