Swiss and Asian students working together in Vietnam
For the summer programme Social Entrepreneurship for Economic Development 2019, students came together to develop business concepts and strategies for villagers in the Mekong Delta.
The cross-cultural SEED project in Vietnam, in collaboration with the University of Economics Ho Chi Minh City, goes to second round. From 1 – 10 August students gathered first-hand experiences with Vietnamese industry and the economic challenges the Mekong Delta in particular is facing.
Developing business models
The Nine Dragon river delta makes up 18% of the country’s GDP and covers 12% of Vietnam’s area. Net migration rate is about -4%, meaning more people are leaving than coming to the area. The average income is about 2271 USD, which is lower than the country average (2389 USD). That makes the Mekong Delta a development area. The main industry in the region is the agricultural sector: rice, shrimp, catfish and fruits. The most important problems the Mekong Delta is dealing with are poverty, inequality, lack of regional linkage, climate change, unexpected change, land fragmentation and lack of infrastructure and public investment.
What can be done for a sustainable development and to help villagers in the area? The students analysed the problems, collected data, generated ideas, assessed the opportunity, and proposed innovative business models. Several topics have been addressed such as eco-friendliness and sustainable tourism, as well as green production.
«The SEED project was an unforgettable time where I gained knowledge and understanding of the different cultures, social entrepreneurship and also working in a diverse group that will accompany me in my private and business life.»
Intercultural Experiences
The workshops and group sessions alternated with cultural events during the programme. The delegation was warmly welcomed with ceremonies at Ho Chi Minh City Cadre Academy and Dong Thap University in Sa Dec.
One evening the group enjoyed cross-cultural entertainment with dancing and singing performances. A guided tour through Sa Dec City included local games such as fish caching. The participants also visited significant sights: The Lover’s House, with its romantic background story, was an inspiration for an acclaimed novel. The Xeo Quyt – a tropical forest where the Viet Cong used to hide from the US soldiers – is considered to be a very dangerous place, given that some war mines are still unaccounted for.
«I really enjoyed the cultural experience provided by the SEED programme. One of my highlights was the visit of Xeo Quyt forest, which was not only an impressive site scenery wise but the guided tour also provided much insight about Vietnam’s history and the challenges of the Viet Cong people during the Vietnamese-American war. In addition, this excursion was useful for getting a better understanding on how ecotourism is understood in the programme’s host country.»
The famous flour and flower village visit was a highlight. The students evaluated the economic potential of the village as a main tourist attraction and identified the opportunities of sustainable flour production. At the end of the programme the students presented their business model at the People’s Committee in Sa Dec. The theme of SEED 2019 was “SEA Coopetition”, meaning that the presentations resulted in a competition where the teams were ranked.
«On one hand this was the way how you outgrow yourself by learning a lot of new skills in a short time and on the other hand it was the opportunity to develop new and long lasting friendships during the project.»
The SEED project contributes to the goal of building up strategic partnerships in South East Asia. Not only is the project an opportunity for students to gain deep insights in other cultures but also part of a Dual Degree programme for Vietnamese students who will finish their study at our School in Switzerland.