December 1, 2025 marked a meaningful final day, concluding the first 3-day training program (November 28 – December 1, 2025) of the Global Immersion Guarantee in Vietnam (GIG) for more than 100 students and staff from Monash University. The Mekong Institute, Can Tho University effectively implement the GIG program, demonstrating the quality of international collaboration in teaching. The program enhanced students’ understanding of climate change challenges and adaptation solutions, while integrating cultural exchange and community engagement activities in the Mekong Delta.
DAY 1
Students participated in a series of discussions and field activities on climate change, sustainable agriculture–aquaculture, urban flood resilience, and adaptive livelihoods in the Mekong Delta. Key content included nature-based solutions for flood management, climate change impacts, innovations in climate-adaptive agricultural–aquaculture practices aimed at increasing production value chains, and visits to rice production models and rice gene banks, flood-prevention infrastructure, and community livelihood activities.
The GIG program offered multi-dimensional academic and practical experiences, helping students deepen their understanding of the Mekong Delta context while introducing traditional cultural values embedded in local agricultural systems. Key discussion topics under the GIG framework included:
Nature-based solutions for enhancing flood resilience and urban risk management.Climate change and sustainable adaptive livelihoods in the Mekong Delta.Climate change impacts on the Mekong Delta region.Innovation in climate-adaptive agriculture and aquaculture.Visits to experimental models, rice gene banks, and traditional agricultural tool displays.Field surveys of flood-control infrastructure in Can Tho City.DAY 2
Students engaged in a series of visits, experiential learning, and cultural exchange activities under the theme “Sharing Indigenous Knowledge and Experiencing Community Culture,” aiming to understand characteristic livelihood models and how coastal communities in the Mekong Delta sustainably adapt to climate change.
The day began with a discussion session with Mr. Ma Van Hong, Director of the Hoa De Agriculture–Fishery Cooperative (HTX), to understand the cooperative’s operational mechanisms under climate change pressures. Students then conducted qualitative group discussions with local households to learn about community challenges and expectations.
The delegation also experienced Khmer culture (cuisine, traditional dance) before returning to the cooperative to explore agricultural–aquaculture processing procedures, sample OCOP products, and visit local rice–shrimp, rice–fish, and intensive aquaculture models. Through these exchanges, students gained deeper insights into how production structures are adjusted based on local strengths and potentials, while recognizing the importance of value chains and community adaptive capacity in the Mekong Delta. Students noted that the trip provided rich practical knowledge and strengthened cultural connections and experience-sharing between international students and local communities.
DAY 3
Marking the final day of the GIG program, students shared that the experience had provided them with valuable lessons, helping them better understand community vulnerability, adaptive capacity, and creativity in the face of climate change. The closing ceremony offered a reflective moment, capturing the learning journey, hands-on activities, and engagement with local culture. It also highlighted the leadership role of the Mekong Institute in bridging international knowledge with local realities, reaffirming its credibility and capacity in implementing international programs.
Through the 3-day GIG program, the Mekong Institute conveyed to students the practical value of academic knowledge, community engagement, and the application of solutions to real-world contexts. In addition, the Institute affirmed the success of this first GIG cohort, laying a solid foundation for future iterations of the program. This achievement also strengthens trust and deepens the comprehensive partnership between the Mekong Institute, Can Tho University, and the Office of the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Student Experience), Monash University, toward future collaboration in advanced and integrated research initiatives.
