University of Montana Activities in Vietnam

A Comprehensive Vietnamese Affairs Program

The Mansfield Center of The University of Montana is developing a comprehensive Vietnamese Affairs Program. The Program involves student and faculty exchanges with Vietnam; degree and non-degree training to Vietnamese faculty; professional exchange programs in such fields as education and civil society; programming on Vietnam and U.S.-Vietnamese relations ranging from trade and health care to contemporary strategic issues, the environment, human rights and legal reform; and the creation of a new curriculum devoted to contemporary Vietnamese affairs.

The University has been designated as one of the lead institutions in the U.S. Department of State's current educational training initiative in Vietnam, and has developed close relationships with Vietnam National University in Hanoi and Can Tho University in the Mekong Delta. This year, the 26^th annual Mansfield Conference will be devoted to Vietnam, including that nation's recent economic reform and new role in Asia.  The University is committed to assisting in Vietnam's educational and economic development, while at the same time strengthening its growing commercial and strategic engagement with the U.S.   Key Programs include:

UM Study Abroad Program in Climate Change at Can Tho University

Click here to see the UM Vietnam Study Abroad Student Monica Lomahukluh featured in the 2011 President’s Report on Education for the Global Century.

The University has received State Department support to create a study abroad program (open to all U.S. students) on global climate change at Can Tho.  UM is at the forefront of research issues dealing with natural resources, climate change, sustainable agriculture, and rural development.  The University's Climate Change Studies Program offers one of the nation's first undergraduate degree programs devoted exclusively to the challenges created by global climate change.  UM is currently developing the program, with the second group of students expected to travel in Wintersession 2010-2011.  Tentative dates for this six-credit program are December 27-January 19.  Please contact Deena Mansour at deena.mansour@mso.umt.edu for additional details.

Find more information at:http://www.cfc.umt.edu/studyabroad/Vietnam.html and http://www.umt.edu/ip/countries/vietnam.html

Asia Rule of Law Legal Reform Initiative

The Mansfield Center is working with an NGO partner in Geneva to facilitate legal training and curriculum reform and hopes to expand its Legal Reform Initiative to Vietnam after having worked with groups in China, Korea, and Japan.  The Initiative facilitates cross-cultural learning about lay participation in the criminal justice systems of Asia and examines the role of the jury as a democratizing influence.  We encourage dialogue on these issues by acting as a clearinghouse of information for legal professionals involved in jury reform throughout Asia and the United States; conducting multi-national classroom sessions through technology; encouraging the exchange of academics, legal professionals, and lay people involved in criminal justice; sponsoring conferences on related criminal justice issues; and developing relevant scholarship.