Within the cooperation framework between the Viet Nam National University of Agriculture (VNUA) and China Agricultural University (CAU), four students from the Academy's Faculty of Economics and Management recently attended the International Summer School Program on Regional Studies and Global Development in China.
VNUA students and the delegation at the closing ceremony of the Beijing leg of the international summer school, before field research in Yunnan province. Photo: CIDGA Organizing Committee, CAU.The student group includes Nguyen Truong Xuan (Class K68 KTNNA); Nguyen Dinh Huy (Class K69 KTTCE); and Nguyen Ngoc Mai and Nguyen Thuy Thuy Linh (both Class K70 KTA). The program was organized by the College of International Development and Global Agriculture (CIDGA), China Agricultural University, taking place in Beijing and several field locations in Yunnan province.
Instead of merely learning in lecture halls, the student group participated in a program combining thematic lectures, field research, business surveys, and cultural exchange activities. Thereby, students could approach issues of agriculture, rural areas, sustainable development, and global governance from various perspectives.
Expanding perspectives through practical experiences
In Beijing, students attended many thematic sessions led by professors and international experts, covering rural revitalization, regional studies, sustainable development, land market transformation, field research methodology, scientific publishing, and development finance.
Open discussion sessions helped students exchange viewpoints, analyze development challenges in a global context, and compare experiences across countries. This also provided an opportunity to place specialized knowledge in a broader context, linking agriculture and rural development with economic, social, and governance issues.
Nguyen Truong Xuan, a student of Class K68 KTNNA, Vietnam National University of Agriculture, participates in a dialogue within the framework of the International Summer School Program. Photo: CIDGA Organizing Committee, CAU.Alongside academic activities, students were also selected to visit and exchange at the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in China, the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), Tencent Group, and the World Food Programme (WFP) Office in China.
Through these working sessions, students explored realities concerning digital transformation, innovation, the implementation of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and international cooperation, as well as the roles of organizations and businesses in global governance and development.
An important part of the program was the field research activity in Yunnan province. The student group visited many localities to learn about rural revitalization models, community tourism development, ethnic cultural conservation, and grassroots governance mechanisms.
Under the guidance of lecturers, students directly surveyed, observed, and interacted with residents and local authorities. The knowledge and research methods learned in class thus had the conditions to be verified and applied to specific practical issues.
Open discussion session of the International Summer School on Regional Studies and Global Development. Photo: CIDGA Organizing Committee, CAU.The delegation also surveyed modern agricultural production models and businesses, exploring the agricultural value chain from production and processing to consumption; the application of technology, brand building, digital transformation, and linkages between enterprises and farming households. Consequently, students gained more perspectives on the agricultural modernization process and sustainable rural building.
Bringing international experiences back to the lecture hall
For Nguyen Truong Xuan, a student of Class K68 KTNNA, Faculty of Economics and Management, VNUA, the value of the summer school lies not only in the amount of knowledge received but also in the opportunity to directly observe development models and how agricultural and rural issues are approached in an international environment.
According to Xuan, the learning process, field surveys, and exchanges with lecturers, experts, and students from many countries helped broaden Xuan's perspectives, while better understanding the connection between specialized knowledge and development practices. Experiences at enterprises and localities also helped students more specifically visualize agricultural value chains, digital transformation, production linkages, and sustainable rural development.
"What I gained is not just professional knowledge but also the opportunity to practice observing, communicating, and working in a multinational environment. Practical experiences give me more perspectives on my field of study and orient my future learning and research processes", Xuan shared.
Student Nguyen Dinh Huy, Class K69 KTTCE, Vietnam National University of Agriculture, answers an interview at the program. Photo: CIDGA Organizing Committee, CAUFor the four students from the Faculty of Economics and Management, the study trip helped consolidate specialized knowledge, strengthen research capacity, and broaden their understanding of development models worldwide.
This is also a specific outcome of cooperation between VNUA and China Agricultural University, aiming to create more opportunities for students to access international academic environments, gain practical experience, and prepare for their subsequent study, research, and career paths.